Primitive Heart Valentines Decorations

These heart-felt Valentines decorations bring us back to simpler times and tales of love won and lost.

I love primitive folk art decorations. Even on Valentine's Day, these hearts made of scraps of felt, cloth and wood make us think about the haunting landscape from which they came. I often think about the women who sit at home and make these simple designs. They often have simple red berries or scraps of lace for embellishment. Berries and twigs were often things that a woman could find walking along a forest path or at home.

Primitive Heart Door Hanger

Decorated with Orangic Embellishments

A Muslin Heart Grunged in a Coffee Mixture

The primitive heart shown above began as a piece of white muslin. The crafter then grunged it in a coffee mixture. Moss and pip berries give it, its simple Valentine spirit. A simple tag asks, "Be Mine," while another one promises "Forever." A husband or boyfriend would have spent hours on this simple Valentine gift. The woman then would have hung it on a cupboard or pantry door. That way on even the hardest day, she knows that she is loved and treasured.

Primitive crafters also use scraps of fabric to make bows or buttons for embellishment. Often primitive hearts are made from burlap. Farmers and their wives had ready access to these. Their animal feed often came in it. In New England we often say to use something up or wear it out. I think farm families have always lived like this as well. I love to see how they created beautiful home accents from burlap sacks and wood crates.

Primitive Heart Door Hanger

Primitive Red Heart Bowl Fillers with Lace and Twigs

Handmade Valentines Decorations

Stained Pink Primitive Heart

Primitive artisans often make bowl fillers with their left over bits of fabric. This are often referred to as "ornies" which is a form of ornament. Usually these refer to decorations for days other than Christmas. Heart ornies or bowl fillers are often placed over pot potpourri. You can also use twigs and sprigs and a few berries to fill the bowl.

Rosemary is the most romantic herb. Brides use to always carry it in their bridal bouquet. It's called the remembrance herb. I love to mix it in with my twigs and berries. It gives the room a wonderful light scent. Rosemary also has many medicinal and antiseptic properties. It's nice to think that my Valentine decorations could help keep me healthy as well.

I love to cut out simple shapes such as hearts and then embellish them with rosemary sprigs and bells. I never ever throw out any lace, no matter how small.