It’s that time of the year again where the greeting cards, roses and chocolates fly off the shelves. What is it about Valentine’s Day that inspires us (and many of the great literary authors) to partake in all kinds of romantic gestures?
This month Oxford Reference, the American National Biography Online, the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, and Who’s Who have joined together to create a quiz to see how knowledgeable you are in Valentine traditions.
Do you know who grows some of the most fragrant roses or hand-dips the sweetest treats? Find out with our quiz.
Your Score:
Your Ranking:
Answers to all these questions can be found using Oxford Reference, the Oxford DNB, Who’s Who, and the American National Biography Online. Both Oxford Reference and the Oxford DNB are freely available via public libraries across the UK. Libraries offer ‘remote access’ allowing members to log-on to the resources, for free, from home (or any other computer) twenty-four hours a day.
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The post A Valentine’s Day Quiz appeared first on OUPblog.
Illustration For Kids just put out a group postcard promotional--With a Valentine's Day theme, of course! Below is the postcard with our joint venture to offer our fun & whimsical illustrations to the world.
Thanks for stopping by!
Just like Claire (below) and the others, I created an image to represent my work for our latest postcard promotional. We chose a Valentine's Day theme so you will see lots of love and hearts and pinks and reds in our images.
Please take a look at our bio's here and visit our personal sites to see more about us! Thanks for visiting!
Sometime you write something, never realizing that you might have started a new writing trend for yourself.
I've always read horror. Love it. And the recent craze with zombies, got me thinking, so I wrote a short story, THE KILLER VALENTINE BALL, never realizing I'd embarked on a topic that would hold my interest for a while.
That story, where a girl goes on a "killer" date and experiences a night she'll never forget was a fun foray into light horror with a touch of humor.
Then, last year lightning struck again when I came up with a new story about a teen girl turning zombie with some different situations and again, some humor. I mean, zombies are kind of funny. (Watch Zombieland and see if you don't laugh.) That story wouldn't let go and turned into a full novel, which I've been sending around.
The main thing I learned in all this:
* you never know where stories are going to come from.
* Write your reading interests. I like mysteries but horror was easier and more fun to write.
* Have fun writing. If you don't enjoy it, why bother?
* What's your tip?
hee hee :)
A new valentine card available on Etsy.
The original owl painting lives with KJ and JB and they named him "Pinky."
And did you know there's such a thing as Lolo wolves?
I was going to do a post about them but it was too sad. Alaska and Idaho are culling them out by helicopters and small planes. I understand the need for "thinning the herd" in nature, but why can't it be done humanely?
So, instead I give you a cute, smitten owl!
Happy Animal Wednesday!
See you soon!
xo
Lo
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| "Heart-shaped tofu! Are you kidding?" |
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The first year I lived in Seattle was my "gap year" between college and graduate school. I was a full-time volunteer at a daycare center for homeless children, and I lived in a group house in which I was the only one who didn't have a Significant Other. When Valentine's Day came, I decided not to let the smoochiness bother me. However, I exclaimed to a long-distance friend of mine, "Can you believe that Housemate Charlie made
heart shaped toast for Housemate Beth?"
My friend laughed and said, "I have to confess, Chris made me
heart-shaped tofu."
It was then that I realized I needed to get over my sneering contempt for Valentine's Day smoochiness and reinvent it for myself. The week of Valentine's Day became a time to write letters of appreciation to people and to do something thoughtful and materialistically indulgent for myself. One year, I bought myself an Italian fountain pen. Another year, I bought myself a little red flashlight. I benefited from my good taste in gifts.
When Bede and I got together, we decided we wanted the Valentine's Day Experience. I remember the restaurant where we had dinner, but I don't recall what we ate-- except that when the waiter told us about the
heart-shaped chocolate torte, Bede and I said, "Yes, THAT." After dinner, Bede paid the bill and led me out through the large open window.
February 14 must have been warm that year.
As this Valentine's Day rolls around, I've started writing my letters again. I've got presents for Bede and Lucia, because I like to give and make presents. Since Lucia doesn't read my blog, you can peek
here to see what I got her by special request. I'm pleased that some of the dolls in my shop are going to be gifts for other people, too.
I've even become resigned to the sugar-overload that's going to happen on Tuesday in my daughter's class. Before every class party, I caution her, "Don't drink the juice-boxes,"* and fill her lunch with fresh vegetables. Which reminds me-- how factual do you think it is that she is the only one to go to school with a healthful lunch every day? She says all the other kids get candy and chips in their lunches. Is she pulling my leg?** Bede and I work to balance Lucia's need to eat food that's good for her with the desirability to be part of social events.
We have no plans for heart-shaped tortes or anything sugary that night. Valentine's Day is a choir day, and Business As Usual. However, I might make heart-shaped tofu. Or steak.
*Sugar + water= what's the point?
**Remind me to tell you someday of Lucia's tall tale about how all the other children brought Barbie Dolls to a
Waldorf kindergarten. I had a hard time keeping a straight face.
By:
Donna J. Shepherd,
on 2/11/2012
Blog:
Topsy Turvy Land - Donna J. Shepherd
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By: Sparkz,
on 2/13/2012
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Tool: photoshop CS
**Tilen's shop ~tilen.dawanda.com~ **
Trying to achieve acrylic feel with ArtRage.
**tilen-artplanet.blogspot.com**
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on 2/4/2009
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I love my clients. I love my readers. I love art. 
I must be crazy with all this love, because I decided to create and post some downloadable Valentine’s Day art so the love can be shared. Here’s what I’m practically giving away:
FREE greeting card templates
Yep, totally free and ready for you to create your card. I’ve included an Adobe Illustrator file, an EPS file, and even a Microsoft Word document. Whether or not you have super special graphics software, you should be able to print your own Valentines on plain ol’ 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper. It’s an easy ZIP file download, right here.
Valentine Art Collection - limited time only!
I can’t believe I’m doing this, but love is a blinding force. I created a collection of four original pieces of Valentine-themed art. A collection like this is worth hundreds, but I am just about giving it away for… $1.50. I told you I was crazy. Pocket change gets you the entire collection of high-res image files that you can plug into just about any graphics software or even a word processing app. Make your own cards or shirts, post it on your blog, use it for a Valentine-themed Twitter background.
This is for a limited time only. After that very special day of love (February 14), I’m taking the art down and it will be used in the gift industry. Then you’ll have to go to store and buy it like the rest of us mortals (details on the limited-use license are on the site).
Be happy, be free, be creative, and please take advantage of this amazing art sale!
I’ve set things up so it’s super easy to get everything on my site. There’s even a handy little PayPal button for your convenience. Of course, the greeting card templates are free and you can find them in the same place.
Happy Valentine’s Day! As always, I love to hear from you about how you used the art. In fact, let’s have a little contest, shall we?
The best use of the downloaded art gets their money back. Just e-mail me with what you did and I’ll open my heart for judging.
+Allan+Sanders+2009+From+Russia+with+Love.jpg)
a late valentines related image!
It's not "Crafty Thursday" anymore, but I was sick with strep throat all yesterday and missed out on most of the day. I'm recovering! So, here's my post:I'll admit that I didn't have anything particular planned to feature for Valentine's Day (over a month away, too), but when the team leader of NaturalKids announced a "Valentine's Day challenge" it occured to me that I could make little
Just in case you don't get any candy for Valentine's Day, here is enough to last you awhile. Will you be mine?
New things!
I’m pleased to be adding new paper goods to le shop. I love these blackbirds recipe cards. They are much for simple than ones of the past so they have a bit more modern feel while maintaining some old-fashioned cuteness (I think so anyway).
Speaking of black birds, my black swan paper doll friend in finally in the shop too. These were supposed to be listed for the holiday shopping season but a printing snafu prevented that from happening. Oh well those are the breaks, kids. They make me happy nevertheless.
Some Love Notes sets, packaged like treats.
Muted tones and prints inspired by old feedsack fabric. For Valentines or just because.
With this update it’s also official that my old Etsy shop has moved to TheFabledNeedle.etsy.com! Not only did I have to re-list each product but some images and product copyright info had to be updated as well. I’m glad I can focus my efforts on other things now like a series of paintings currently in the works.
I've been a bit obsessed with the ABCs lately. After such great feedback and response from the
Animal ABCs and
Christmas ABCs, I took on the challenge to do Valentine's day. With a little help from my husband ("Q" and "Z" was quite tricky), it was fun coming up with this and using a distinctive vintage color palette, thanks again to
colourlovers.com.
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| front |
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| detail from the back |
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Check out all the ABCs I have so far over at my
flickr set.
Daughter in Heaven
watercolor & colored pencil | 2011
The painting was created for someone who lost a child, it like many commissioned pieces, this was especially spiritual. Lots of prayer during the entire process until paint. I then just let it be without thought as to what I was doing. Kind of letting my hand do it's own thing.
I am anxious to see how the parent will respond to this painting, and it is my hope to share this as a print in the future. But I am leaving that up to the recipient. I will let you all know either way. :)
It used to be that bedtime was a family ritual, that is, before there were four of us. We would take turns reading, all snuggled into our sons double bed. We'd tell stories in the dark and it was our time together, to end the day. When our daughter was born, I had to leave this cosy time - and join another one. Now, at bedtime, I listen to my husband and son reading together as I quietly nursnuggle (thanks Elaine) my little one... and I am amazed. The power a dad has when he reads with a child, esp a boy - is tremendous. He waits patiently for him to sound out the words. He reads the books that our son chooses and he never gets sucked into 'just one more book'. It is three Picture books, or chapters from a 'big kid book'. As I lie there, I think - he is teaching him - and doing it so well.
I miss it, and part of me looks forward to the time we can go back and forth, getting each child's special time - but for now, I will listen. It brings tears to my eyes I love it so much.
Then there is Valentine's day - and I wonder - when did loot bags start getting handed out? Seriously people! Kids don't need that junk, you know. However, I did bake cookies - lol. So I guess I am just as bad. Mo and I worked on valentines on monday (not a school day). I did give him the option of going in to 'buy' some, and he said NO. "Homemade one's are better, and we don't need to go shopping every day!" Amen to that little wise man. I will keep that one close.
Doodled some hearts for Valentine's Day, using marker pens. They're sketchy and imperfect ... I considered polishing them up but really liked them as they were, with the rough strokes showing in the white and black, so I just cleaned up the outlines and kept the inner character as is. perfect. Cheers.
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Nice awesome idea! I support you ! THE KILLER VALENTINE BALL have right to exist!)
Awesome blog. I enjoyed reading your articles. This is truly a great read for me. I have bookmarked it and I am looking forward to reading new articles.Keep up the good work!
This is absolutely awesom! Great work!
It's very true. Some of these stories strike out of the blue and you can't ignore them!
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com