Saturday, February 5, 2011

what's LOVE got to do with it?

What does LOVE got to do with it?
The upcoming Valentine's Day has had me thinking this past week.
Is it about the price we pay for a gift that equates to the depth of our love?
I'd like to think that it goes back to the nostalgic days of old...and the true intent of the heart behind the gift that is given.
The pair of little Italian Lover Bunnies captured above were a surprise gift I picked up at a consignment store recently for my Beloved. When I recently took a trip without him, I left them by his bedside with a bracelet that said in French, "I love you" Je t'aime
This book jacket above protects my favorite gift from him of all time that he blessed me with this past Christmas. How can one add words to what is written above to express love any better?
The book is called "Love Letters, an Anthology of Passion" and it literally has dozens of love letters (actual copies in pockets within the book) from past centuries from people in love.
The story behind him giving me this book is even more precious to me. Last year was a sacrificial year financially, as we invested in our youngest son that went back to school at the age of 25. It was a one year program and we wanted to do whatever we could to contribute in helping him achieve his dream. When Christmas came along, we were strapped...and so we decided that our gifts would be humble ones, the kind we used to give to each other in our early marriage.
He found the Love Letter book at the Goodwill one day when we were thrifting...and he purchased it. He then went through the book and read it - adding his own words of love here and there. For the very thought that he'd take so much time to share this book of love in such an intimate way - reading it, adding to it, blessed my spirit - and so this truly is HIS book of Love to me, for always... I so enjoy reading the love letters of years gone by..words of passion and even at times love lost because it never took a chance... It's the BEST gift a girl could want from her man...
Then I recently picked up the book above called Perfect Pairs - again at the Goodwill - and decided the photos were too lovely to stay within this book. They needed to be shared...and so I made these for my friends and will be mailing them out this week to celebrate friendship!
The card above goes to my best friend, my mother...she adores Rock Hudson & Doris Day films...one of my own heartbeats... :)
Cary Grant & Grace Kelly, another great pair that made the screen light up! This card goes to ??? you'll soon find out! :)
Now, this one is tough, because I have "two" friends that are fans of Audrey, but Claudie would kill me if I sent it to anyone but her. So, I want to live... Claudie it goes too, and proudly so! ;)
What would love be without "Gone with the Wind"? Clark Gable & Vivian Leigh - well, my girlfriend of 25+ years, Kathleen Ellis has always been a double in my eyes for Vivian Leigh! ;) She has to get this card!
Spencer Tracey & Katherine Hepburn ~ This one goes to a friend that loves anything nostalgic, like I do. Can you guess who you are? :)
And who can forget one of my favorite movie classics "The Philadelphia Story" with Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn? What did love have to do with it? They'd been divorced and he enters back into her life to cover the story of her impending marriage, which was to be the season's premier event. I'm sure he never expected to fall back in love with Kate, but he did...and the rest is history as they say. Great movie from start to finish...

My book on famous pairs helped me to create dozens of greeting cards, not just the few I shared above...and I had so much fun making them last night. It's not always the price on the back of the card, or attached to the gift that means the most to me. But, it's the intent of the heart...

And so, I leave you all with this today...
When you are laboring over what gift to give, take something and reinvent it, repurpose it...as it will mean so much more to the person receiving it, and will make you so happy as you create it and give it your own personal touch! Great things come out of life when one is squeezed financially, and many times it's the gifts we create out of need that are celebrated the most!

Happy Early Valentine's Day my precious Friends!

I found this little rhyme in a vintage personalized autograph book I have...and it seems so fitting for today and it will leave you with a giggle or two.

It's written on 8/22/1924 by someone named, Mary Painter

"They sat on the porch at midnight...
Their lips were tightly pressed,
The old man gave the signal,
The Bulldog did the rest"


Love to All,
~CC

10 comments:

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Oh, CC...what a wonderful post! And you are so right about gifts! Happy Valentine's Day!...hugs..Debbie

Anonymous said...

Great post. I so wish I had been more romantic and written little love notes over the 30 years of our life together. We did a lot of re inventing and repurposing this Christmas and I heard no complaints!

So glad you are just busy!! Life has a way of keeping us running!

It has been nice in a way with the weather being in control our way- it has given me a few days to just hibernate at home!!

bee blessed
mary

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Good morning dearest heart! Oh, the gifts that our beloved ones have given us are so special and there are things that Ruben has given me that ring back the memories of when they were given. It is so good to see you back on the blog circuit dearest friend! Oh, what a busy weekend it is....it will slow down soon for us. Enjoy a peaceful week my friend, Anita

Claudie said...

What's LOVE got to do with it you ask??
It's what CC is made of. All of your love, devotion, creativity, sacrifices for your children make you who you are. The love that comes from you my very beautiful friend is the best gift I could ever ask for.
I can't wait to get my Audrey card from you. I have a few names that could be on the other cards too : )
Just returned from a fab. weekend with my sister. A lovely evening last night, masquerade, 7 course Italian meal, a TENOR that sang like an angel, with such great music (that my feet are paying the price tonight & my back), but who cares. FUN FUN FUN.
I hope you had a relaxing weekend for a change. I'm sending out an email tomorrow to all of you.
Love you to the moon and back again.
xoxoxoxoxo

Kathleen Ellis said...

What a lovely reminder that the best gifts are those from the heart selected/created with care for the ones you love!
You are the epitome of a loving...mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend!
Love you bunches...and look forward to receiving my card!
<3 Scarlet

The French Bear said...

Love it!!! I think that those are the best gifts....being on a budget makes us more creative!!!!
All the cards are so beautiful......I love the reasoning you have for giving each one...you are just so sweet!!!
Hugs my sweet friend!!!
Margaret B

Julie said...

I am totally on the same page as you my girl. It's always in the thought and never in the money spent. Those old vintage photo's are beautiful. We don't even take pictures like that these days. Look at people magazine. Beautiful people, but do we see those kinds of people in love? I don't think so. I love them all.

Hope I have one coming in the mail.... it will still be a wonderful surprise. I shall pretend I knew nothing about it.

Can't wait to see you this summer.
Love Jewells

Celestina Marie said...

Hi CC,
First off, I am so glad to see you today and read that your mother is doing well. Continued prayers for her and a full recovery.

What a beautiful post of love and the true meaning of giving a gift from the heart.
Thank you for sharing your own life experience. What beautiful memories to last a life time.
Love the cards you made from the book pics too. You are so creative and talented.
Love to you my friend.
Happy Valentine's Day.
Celestina Marie

wendy said...

What a lovely post. You certainly showed you LOVE for your son by making personal sacrifices to enable him to go back to school.
I heard a saying once that said "....a mothers love trumps everything..."

little gifts as you described hold so much meaning instead of quickly running to the mall to "pick up something"
I loved all of it.

Claudie will love her card of Aubrey...I just got off the phone with her today regarding the summer Par-Tay she is hosting. I can't wait to meet everyone and make many wonderful memories.

Ldy ~~ Dy said...

I enjoyed your post. Love the idea of re-purposing and personalizing cards. Alot of thoughtfulness is involved. Also very romantic! Loved the little bunnies!! So cute! Hugs!