Maybe I’m feeling more love than usual (kicking boy in belly seems to do that) but I thought it was time to share some hearts with you.

So I’m offering this set of 5 dark, rich red needle felted heart pebbles (also newly available in our shop) to one lucky reader (from anywhere in the world).

To enter, simply leave a comment below, and be sure to leave a way for me to contact you. If your blogger profile doesn’t have an email address, please leave your blog name or shop name or some other way to contact you. Thank you!

You can enter daily until the giveaway ends, next Thursday, April 6th, at 8 a.m. EST.

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 Unbleached coffee filters are the most wonderful arts supplies, and they are in abundance around here ever since the coffee drinker in this house (my Mister Mister) switched to a French coffee press and freshly ground organic coffee beans.

And hearts, well, who doesn’t love a few hearts? Especially on Valentine’s Day!

Here is how we made them.

First we used unbleached coffee filters, and drew hearts (well, half hearts) along one of the folded edges.

Then we cut out the heart shape, and folded the heart in at least half, or more. While still folded, my daughter cut in small shapes along the (folded) edge of the heart.

When she unfolded them, we had hearts with little cut-outs in them.

Here they are on our very favorite dining room table cloth.

Then it was time to paint. Using her watercolors, she painted the coffee filter hearts in different colors.

And then we let them dry (being coffee filters, it didn’t take them more than about an hour or so).

Then we hung them up on a sweet little (too frequently neglected) window near our stairs, so we see them every time we go up, or down. They add a sweet little smile to our faces.

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Last week, I joined the heart swap organized by Linda from NaturalSuburbia and her Etsy shop Mamma4Earth. Handcraft something in the theme of hearts, and swap it with your designated partner… in my case the woman behind this great blog, ChildhoodMagic.

I didn’t realize how inspiring a heart swap could be…

I took pieces of felted sweaters, and upcycled them into little 3D heart pebbles. First I needle felted little hearts on one side of each pebbles, and then stuffed them with bits of wool. Next I blanket stitched the edge with brightly colored cotton embroidery thread.

And then I strung them on a piece of soft green wool, making a strand of sweet hearts.

Made to hang and fall from the ceiling, a window frame or to adorn a doorway. These hearts will hopefully add some sweet, colorful love to Ariella’s home.

And I’ve decided to offer them in our shop too! This garland here seems even sweeter and more refreshing to me because it’s not even close to Valentine’s Day.

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I think I must have had gnomes on the brain. One morning a few months back, I woke up with the design for these gals and guys clearly outlined in my mind’s eye. And my love affair with little love gnomes began.

It doesn’t hurt that I have a dashing giant-sized love gnome of my own in my life, my mister.

These gnomes, like mister and me, are a little bit goofy, a lot sweet, a little salty and very soft inside.

Valentine’s Day is, in my opinion, not the best time to gift these sweeties. The most honest expressions of love are those genuine ones that happen. That just happen (sort of like my husband shout-out above). There are lots to choose from in the shop.

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