Valentine’s Day is nearly upon us! Don’t ask me how far I am in my preparations … but I have been enjoying watching the cool craft possibilities on the internet, and I’ve marked the links to a few of my favorites. 
- Feed more than just your soul with some heart-shaped birdseed feeders: http://alphamom.com/family-fun/crafts/heart-shaped-bird-feeder-diy/
- Let your inner punster out to play when you make these bird shaped cards: http://aliciapolicia.blogspot.com/2011/02/tweet-heart-valentines-day-cards-how-to.html
- Get stuck on your Valentine with these Valentine voodoo dolls: http://www.indiespotting.com/diy-projects/make-valentine-the-voodoo-pincushion/
- Celebrate Valentine’s Day and the new Chinese year with these lovey-dovey fortune cookies from repurposed sweaters: http://sassycrafter.blogspot.com/2011/02/heartfelt-valentines.html
Valentine’s Day, like anniversaries, always makes me look back to the beginning of my relationship with Niek and I always feel a little dizzy when I do at how much has happened, seemingly so fast. A mere 10 1/2 years ago, I was living in an apartment in Apeldoorn with little Max, who was younger than Arden is now. I’d only been dating Niek for a few months but we’d already begun looking for a house together. One afternoon, I invited dear friend Terra over for lunch, together with a couple of other friends, and Terra apparently had her camera with her. I’m not fond of being on the “other” end of the lens, but she caught me unawares and was sweet enough to forward this picture to me when she stumbled across it. Hard to believe this was only a little over a decade ago!
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to give is better than to receive
And to wrap up the fun, I wanted to offer a little giveaway. These aren’t Valentine’s charts but are spring-themed ones that you’ll have time to stitch for the season. Just mention in your comment if you want me to include your name in the drawing. 
February 9th, 2011 at 10:18 am
Thanks for the fun links. Such a beautiful picture of you and Niek! Isn’t it amazing what can happen in so little time!
February 9th, 2011 at 10:37 am
Thanks for the fun craft links.
Young love is so beautiful!
I’ll pass on this contest, but you are very sweet to offer up these not charts.
February 9th, 2011 at 10:50 am
Thanks for the links … I may have to try my hand at a few of those cards … though I have resisted the scrapbooking trend so far … I am not sure I want to get into a whole new craft/tools/stash deal at this time … but they are quite clever.
I am trying to stitch my stash and not add to it, so I shall pass on the giveaway, darling as the charts may be.
Good luck to allwho participate in your giveaway!
February 9th, 2011 at 11:09 am
Sweet picture of the two of you!!!!
February 9th, 2011 at 12:10 pm
What a lovely photo, it really is amazing how time flies isn’t it.
I’d love to enter your giveaway please if that’s ok. Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
February 9th, 2011 at 12:13 pm
Darling pic of you and Niek and thanks for the links. No need to include me in the drawing but good luck to everyone!
February 9th, 2011 at 12:46 pm
That is such a cute picture of you and Niek! Please don’t include me in the drawing. Good luck to everyone!
February 9th, 2011 at 1:24 pm
Hi again Barbara, love the picture, you look so relaxed together. I would love to be entered for your draw. Thank you Irene xxx
February 9th, 2011 at 1:25 pm
It’s a lovely picture of you and Niek. Thanks for
the links. Please include me in your giveaway.
February 9th, 2011 at 2:08 pm
Thanks for the links and that is a wonderful picture of you and Nick! It’s so nice that your friend took that of the two of you. I love impromptu pictures.
February 9th, 2011 at 3:00 pm
Of course I’d love to be added to the list! I’m like you, I also do not like to be on the other side of the camera lens. It’s a good picture though.
February 9th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
What a nice picture of the two of you! How time does fly though!
Great links with lots of cool ideas to try. Can’t wait to see how you celebrate the day!
I’d like to be entered in the giveaway. The charts are really cute. Thanks.
February 9th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
Great link love, esp those birdseed hearts!! Zack and I filled the birdfeeder today … the NEW birdfeeder as the old one was vandalized by the squirrels gone bad. Making some heart shaped seed for the birds would be a fun project.
Tanya
February 9th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
Thanks for the fun links! I have just started my valentines stitching… too late but at least I can finish few small pieces.
I would love to enter my name in the drawing!
February 9th, 2011 at 3:55 pm
Aww 10+ years — here’s a toast to great accomplishments!
February 9th, 2011 at 4:20 pm
I love the picture of you and Niek! So sweet!
February 9th, 2011 at 5:40 pm
I love the pic of you and your beau!! so sweet. I really admire your work in the Gift of Stitching mag and hearing about all your wonderful adventures in Maine! I would love to be entered in your generous spring draw! Thank you !
February 9th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
That’s a lovely photo of the two of you! Thanks for sharing.
February 9th, 2011 at 8:01 pm
Finally, a nice photo of you….
February 9th, 2011 at 8:35 pm
Yeah, it’s only 10+ years old!!
February 9th, 2011 at 9:26 pm
This is such a sweet picture – to be very much treasured.
How is the chicken???
February 10th, 2011 at 7:59 pm
She’s doing okay, Roberta. I posted a picture of her today to my Facebook page and will include pics of her here next time I post. Fingers crossed, she will be okay despite the severity of the damage.
February 10th, 2011 at 1:13 am
I enjoyed looking at the links you shared-love the bird in the Valentine. : )
Cute shot of you and Niek-love seeing you!
Since these are such cute charts and I don’t have any of them (surprised me too) I wouldn’t mind trying to win. Thanks!
February 10th, 2011 at 10:55 am
What a lovely candid photo of you and Niek, Barbara–there is just something about the way you are leaning into each other that shows the strength of your attraction even though it had only been a few months! And look where you’ve ended up
The spring charts are too cute to pass up–please throw my name in the hat! Thank you for the chance…
February 10th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
I did not know you also lived in Apeldoorn. That was the first place I lived in Holland. Time goes by so quickly and we really do have to slow down and cherish the moments.
Happy Valentine’s day to you and your family.
Hugs ~
Heidi
February 10th, 2011 at 7:57 pm
Yep, I had a 2-floor apartment on Ruys de Beerenbroekstraat and it drove me crazy because I could not for the life of me get the pronunciation correct. LOL. It was a nice town to live in – not too big, not too small, and a reasonable (auto) commute from my job in Barneveld. But when Niek and I got together, it was impossibly far from his job in Delft, so living together there wasn’t possible.
February 11th, 2011 at 5:42 pm
Thats a lovely photo!
Would love to enter your contest
February 11th, 2011 at 11:10 pm
What a wonderful picture of the two of you! You both look so happy.
What precious charts! I’m on a stash diet this year (HA, wonder how long THAT will last! LOL), so I would love to enter your giveaway. That Shepherd’s Bush one is adorable! They are one of my favorite designers. Thank you for the chance!
February 12th, 2011 at 11:08 am
please throw my name in the springtime hat drawing!! thanks-have a great day!-Keep stitching, Rain