Valentine’s Day is just a good excuse to express your love to people you care for. A heartfelt, one-of-a-kind, heirloom gift is the perfect way to demonstrate how much someone means to you. As a calligrapher and watercolor artist, I’ve had the honor to create lots of these gifts for clients. Anniversaries (especially the first – for the paper anniversary gift), birthdays, milestones, and yes, Valentine’s Day – a meaningful gift is always treasured. Here is a roundup of some of my favorite ways to share your love.
Cherishing vows made to each other
As you stood there, exchanging promises to shape your marriage, the words you said mattered. They still do. Showing your spouse that your vows are still relevant and a priority for you is a perfect way to cherish them. Whether they’re formal/traditional, scripture passages, or something more modern and individualized, the words you exchanged at your wedding still carry great meaning throughout your days as a married couple.
Sharing your home
The space where you live is such a huge part of your life. I’ve had clients commission home illustrations upon purchasing (or leaving) their first home, as well as clients commemorating a childhood home for their parents. Likewise, some people just like to have an illustration of their home – just because!
Gushing over your fur babies
I know I can’t be the only mildly crazy dog mom out there, mostly because people commission pet portraits often, as a heartfelt, one-of-a-kind, heirloom gift. Any time you want your four-legged friends drawn or painted, I’m in!
Dancing with special song lyrics
Your song is one that always makes your heart soar. Whether it was what was on the radio that you jammed to during your first road trip together, the one where he kissed you at a concert, or the song you danced to as your “first dance” at your wedding. It makes you swoon – and your partner knows it.
Recreating the space where you celebrated
Whether it’s your reception venue, church where you said “I do,” or a space that holds significant meaning to you, recreating the space where you celebrated a life milestone makes for a perfect heartfelt, one-of-a-kind, heirloom gift.
Honoring your family history
Love isn’t just romantic – love shared between family members is vital. Showcasing your roots is a thoughtful way to demonstrate just how important these familial bonds are to you. I’ve had the pleasure of documenting a family tree going back 14 generations from the Jamestown colony, and another with roots connected to someone who arrived in the US aboard the Mayflower. It was also a distinct honor to provide the artwork of a family tree, serving as the 70th (!!!) anniversary gift for a sweet couple.
Showing someone you care
Gifts don’t have to be for a specific person or occasion. A “just because” keepsake is another great way to give or receive a heartfelt, one-of-a-kind, heirloom gift. I’ve created gifts for mentors, moms, hostesses of showers, hard-to-buy-for birthdays, and law school graduations. Showing someone you care is always best done with something personal and meaningful, and it’s always a treat to help make that happen for your loved ones.
So there you have it! A roundup of some of my favorite ways to show your love, this Valentine’s Day. A heartfelt, one-of-a-kind, heirloom gift is a great way to do this, year-round. I’d love to help you with this! Check out more of these gift commissions here, or let me know if I can create one for you.
Want to keep these heartfelt gift ideas for your sweetie in mind? Pin one of these for later!
