Conversation Hearts

Do you ever eat conversation hearts around Valentine's Day? Those tasty little heart shaped lumps of pure sugary lexical delight have been around for a long time.....since the 1860s! In the 1860's, Daniel Chase, the brother of NECCO's founder, Oliver Chase, began printing sayings on the candy. He experimented first with hand tools, and then devised a machine in which the cloth was replaced with a felt roller pad, moistened with vegetable coloring, usually red, which pressed against the die. The die printed the words on the lozenge paste and the double purpose machine cut the lozenges into little hearts! I once had a friend in college who use to write X-rated messages on them with a thin red Sharpie! She was a bad girl!.....Yes, Jane, you were bad!

The present day Sweethearts Conversation Heart dates back to 1902.

To meet the demand for its Conversation Hearts, NECCO produces them from late February through mid-January of the following year. The entire production--about 100,000 pounds a day-- sells out in just six weeks. Whoa! That's a lot of hearts!

My friend Carol sent these conversation heart stickers to me today! I had to create a few things with them right away!

Imagine getting kissed by this little rascal!

She's the Conversation Heart Fairy!

An ATC with a little pug........... well, he really is a "cute pie"! So ugly, he's cute!

Just a few thoughts for Sunday.....

Here are my random thoughts for Sunday, February 1, 2009.......

First and foremost...... GO STEELERS!!

Over 1 billion chicken wings will be eaten today on Super Bowl Sunday! When I was young, my brothers and I would go to my aunt Dede's house on Super Bowl Sunday to watch the game and she would make a big pot of Chop Suey. Why Chop Suey on Super Bowl Sunday? I have no idea but it became a tradition. I suppose it was because my aunt made really delicious food but it was only things you could make in massive quantities.....like chili, chop suey and homemade mac and cheese! I miss that tradition.

French Chocolat Box with hand sewn felt candies .......just posted on Ebay....click here.

Toodee the studio monster is ready for spring!!!!!

A special box and felt candies for my friend Jacque in California!

I hope you have a wonderful Sunday......it's partly sunny here and almost 40 degrees which is a welcome change from 14 degrees!

New Ebay Postings and Felt Strawberry Tutorial....

I don't know about you, but I love chocolate covered strawberries! The only problem is all of the calories but if you make them out of felt, there are zero calories. I've included a tutorial on how to make felt chocolate covered strawberries so make sure you read to the end of the post. They are easy to make..... a little time consuming but they are so stinking cute!

I just posted this one on Ebay. It's a 3 inch paper mache box complete with French writing (it says Chocolate Covered Strawberries)!

Real pirates wear pink, right? Well, this one does because she's a Valentine pirate!

If you'd like to own Pinky the Valentine Pirate with Polly Parrot, go to Ebay! I just posted her.

You are very lucky if you have a best friend....a true pal..... a B.F.F. ..... whatever you want to call that person in your life. Click here to view it on Ebay.

Mermaid Cupid is also on Ebay........

Ok, now the cool tutorial! Felt Chocolate Covered Strawberries! Here we go.....

First cut a piece of red felt, 3 inches in diameter (this will make a 1 and 3/4 inch long strawberry).

Cut it in half (this will make 2 strawberries)

Using 4 strands of yellow DMC

Sew on a wavy piece of brown felt (this is the chocolate).

Fold it in half, right sides together and sew along the flat side.

Turn it right side out and stuff it with a little poly-fill then run a basting stitch around the top, draw together and knot off the thread.

Cut a felt stem and sew it on top of the strawberry. Then pop it into a candy wrapper!


Hope you enjoyed the tutorial! Let me know if you make any berries!