once given never forgotten, never let it disappear ~John Lennon

I remember my first day in freshman English and our assignment was to define love. I don't remember what I wrote, but my definition through the years since then has broadened to encompass much more than what an eighteen-year-old's conception could ever possibly be. Our understanding of such an elusive thing grows and broadens with age and maturity... but only if we allow it and many don't. One simple way is to simply hold back with our opinions and not feel compelled to place a damper on how someone else expresses themselves with their art, and more broadly, the very way they choose how to thrive. How you define it might, and probably does, differ from mine, but true love to me is the unconditional act of allowing ourselves and others to thrive, a small yet difficult act, but with huge rewards.

Valentine's Day shouldn't be just a day for lovers; it should be a day to show kindness towards and acceptance of one another... the world would be a better place for it. A simple smile or a kind word can be the greatest gift of love if given sincerely and can be a lasting souvenir, never to be forgotten. On the tangible side of Valentine's Day, here is a large sampling of art from the Artisan Crafts gallery that shows how several artisans have expressed themselves. Some are cute, some are charming, others are quite masterfully done, but all give the impression that there was joy in their creation.

Oh, and that freshman English assignment... every single one of us failed.

Plushies:











Textiles:






Jewelry:





























Metal:




Fiber Art:





Woodworking:







Culinary Arts:










Sculpture & Glass:









Leatherwork:



Custom Dolls:



Folding & Papercraft:



Miscellaneous: