Elaborate
keepsakes known as "sailor's valentines," originally thought to be a
shipboard craft, were actually made in Barbados and sold as souvenirs to homeward
bound sailors. Today, anyone can make a sailor's valentine by collecting ordinary
beach shells and gluing them in fancy patterns onto a backing.
Materials: All you need are a few
dozen shells, white glue, and a stiff backing of wood or cardboard. If you
want to make a circular valentine, trace a dinner plate and
cut out the pattern. A shadow box, available at craft shops, is a
nice way to display your valentine but is not essential.
Design:
With clean, dry shells, begin your
valentine by laying out the shells on a table. Start from the center with the
most beautiful shell and build your design outward until it has about the same
size as the backing. Shells can either lie flat or overlap, depending on how complex
you want your design to be.
Gluing: Again, starting from the center, transfer
the design to the backing, gluing each shell as you place it. Allow your sailor's
valentine to dry thoroughly before hanging it on the wall or giving it to your
sweetheart.
For extra color, use a colored background or paint the shells,
either before or after you glue. Experiment with different types of shells, small
rocks, sea glass, or other objects found on the beach. Peter Gittleman, Director of Interpretation
& Education
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