A Modern Day Valentine
This Valentine’s weekend, we took a quick road trip to visit my Grandma Nancy in Aberdeen. She’d always been a social butterfly, but when we called to check in on our way over, she casually mentioned that she had “double-booked” her Saturday evening. Turns out, she already had plans to go square dancing… with her new gentleman friend, Loyd.
Naturally, we were invited to tag along.
After dinner, the two of them got dressed to the nines in their red-and-white square dancing outfits — complete with matching scarves and a flouncy petticoat that would’ve made Lucille Ball proud. We watched in awe (and a little bit of envy) as they hit the dance floor at the Eagles Lodge, surrounded by a dozen other couples spinning, twirling, and grinning like teenagers.
Grandma Nancy and Loyd lit up the whole room. Their joy, their rhythm, their playful footwork — it was a kind of love that felt ageless. Not performative. Not rushed. Just pure delight in each other’s company, shared through dance.
Legacy, Threaded Through Time
This post originally went live in 2010. Grandma Nancy passed away just three years later, but her memory lives on in every stitch I sew. She was the one who introduced me to sewing — teaching me on her classic Singer Featherweight, a machine I still cherish and reference in this blog about its restoration.
And Loyd? He made it to 101 years old. A gentle soul who adored her deeply.
A Valentine That Lasts
In a world of fleeting gifts and rushed gestures, I think about how my grandma would’ve appreciated a Valentine that could be used every day — something thoughtful, practical, and made to last. Something like the bags I now make: handcrafted from vintage fabrics and durable coated canvas, meant to travel with you through years of stories.
Whether you're treating yourself or someone you love, our Valentine-worthy bags are made to celebrate everyday romance — the kind you carry with you, not just on February 14th, but all year long.
Some favorites that feel especially fitting:
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💌 Mini Troubadour – petite and perfect for date nights or dances
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💃 Circle Bag – a twirl-worthy shape for spinning through life
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🌹 Foxtrot Hobo – soft, slouchy, and ready to hold love letters and essentials
A Love Letter in Every Bag
To me, love lives in the little details: the gentle patina of a vintage fabric, the extra-sturdy stitch that never gives out, the lining chosen just because it made me smile. Every bag we make is a quiet love letter — to the past, to our people, and to the beauty of making something that lasts.
So wherever this Valentine’s season takes you — whether it’s a twirl on the dance floor or a cozy night in — I hope it’s filled with the kind of love that lingers long after the flowers fade.
With warmth,
Crystalyn 💘
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