Before writing this post I read the entire Wikipedia page dedicated to Valentine’s Day. It was really long, but I wanted the V-Day low down once and for all. Who is St Valentine, and what treats did loved ones gift each other in the 8th Century before Ferrero Rocher was invented?
Valentine’s Day can be traced back to as early as the 4th Century, when St Valentine of Rome was imprisoned for performing forbidden marriages, and during his incarceration, performed a miracle on his jailer’s daughter, curing her of blindness. On the eve of his death, he is said to have penned a farewell note to her, signing it, ‘From your Valentine’ – the first Valentines’ note! Meanwhile, in Norfolk in the UK, an age old Valentine’s Day tradition sees a character named Jack Valentine leave sweets and presents for children like some kind of Easter bunny/sugar Santa.
This year, we propose a new strictly secular Valentine’s Day tradition, involving the latest range of super cute confectionery-inspired acrylic vases by Brisbane design studio, Lovestar!
Since first profiling Lovestar way back in 2013, when the Brisbane-based studio first launched their signature heart-shaped vase, things have been pretty wild for husband and wife team Chris and Helen Bayley. Developing annual additions to their acrylic empire, this week the pair launch their new ‘Candy Hearts’ range, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Their latest offering brings everyone’s favourite lolly bag staple – ‘Love Heart’ sugared candies with sweet printed messages – to life.
Each heart is a family affair, made collaboratively by Helen, her husband Chris and her father-in-law. ‘My father-in-law cuts out each of the components of my design. Chris and I will then painstakingly mould and weld each piece together. They are then all buffed one at a time, tested (to make sure they are not leaking!) and finally cleaned by hand before we wrap them,’ explains Helen. ‘It is extremely time intensive, but so exciting and satisfying to actually see that first prototype come to life!’ It is this level of attention to detail that makes these candied hearts look so good. Longer lasting than lollies, but no less sweet!
Candy Hearts by Lovestar are available online from today.
