A Sailor's Valentine

​Being presented with a love token at anytime warms the cockles of a human heart.
Sailors swapped sentimental personal, handcrafted gifts with their wives and sweethearts (sometimes both!), when pressed to set sail and take leave of their homes, or on celebration of their return - as a reward for those thinking of them and patiently waiting for such a vast amount of time. Loved ones took great comfort in holding onto the hope that their sailor man; father of their children, husband or boyfriend would soon be restored to them. A ‘Sailor’s Valentine’ was the tangible promise that they would do all they could to return,
providing the faith was kept strong and the fates were kind.
 
‘Sailor’s Valentines’ were shelly scene boxes of little compartments filled with arrangements of shells and beads, some studded with phrases such as ‘Remember Me’ and  ‘Forget-Me-Not', with a central focus, a ship or anchor, maybe the guiding points of a compass, even a little painted portrait. A keepsake those at home could gaze into, knowing that their man’s heart, despite being away at sea, was settled there, forever with them. 
 
Why not come along to The Captain Cook Memorial Museum this Valentine’s day, choose from an assortment of pearls, miniature ships, paper forget-me-not flowers, shells, beads and charms, and make a unique valentine (similar to those brought back by Sailors from their voyages on the South Seas) for that special someone in your life? For that extra personal touch, you could bring along your own sentimental trinkets and photos to set inside your ‘Sailor’s Valentine’ box!

Workshop suitable for children and adults

Hosted by Yours truly...​

A selection of resulting Love Tokens. More pictures and comments: 
The Captain Cook Memorial Museum Facebook