February Bite Size Block

20150131_141205Will you be my Valentine?

Some say it is just a fake holiday manufactured by the florist, chocolate and greeting card industries. Single people say it just makes them more aware of being single. That is all sad. This is what I found out regarding the history of St. Valentine’s Day.

The story goes that during the reign of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in several bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius found it tough to get soldiers and felt the reason was men did not join the army because they did not wish to leave their wives and families. As a result Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. A romantic at heart, priest of Rome Saint Valentine defied Claudius’s unjustified order. Along with Saint Marius, Saint Valentine secretly married couples. When his defiance was discovered, Valentine was brutally beaten and put to death on February 14, about 270 AD. After his death Valentine was named a Saint.

According to another version of legend Valentine was killed because he attempted to help Christians escape from the Roman prison as they were being tortured and beaten there. By the Middle Ages, Valentine assumed the image of heroic and romantic figure amongst the masses in England and France. Later, when Christianity spread through Rome, the priests moved Lupercalia from February 15 to February 14. Around 498 AD, Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as St. Valentine’s Day to honor the martyr Valentinus and to end the pagan celebration.

Sounds to me like Valentine was  single too. So whether you’re paired or not, lets celebrate the gift of Love with this beautiful paper pieced heart block! Download the pattern ILoveUsYearRound.Pgs10-12 (Sorry, free download expired. Please purchase I Love Us pattern to get the instructions). I didn’t include detailed instructions on paper piecing but I did list several links and tutorials if you’re not familiar with the paper piecing process.

This class will be held Sunday afternoon on February 8, at 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. I will supply the pattern and instructions and teach paper piecing at a beginner level. I hope you can join us for a fun afternoon. You can sign up online or visit In Between Stitches in Livermore.

Absewlutely,

Lisa