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Lynda Susan has been chosen to join the distinguished group of craftsmen who comprise Early American Life Magazine's 2007 directory of traditional American crafts.. She was also chosen as a winner in 2006, 2005 and 2004.

Lynda was just recently written up in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. Please click here to read the article.

One of Lynda's works was featured in the July 2006 issue of Country Living Magazine, in an article on sea shells on page 34.

Lynda Susan is a member of the
Traditional Folk Art website.

Related Sites:
D.E.L.S.
delsiv@comcast.net
D.E.L.S. is located in East Freetown, MA. They are a supplier of Nantucket baskets and component parts.

Sailors' valentines were made in Barbados between 1830 and 1880 by the natives and sold to English and American sailors. This was a port of call for the ships coming home. The sailors bought these souvenirs as tokens of love to their wives or girlfriends.

The valentines were octagonal boxes made of cedrella (Spanish cedar). They contained mosaic designs created from seashells often including a message of sentiment. A glass was placed over the design to protect the delicate shells.

The old sailors' valentines are coveted by collectors and demand very high prices at auction. The rest are in museums and prized. Today there are but a few of us who are recreating these treasures in the traditional style.

I saw my first Valentine in a museum on Cape Cod as a child and have always been fascinated by them. Several years ago I tried to purchase one but it was too costly. A friend suggested that I create one. It has become my passion and will be tomorrow's heirlooms.

A local craftsman makes all the octagon boxes and then I faux finish them to look like the 19th Century ones. My mosaic works are all original designs but they too are modeled after the 19th Century valentines. The traditional Nantucket baskets incorporated into some of the sailors' valentines are created by Jane Theobald of Ohio.

Feel free to view my gallery. If you have any questions, comments, or would like to purchase my work, please contact me.

Lynda Susan Hennigan

P.O. Box 406 45 Winding Road, Brooklyn, CT 06234 • 860-774-9986 • lyndabow@webtv.net

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