Heart's Delight by Shona Sabnis Beauty meets romance at the Torpedo Factory. Photo by John Hartman Oh, the pressure. Plenty of local merchantsoffer gifts that are decidedly hip, original and, most important, romantic. The showfeatures work from a range of D.C.-area artists.
Cards are expertly hand-painted with watercolors.
The card is so gorgeous, in fact, thatyour sweetie may want to frame it. Marafioti also sells friendship cards, for those who want to remember platonic relationships onValentine's Day. Ann Bucklew sells valentines with a heart motif that she makes with a printmaker's press, usingmaterials like gauze and twine to create a rich texture with paint. Or you could go with something totally different and buy your valentine one of metalsmith DawnBenedetto's creations. Mostly copper with sterling silver accents and hand-stamped lettering, thesepieces, which come mostly in spiral and heart shapes, can be used as bookmarks or even pendants.