On a bright and sunny Friday in the Cal State Fullerton Arboretum, an array of Valentine’s Day decorations scattered across the porch of the newly opened Heritage House.
Hosted by the Arboretum, “Be My Valentine,” a Victorian Valentine’s Day card workshop, allowed attendees to step back in time through a hands-on creative experience.
Guests were offered an assortment of card-making decorations to choose from with an array of different colored cards, laces and ribbons provided.
“So this is the first community event, and what I’m doing is tying the history of the time period of Heritage House to the starting of Valentine cards in the same time period,” said Susan McNamara, Heritage House coordinator for the Arboretum. “So it’s a combination of learning history and crafting.”
While guests focused on creating their own cards, the possibilities were endless. The Victorian style of the cards played a major role in setting this event apart from others.
To accurately reflect the era, McNamara researched historical Valentine’s Day cards to capture an authentic Victorian feel.
“I went through a collection of Valentine cards from the turn of the century that the original woman that brought this house to the Arboretum put together,” McNamara said. “Looking at them made me think about what kinds of ribbons, lace and doilies could I buy so people could create something similar.”
Apart from the card making, guests were able to take a brief tour of the Heritage House to connect them to the Victorian era.
Throughout the tour, Arboretum volunteers explained the history of the house and its romantic significance, including replicas of the Clark family’s wedding dress and jewelry.
“A big chunk is the actual art of making the cards and all that kind of stuff. We are also going to do some tours throughout the house to show the sort of art of love back in the Victorian era,” said Emilia Pereda, annual giving representative at the Arboretum.
To add to the history portion of the tour, Victorian-era Valentine’s Day cards were scattered across the table, adding to the atmosphere of the event.
“I actually love writing cards to people, expressing myself and really affirming them in that way and expressing my love,” said CSUF alumna Mayra Encinas. “I think it was even more meaningful now as we did a little tour of the house to see the beauty in the way that was a way to connect with people.”
Throughout the stay, attendees enjoyed being able to converse with the community and sip on refreshments while they indulged in crafting.
The art of card making brings back a refreshment of community that was once very prominent in history. By combining historical tradition with creative expression, the workshop offered attendees a chance to slow down and connect with history.
“I feel like we’re always on the go and we live in such a time of busyness and getting things done, where it actually feels like this is a gentle invitation (to) just be greeted by just wonderful people,” Encinas said.
Events like the Victorian Valentine’s Day workshop reflect the Arboretum’s broader goal of bringing the Heritage House back to life.
After being closed due to COVID-19, the Heritage House has been remodeled and is gradually reopening to the public, with third-grade field trips scheduled as its first group of visitors following the event.
By pairing education with interactive activities, organizers hope to attract visitors of all ages to indulge in its history.