14th February - Is That A Special Day?! ......

I thought the following piece was quite appropriate, with my family living just outside Paris.  What a wonderful idea.  Some of the stamps are truly a miniature work of art in themselves.

Every year, for Valentines day, La Poste (the French postal service) issues postage stamps designed by the greatest names in the French fashion industry such as Hermes, Chanel and Cacharel. These Valentine day stamps are heart shaped and come in various denominations and presentations, They are gorgeous tiny pieces of art, and can make a cheap affordable collection.

They are stunning, aren't they? Imagine receiving a Valentine in the post, decorated with one of these beautiful stamps.  But, there you are, that's the French for you = the most romantic of people, and Paris, of course, has always been considered to be the City of Love.  Apart from the very first image, I think my other favourite is the last one.

Here are a few more designs that have featured over the years.

Here we have the 2013 design by Hermes.  The design was created by one of their scarf designers, Zoe Pauwels.  A treat for the eyes, and much cheaper to buy than the actual Hermes scarf!

I would like to thank my friend Anne from the blog Anne in Oxfordshire for giving me the idea for this item.  Thank you Anne!

"All you need is love - but a little chocolate every now and then also helps"

Charles M Schulz.

"I want a man who is kind and understanding.  Is that too much to ask of a millionaire??"

Zsa Zsa Gabor.

Going back to Paris, the above is a photo of the Luxembourg Palace and Gardens. The gardens surrounding the palace have long been a hotbed of romance for centuries.  Famous couples - including Napoleon and Josephine have frequented the garden.  Today, lovers still stroll among the beautiful statues, fountains and flowerbeds.    The Palace is situated near the famous Latin Quarter of Paris.

Located in Paris' 18th arrondissement, the above Wall of "I Love You's" has always been a meeting place for lovers of love. " I love you" is written in over 250 languages!

The above photo was taken in Monmartre, which is set on a hill in Northern Paris.  This is one of my favourite haunts in Paris, with wonderful views of the city.  Artists such as Claude Monet, Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh either had studios here,  or worked in this wonderful part of Paris.

WISHING ALL MY FRIENDS NEAR AND FAR A VERY HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!