Retro Valentine’s Workshop in Echo Park

LA-based artist and designer Britt Browne leads a Valentine's workshop using unexpected materials (felt hearts, hibiscus tea-stained paper, and love knots made from Spanish sheep's wool, for instance).

We have raved before about Cookbook's impeccably sourced foods and well stocked larder (see Shopper's Diary: Cookbook in Los Angeles). Equally worthy of note is Cookbook's No. 2 space next door, which is used to host tastings and classes on the intersection of food, history, and design. For Valentine's Day this year, owners Marta Teegan and Robert Stelzner invited local artist Britt Browne to create a display "that incorporated food with a nod to the Victorians, who excelled at all things Valentine." To read more about Britt's work, visit Britt Browne.

Photography by Mimi Giboin for Remodelista.

N.B. For more photos of the event, check out our album on Facebook.

Above: Artist Britt Browne leads the class.

Above: A typewriter for composing amorous prose.

Above: Materials included old-fashioned twine and felt.

Above: A sample of current goods on offer at the No. 2 space. Marta Teegan says, "Our displays are typically tied to a holiday and always include food. We value functional, well-made objects, especially those that reference a certain time and place."

Above: The black hearts are made from vanilla beans suspended from twine (available at the shop for $14); at right is a garland made from amarynth flowers.

Above: Amarynth flowers and paper cards. According to Britt, "We made our Valentines with rice and mulberry paper, which are nice porous papers and great for bleeds with tea staining."

Above: For creating subtle stains, Britt favors PG Tips, LØV Tea from Denmark, and hibiscus tea made from loose hibiscus flowers.

Above: An intricately folded creation.

Above: Hand-spun undyed wool from Spain is used to create the love knots.

Above: Britt created the large heart (displayed on the tray above) by mixing different shades of red. "The blood oranges were there for inspiration because they had such a rich crimson bleed," she says. "They were also a little amuse bouche for the participants."

Above: A felt heart sewn inside an origami creation.

Above: An intricately lettered creation.