Creative Courtship: Objects of the Heart

Say you have a crush on someone. Or maybe you're already a couple. Instead of sending her an email or calling him up, has it ever occurred to you to secretly fill her mailbox with tangerines or to dangle crayons from the tree outside his window?

The Creative Courtship project explores mediums of romantic conversation and connection via a curated gallery of images and personal stories. This collection of creative approaches to courtship inspires us all to think outside of the "inbox" and remember that we live in a vivid world of color and texture.

How to participate in Creative Courtship:

	Invent a new creative courting activity that involves objects. The most successful ideas tend to be those that are customized for the particular recipient. See the guide for tips and prompts that can help you develop and refine your concept.
	Submit your idea for possible inclusion in the online gallery. Fill out and submit the following form, and then email me an image or two that best captures your idea. Your name: Your email address: Your concept:
	OR you can try an idea from the gallery below. Be sure to add your own twist to make it personal! Consider starting a back-and-forth conversation and end your creative courting activity with an invitation for the other person to respond with one of his/her own. Good luck!

The Creative Courtship Gallery...

	A Mailbox of Tangerines (posted by Lea) Small sweet gems - each in its own natural packaging. They are still in season. He's lovely. So why not?
	My Beloved Calls Me 'The King of Chapstick'... (submitted by Matt) At any given time, I probably have at least two dozen chapsticks tucked in various places around our house, at my office, in my bag -- but I never seem to have one handy when I need it. She tells me that one day, to show me just how much she loves me, she's going to make me a custom chapstick holster, so I'll never again be without. And when she does? I'm dreaming of reciprocating by crocheting her a little nose warmer, to keep the chill she so dislikes off the tip of her sweet and tender nose. What a happy and romantic pair we'll be, sporting the evidence of how much the other cares!
	Ping Pong in the Mail (posted by Lea) Idea: Send your romantic interest a ping pong ball in the mail with a note written on it. Include a package of blank ping pong balls for him/her so the two of you can play a game of ping pong through the mail, writing a new message each time. It's fun to put the ball loose in a box with no packing material so your recipient can hear it bounce around in the box! Alternatively, send a blank ping pong ball as a puzzle of sorts and see if the other person sends it back to you or not!
	Origami Message Cranes (submitted by Sarah/Mechelle) My Boo and I will upon occasion make each other paper cranes. Each crane has to have a reason it was made, ie, "to make you smile" or "because its raining". We also like to date them.
	A Treeful of Crayons (posted by Lea) Remember the book "Harold and the Purple Crayon"? Well, a romantic interest once told me that he was Harold for Halloween when he was in kindergarten, carrying around a giant cardboard purple crayon. (And this happens to be my favorite book from childhood.) So this one's for him. The idea is to fill a tree outside his window with dangling crayons. Who knows: the crayons might start coloring all those white blossoms in the night!
	Envelope Paintings (submitted by Ron) Years ago, I painted a picture on the opened up inside of an envelope, sealed it back up and mailed it to my fiancé (now wife). Check out all of Ron's envelope art on Flickr
	Toothbrush Notes (submitted by Jacque) There's just something innocent but sweet about a toothbrush. Plus fun to find an unexpected message in the morning (or late at night!) when you probably need it most. The "now come kiss me" is a favorite. Other messages are: "hurry home", "smile, someone loves you" and "wish you could pack me in your suitcase too."