February 11, 2005

San Jose resident warms your heart… With perfect Valentine’s Day gift

By Bea Baechle
Editor

Move over bun warmers and make way for heart warmers. San Jose resident Sandra D’Angela is transforming a gift originally made for her friends into a unique, handcrafted present that others want to give to their friends and loved ones.

Almaden resident Sandra D’Angela has transformed a gift of love into a business by selling handmade heart warmers.

Sewn in the obvious shape of a heart, the heart warmers are covered in soft cloth and filled with rice. They can be heated briefly in the microwave and then placed on the heart—or anywhere else—that could use a soothing dose of warmth and love.

Some customers put their heart warmers in plastic bags and freeze them. Once removed from the bag, the cool heart can then be placed on the forehead and eyes to soothe headaches or eyestrain.

Because the heart is a universal symbol, people have bought D’Angela’s heart warmers for birthdays, weddings and, of course, Valentine’s Day. They’ve also purchased them to uplift anyone who may be sad or depressed or simply as a gift of friendship and joy.

The interest in buying her heart warmers comes at a good time for D’Angela, who uses the proceeds to supplement her part-time income as she seeks a full-time job.

“During these tough economic times, especially for women of my age bracket, creativity is our most valuable asset,” said D’Angela, who has always used her imagination and creative abilities to keep a stiff upper lip when times were tough.

“We can use our imagination in ways that can support one another. I wanted to be able to use the symbol of a heart—which is really what life is all about—and pass it on to other people to bring them joy and to bless them,” she added. “Aside from the practical aspects of the gift, that is its prime purpose. The message is about loving one another. It’s that simple.”

D’Angela admits that she never intended to sell the heart warmers, but she saw how deeply they touched others. As more and more people requested them for their friends, she could no longer afford to give them all away.

One day a friend asked her, “What is the magic of these heart warmers?” D’Angela confessed that “it’s just the magic of your own heart in the spirit of giving that touches other people.”

The heart warmers cost $10 plus shipping and handling. Special delivery options are available for businesses or individuals who order in bulk. To place an order, call Sandra D’Angela at (408) 268-2017 or send an e-mail to: smdangela@cs.com.