A surfeit of Austen

Is there such a thing as too much Jane Austen? Not so long ago I would have said definitely not, but I have recently been on a Jane Austen marathon and I think it has sent me crazy. In my head I am speaking in 'Austen'. If someone says something which I don't understand, the response in my head is "La - what can you mean?" Fortunately, this has not yet manifested itself in spoken words.

I have been imagining that as I go about my day-to-day activities, I am being watched and judged by a gaggle of beautifully dressed men and women and I fear that, by their standards, I am being judged very harshly indeed.



Carrying their reticules and parasols, wearing their tippets and warming their hands in their muffs they follow me around in amazement.




I dress myself in the morning, make the bed and do the washing. Fans are brought to mouths to conceal snide remarks. She has not even one maid to assist her.


I turned on the dustbuster this morning to remove some crumbs and enjoyed seeing them cover their ears to block out the noise - the likes of which would never have been heard in their genteel Georgian rooms.



They recoil in horror as I get into my car. What sort of infernal machine is that - she keeps no horses or carriages.



They came with me to my yoga class. Men and women in a state of undress and in the same room together - they quite swooned away and had to revive each other with lavender water.

As I walk with baby C in his perambulator - I hear 'what, no nurserymaid and where is her sprigged muslin and bonnet?'.



As we walk along by the river, lycra-clad bikers and joggers fly past us - there is a collective intake of breath as they almost fall into the bushes in horror.

However, when I bring out my workbasket and begin to knit or sew, I feel that I have slightly redeemed myself when I hear them whisper - she sews a fine seam.

But I wish they would all go away and leave me in peace. Let them try living in my world with no servants to do the dirty work, cooks to prepare the meals, nurserymaids, gardeners and footmen ready to perform all life's chores.

And I think the above-mentioned might have just a tinge of envy when they see some of my labour saving devices - the washing machine, oven and dishwasher must be things of wonder. And surely Jane's ladies would regard my sewing machine as a sight to behold as they laboriously stitch their household linens by hand.



Wait, do I hear some murmurs of approval. What freedom she has. She does not have to rely on finding a man with a great fortune in order to survive. She does not have to wear confining clothes and tight corsets. She can travel unaccompanied and have a profession without being scorned. However, I doubt that there is any real envy in their observations and they won't be wanting to change places with me any time soon. However, if Elizabeth Bennett makes an offer I would have to consider it very seriously. Being mistress of Pemberley would suit me just fine.

Books to inspire

Two beautiful new books have just landed with a very satisfying thud on the front door mat from Book Depository.





Jane's quilting book is such an inspiration. The photography is superb and the quilts full of colour. I want to start my own new quilt immediately and have begun stroking my fabrics in anticipation of what is to come.



Jane Austen's Sewing Box is fascinating and any lover of Austen will adore this book.



I doubt that I will make any of the projects, but it is so lovely to look at (more stroking going on) and is a real feast for the senses.



Just look at the detail in this dress. It is sobering to think that it was all made by hand. I realise how lucky we are today with all our machines and gadgets to make sewing life easier.

High on books

I love online shopping. I buy most of my fabric this way and also books. I love to be able to browse at leisure, make choices without any pressure and then there is the delicious anticipation of waiting for the parcel to arrive. I get a real high when I come home to find a package waiting for me. Look what was in the letterbox for me today. Two beautiful books from Persephone. I love their simple grey exteriors and then, when they are opened, a burst of colour comes from their endpapers which are often reproductions of old fabrics. An added bonus is a matching bookmark.




I can't wait to get my nose into these (when I have finished admiring and stroking them). The stories are usually set during the period between the First and Second World Wars and are a delightful glimpse into life at that time. How different it is today.

I now have three Persephone books.



Apparently, if you have three of something that constitutes a collection, or at least the beginning of one. I have a long way to go as there are over 80 books in the Persephone catalogue, but I have made a start and, hopefully, there will be a lot more highs to come.

Another World

This amazing book has been lurking in my mother’s cupboard forever and I have been coveting it since I discovered it about 3 years ago when we moved her from Sydney to Perth. Mum has now given it to me and that makes me very happy. It originally belonged to my Great Aunt Edith, who Mum tells me, did beautiful needlework. Aunt Edith has covered the book with linen which, sadly, the moths have been nibbling,
and she has stitched the title of the book on the spine. It was published in London but the only date in the book is that written by Aunt Edith – 1898.
It has only the one colour plate.
But many other pictures and diagrams. Love that apron! Tucked away in the back of the book are some Beatrix Potter like embroidery transfers. I am in awe when I handle these and think that they should probably be in a museum somewhere.

In the busy, technologically driven world we live in today, it is hard to imagine a time when there was a need for afternoon cloths and tray cloths. I can’t help wondering if our world would be a better place if there was.