Our Jane Austen Party

Welcome to my second annual

 Jane Austen Party

The house has been decorated…….I brought down all the heart garlands that you’ve seen in my studio.

  I was still in the bustle of preparations as my guests arrived.  We had lovely food, heavenly cocoa, and sweet punch. After eating we presented a dramatic reading, ‘The Visit’ by Jane Austen, from her juvenile works. We also read two short scraps, also from Jane’s juvenile writings, which can be found below.

We then danced a bit. Needing more room than the piano room can offer, this year we pulled furniture out of the family room and had room for five couples to stand up together. Our English country dancing was relatively successful, even if our space was still rather confined.

 

Visitors brought their own additions to paste into ‘Emma and Harriet’s book of Love Poems’. After the book was assembled we all admired it, guessed at some of the riddles, and then had a drawing to see which lucky participant would win it.

 

 

 

 

  Pictures of the book’s ‘courtship’ page I made, and below are more pictures of the event, thanks to a few lovely young ladies who were very willing to pose for us. I’m regretting that I didn’t get pictures of the whole group. I had some enthusiastic friends and family here to enjoy the day, I just didn’t pick up my camera often enough. But here are just a few more. Thanks for visiting!

    

Two short works by Jane Austen:

THE ADVENTURES OF
MR. HARLEY

A short, but interesting Tale, is with all imaginable Respect inscribed to Mr. Francis William Austen, Midshipman on board his Majesty's Ship the Perseverance by his Obedient Servant

THE AUTHOR

MR. HARLEY was one of many Children. Destined by his father for the Church & by his Mother for the Sea, desirous of pleasing both, he prevailed on Sir John to obtain for him a Chaplaincy on board a Man of War. He accordingly cut his Hair and sailed.

In half a year he returned & set-off in the Stage Coach for Hogsworth Green, the seat of Emma. His fellow travelers were, A man without a Hat, Another with two, An old maid, & a young Wife.

This last appeared about 17, with fine dark Eyes & an elegant Shape; in short, Mr. Harley soon found out that she was his Emma & recollected he had married her a few weeks before he left England.

A Tour through Wales --
in a Letter from a young Lady --

MY DEAR CLARA

I HAVE been so long on the ramble that I have not till now had it in my power to thank you for your Letter. -- We left our dear home on last Monday month; and proceeded on our tour through Wales, which is a principality contiguous to England and gives the title to the Prince of Wales. We travelled on horseback by preference. My Mother rode upon our little pony, & Fanny & I walked by her side or rather ran, for my Mother is so fond of riding fast that She galloped all the way. You may be sure that we were in a fine perspiration when we came to our place of resting. Fanny has taken a great many Drawings of the Country, which are very beautiful, tho' perhaps not such exact resemblances as might be wished, from their being taken as she ran along. It would astonish you to see all the Shoes we wore out in our Tour. We determined to take a good Stock with us & therefore each took a pair of our own besides those we set off in. However we were obliged to have them both capped & heelpeiced at Carmarthen, & at last when they were quite gone, Mama was so kind as to lend us a pair of blue Satin Slippers, of which we each took one and hopped home from Hereford delightfully --

I am your ever affectionate

Elizabeth Johnson.

(Thank you for visiting my tea party! –Lynnae)

Valentines Day

Can You Feel The Love……..

My husband had a treat for me on Valentines day. He handed me a heart shaped box of chocolates. On it was a note containing the riddle that Mr. Elton gives to Emma. 

I smiled and then opened the chocolate, and found……..

He had cut out the box sections so he could fit the DVD in there! Sweet!

(I will add that that gift was soon followed up by a box of chocolates from my favorite local shop).

I made chocolate covered strawberries for us, and he cooked the most tender steaks I’ve had in ages.

Emma – Conclusion

The conclusion of Emma was Sunday night. I loved the adaptation and hope to add it to my collection. The Box Hill scenery was so lovely!

 

I don’t know where Box Hill is or if this could have been filmed on location. There is nothing modern to be seen in the view, but whether they filmed in in England or went up to Scotland or Ireland I don’t know. It is gorgeous though. If you know, leave a comment.

Last year over mid winter break I threw a little Jane Austen Tea Party for my family. You can see pictures here.  I am going to do it again and I’m inviting a few outside the family circle. I know not everyone will have a regency costume, but that’s fine. I’m just trying to think of those who love Austen like I do.

So this is what I’m planning. It’s actually a ‘punch and cocoa’ tea party, since I don’t drink tea or know anything about it.  We will have other little treats as well.  We will have a short theatrical presentation from Jane Austen’s work. Last year we tried a little English country dance, which we may do again, but we are severely limited by the size of my house, so I have to be flexible there.

Book of Love by Emma Woodhouse and Harriet Smith

Were you as enchanted as I was by the way this version of ‘Emma’ depicted Emma and Harriet’s ‘love’ book, for their collection of love poems, riddles and charades?

Instantly I wanted one like it….But then I had this fun idea today for the Tea Party. I found a small book of craft paper tied with ribbon. We will use it to make a book at the party!

I will start it out with a cover page and inside, Mr. Elton's 'charade' to Emma Woodhouse and Harriet Smith.
I will then invite every visitor who wants to participate in the 'Love' book to create a little page with a love poem, or riddle, suitable for the ladies, printed or nicely written, worthy of their sweet little book.
Page size...4" wide and 5 1/2 " long, embellished with pretty little cutout things, stamps, pressed flowers, lace or ribbon.
As guests arrive they will paste it into the book. After our theatrical reading we will raffle the book off to someone who contributed.

So today’s latest idea should keep my busy for a while. I’ll let you know how it goes!

-Lynnae

Part two of Emma……

…..was great. I think I’m as excited for the trip to Box Hill as she is, even thought I know it will all turn out badly.

I sorely missed the famous line of Emma’s to Mr. Knightly at the dance… “We are not really so much brother and sister as to make it all improper.”

“Brother and sister! No, indeed!”

-Lynnae

How Much of a Janeite Am I?

I am here to report my official score from the esteemed and reputable facebook application quiz “How Much of a Janeite Are You?'”.

I had 21 correct out of 23. My final score, which seems to factor in the time needed, was 2612.  I don’t know how many have taken the quiz so far, But I ranked in the global top ten at the time of completion. Now to hunt down the other nine……..

-Lynnae

Emma on PBS

The newest adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma began on Sunday night, on PBS  Masterpiece.

The show stars Romola Garai and Jonny Lee Miller (Edmund from Mirimax’ Mansfield Park).

 I have been very happy with this adaptation. I think the acting is wonderful. A few friends have mentioned that Harriet Smith’s hairstyles were fancier than Emma’s. I noticed that too and I don’t think it’s right. It seems like some modern preferences have come through there, but that is a small issue. I know some people don’t like Garai’s acting as Emma. I thought it was great and pretty true to the book- but I will have to qualify that by showing my true colors….I’m a Jane Fairfax fan.

Poor Jane Fairfax. Having an aunt like Miss Bates is a big strike against her, but it’s not her fault! Jane has all the merit, skill and talent on her side, and Emma has only money and the traditions of society. Jane’s one fault was taking the destiny of her life into her own hands!

 

Well, there’s my two cents worth. The next episode is on Sunday!

How did you like the beginning?

Note: The production photo from the top of the story was found at interactive.wxxi.org . I did not see an original site for this photo. It is gorgeous and worth zooming in on. It makes me want to get out the paints. I feel like I am with the characters on the Box Hill outing.

-Lynnae

BBC 1 Airs Emma

It’s a happy day for Janeites when a new Austen adaptation comes along. This is a heads up that Episode 1 of Emma has aired and some sweet person has put it up on You tube. Click here to watch Emma.

Until I have my own DVD in my hands this will have to do. The quality is excellent and so far I really like the approach to the story. Enjoy!

-Lynnae

Emma and Giveaway

I just saw my first preview of the BBC’s new Emma 2009. Here is a link to the preview on YouTube.

Oh, I’m so excited!!! I may learn to love Mr. Knightly after all!!!!

I had a chat with my mom today about the 2010 Jane Austen Society of North America AGM in Portland. It's all about Northanger Abbey. I am so fired up about this trip. We talked hotels, dresses, bookstores, museums etc. for quite a while this morning.

One more thing, if you haven’t entered my BLOG GIVEAWAY yet please go to the giveaway post and comment by July 15. I don’t want anyone to miss out!

I’m halfway through ‘Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict’ and I love it so far. But laundry and dinner calls……..

Jane Austen Society Annual General Meeting

I'm home from my wonderful trip to Canada for The Jane Austen Society of North America. It was a great experience, though it was so Jam packed with Austen goodness that I rarely had time to eat if the meal wasn't included in the convention with the time blocked out. I also rose around 6 and stayed up till at least 1 am each day, so I'm beat. On Friday night this was my fault for bringing a dress and gloves that still needed the little tiny buttons sewn on.
I drove up on Thursday afternoon, and after a little map confusion, arrived at the Hotel around 7:45. The first lecture was at 7:30, so I dropped my luggage in the room and when down for that hour, which was followed by another, smaller discussion group where people shared their favorite quotes from Emma.

In this room I recognized my roommate, and after the class was done she was heading down to the hotel lounge for a drink, so I decided I would go along to get a dinner of appetizers and a soda at 10:00 p.m.
The next morning at 9 was my 'reticule' class, where we sew by hand a cloth purse like they used over the turn of the 18th to 19th century. The kits were precut, linings and lovely fabrics, with trims and drawstrings in the packet. Some of them had beautiful antique lace or bead trims within the kit. Mine wasn't as fancy but I wanted one that matched my ball dress. Now that class had been an additional $35.00 fee, and I later saw a purse much like mine that a woman had bought pre-made upstairs in the Jane Austen Emporium for half the price it cost me to go to the class and learn to sew it by hand. Still, the class gave me a chance to sit with other ladies and get to know them as I was sewing, and I would do it all again.
Even thought the class was two hours, few people finished. I packed up my materials and put it all in a little gift bag so I could carry it around and sew during lecture classes. I finished, and this is the reticule you see me holding in the pictures.
About the speeches and breakout sessions- even though I love the information, class after hour long class of someone reading their presentation, even about Jane Austen, can get a little tiring. So the lighter side activities were, shall we say, SO REFRESHING! I’m not used to sitting still all day, and if I would have had more free time I would have taken a few laps around the block.
Quite a few ladies attended the entire conference in costume, and I wouldn't mind doing that if I had more of a wardrobe. It was very fun to see people dressed up.
Friday Night there was a play, “Mrs. Knightly Pays a Call: A Conversation at Randalls”. I went very early, skipping dinner so I could have a good seat. I have heard from many attendees that they didn’t enjoy the play because they couldn’t hear in the back of the room. It’s unfortunate. I really enjoyed it and the women who performed were great.

On Saturday during the lunch break there was a more informal play called “The Courting of Mrs. Elton”. My roommate went down early to hold a chair for me, and I arrived soon thereafter- thankfully, because the little room filled up fast and people were left out in the hall. I say this was informal, because the actors held scripts and read their parts as they acted them out, but it was a delightful comedy. I would love to report who was in the play, and can only say, having lost my flyer and being uninformed as I am, that the authoress acted the part of Augusta Hawkins, the future Mrs. Elton, and Juliet McMaster, to the intense delight of the crowd, played the role of Mr. Elton. This was one of my favorite events of the whole AGM. Worth missing lunch for and only eating a glass full of dry raisin bran from my room and a diet A&W to get me through till banquet time. I don’t mean for the lack of food to be a repetitive theme here. Perhaps it’s just to show you my dedication to Austen, opting to attend events rather than eat.
There were many good discussions and detailed interpretations of Austen's novels, and many people to meet and talk to while waiting for an event to begin. It is so easy to be friendly when we all have a common interest. As you know, I was matched with a roommate. My roommate and I got along well together and I think I did well in that department. I’m only sorry I left the light on so long on Friday trying to finish the sewing!

Saturday night was the feast and Regency Ball. The dining was wonderful. I had the roast pheasant, which was delicious. The Ballroom itself was a magical regency style ballroom with decorated walls and ceiling and three huge chandeliers. There was a large ornate stage at one end where the little orchestra was, and a dance mistress helped to guide us novices through the steps until we had caught on. There were several hundred people there, so often the dance formed three long lines. A lot of ladies danced with other ladies for a partner but it was fun because anyone who wanted to could give it a try.
I danced four dances. Each one probably went on for 15 minutes, and that would only get you halfway up the entire line of couples dancing. I’m told that a dance at a real ball would continue until the head couple has worked their way all the down to the bottom of the set and back up to the top again. So it is easy to see how one could go on till the wee hours of the morning.
We didn't do any dance for that long because they wanted to get through at least 8 and there were so many couples. Even so, we went until midnight and I was only thinking it was about 10:30. My favorite dance by far is the one seen in A&E's P&P at Netherfield, when Mr. Darcy first dances with Elizabeth. This dance is so beautiful. The couples mostly walk from place to place, weaving within their line, but at one point two couples join hands in a line facing the head of the room, and step forward for three, and back for three. The result over a whole ballroom is fabulous, because there is all this weaving and confusion, then all of a sudden everyone is lined up and the whole room moves forward in this wave, then goes back, then its all mixed up again. It really was a magical moment.
The very unfortunate name of that beautiful dance is Mr. Beverages Maggot. This afternoon I watched that section of A&E’s Pride and Prejudice to recognize the dance that I had learned. I was stunned, (though why should I have been surprised?) at how perfectly the dance was performed and how well choreographed their conversation was within the dance. I’ve always found it strange that Sir William Lucas stops to talk to Mr. Darcy during the dance, and Darcy is just standing there. Now I understand that they had reached the end of the line, and they wait out for a moment and join in again to head back up the set, turning from a #1 couple to a #2 couple. As they move back up the set they have less dancing to perform than they did at first, and more moments where they are just standing. This perfectly suits the agitated nature of their conversation and symbolizes the awkwardness of feeling by the time the dance is finished. I should have expected no less from the most perfect show ever to be seen on television.
Sunday morning I attended an Anglican church service across the street that incorporated texts written by Jane Austen. I checked out of my room after that, then attended the closing brunch, and finally a wonderful concert of music from the era of Jane Austen by Pro Musica, “A Jane Austen Parlor” It was simply beautiful!
Leaving my family for several days is a new thing for me. I think my trip was a success and I am already longing to go to another one. Next year is Chicago, then Philadelphia, but after that is Portland, so if I don't get to go sooner I will be planning for that on Oct of 2010.


See You there!

I finished Emma today. Much like Frank Churchill's letter convinces everyone to be happy and like him again, the cheerful final chapters put me in a good mood with this book, and I think it's not so bad after all. Since I finished this morning I've been doing chores and laundry and catching up with everything that falls behind when I have a book I'm reading. I also stopped in the middle of 'Basic Economics' by Thomas Sowell. It's an interesting book, and dovetails nice with Emma.
I read in the Jasna News about an upcoming film entitled Sense and Sensibilidad'. Now that sounds fun. I'm glad Jane Austen never grows old, because there is always another rendition or interpretation around the corner. I was suprised to hear that a friend had never seen 'Bride and Prejudice'. I said "You HAVE to see it!" and she said maybe she'd buy it. To which I said, "Maybe you should just rent it."

Almost Done With Emma

and good thing because I'm getting behind on the housework! I hate to admit this with Emma's AGM coming up, but it is not high on my list of Jane Austen favorites. But maybe afterwards I'll have a greater appreciation. My favorite novel of all time is Mansfield Park, with Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice in second and third. I know Mansfield Park sparks some debate among Jane Austen Fans, But I think I love Fanny Price so much because I more closely relate to her. My DREAM is to see a movie version of Mansfield Park that is fairly accurate to the book, and alas, I don't think this will ever happen. I spend a lot of time trying to persuade Jane Austen fans to even READ Mansfield Park. I was excited to hear that the ITV versions will be on PBS in the US in January. I can't wait. I've wanted to buy them and they are not available in a format for US TV's yet. I have heard from some people that they have been seen on youtube, and some people even stayed up all night to watch all three of the new movies on a four inch screen in seven minute sections and found it well worthwhile. I'm not condoning such crazed fan behavior, but this is what I hear about the movies.......... The new Mansfield Park was dissapointing, and seemed to be made for a teenage audience desiring nothing more than pretty buildings and regency costumes. The characterizations were all wrong, which makes the plot seem random and bizzarre. The Northanger Abbey was delightful, and really gives a new appreciation for the story, which is often overlooked because of it's simplicity and, I feel, because it is a parody of the typical gothic romance of the day. But the book is sweet because of the way Jane's voice comes through, and this movie is just that, sweet, delightful, well cast. There is a fan vieo on Youtube using clips of the movie to the song "As I Lay Me Down' by Sophie B. Hawkins, that is just excellent, by the way, and could serve as a trailer or promo for the film in January if you aren't quite up to watching the little Youtube screen the way some people are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AzHKf1wmhg ...As I Lay Me Down...
The ITV Persuasion was the most pleasant suprise and is highly reccommended. The casting was wonderful, the mood came across so well. For being condensed into the length of feature it is, it covered the story well, with a little creative liscence in the epilogue. It is so good it may atone for the weak Mansfield Park. The novel always brings a tear to my eye, even after many readings, and the movie reached that level of emotion. So here's to a countdown till January, and even better if they go on sale for Christmas!

Jane Austen Society

Looks like I’m up and running!

I am so excited for the JASNA (Jane Austen Society of North America) general meeting, and want to share my plans along with pictures and comments during the weekend of the meeting. I am a first timer, so everything AGM related is new to me. I am a lifetime member of JASNA, thanks to my sweetie’s thoughtful Christmas gift a couple years ago.
I want to make a dress for the AGM. I’d love to have two, but there’s little more than a month to sew, and my skills leave a lot to be desired. I won’t even be able to start until the kids get in school next week. I was hoping to have a pattern picked out by now. One of my friends told me she has regency costume patterns, so I may run over and see what she’s got on Wednesday, before I go to the fabric store. As far as the color goes, I have gone back and forth between red, or white with a sweet little pattern. Now, since it’s mainly for the evening I’m leaning toward the white. I would like to model it after the dress pictured on the cover of “Jane Austen’s Town and Country Style”, which is light with a small dotted pattern, and has rows of lace around the bottom. I want a high empire waist, but not too much gathering. I don’t want to look puffy around the middle, so I may trade historical accuracy for a more flattering fit.
When I registered for the AGM one of my hopes was to get into the Country Dance workshops, but they were full. That was a minor disappointment. Since then additional workshops have been added on Wednesday night of the AGM, but I will not be arriving until Thursday, so it doesn’t help me any. Maybe I can find a video on the internet. Or maybe I should watch the ballroom scenes from P&P over and over again until I have them down….Either way I am going to have a good time and try dancing a little.
I only live a few hours away from Vancouver, so I’ll be driving. I opted for roommate matching when I registered, so that is another fun part of the adventure. My roommate has reserved the room at the Fairfield and I can’t wait to see it, and meet her.
I am reading Emma again so it will be fresh in my mind. I may go into this more in a later entry, but I’m frustrated that Mr. Knightly isn’t kinder. This time through I’m really struck by the sense of ‘entitlement’ that he has towards her. No wonder Emma can’t think of him in a romantic way. He’s been nothing but her critic from the time she was small. Who wants that?