Jane Austen's Home

"Mr.Elliott was rational, discreet, polished, but he was not open. There was never any burst of feeling, any warmth of indignation or delight, at the evil or good of others. This, to Anne, was a decided imperfection. Her early impressions were incurable. She prized the frank, the open-hearted, the eager character beyond all others. Warmth and enthusiasm did captivate her still. She felt that she could so much more depend upon the sincerity of those who sometimes looked or said a careless or a hasty thing, than of those whose presence of mind never varied, whose tongue never slipped."

(Jane Austen, Persuasion)

How much I love these lines! (And many more.)

Here are pictures of Jane Austen's home in Chawton, Hampshire, UK.  There she lived from 1809 to 1817, the year of her death, together with her sister Cassandra and her mother. It was there that she wrote her novels "Mansfield Park", "Emma" and "Persuasion". "Sense and Sensibility" was written earlier, but not published until 1811. "Pride and Prejudice" was published 1813. So at Chawton Jane Austen seemed to have had a a very productive and presumably happy time, receiving applause from her readers and also establishing some modest financial security.

Her home is now a lovely museum. (Jane Austen's House Museum)

The following pictures give us a glimpse of her home and her lovely quilt, which she made together with her sister and her mother.

In 1811 Jane Austen wrote in a letter to her sister Cassandra:

"... have you remembered to collect pieces for the Patchwork? -- we are now at a standstill."

http://www.jasa.net.au/quilt.htm

Her quilt delights me so much that I try to make a quilt which shows just the same pattern. I wrote about it in my earlier posts here.

These are my first patches:

And this is Jane Austen's wonderful quilt and home:

All Jane-Austen's-Home-pictures by Miller'sImageBank. THANK YOU!!! ♡

"How quick come the reasons for approving what we like!"

Jane Austen, Persuasion, published 1818

and this is a lovely colored drawing by Lilian Snelling,

made the same year in which "Persuasion" was published, 

one year after Jane Austen's death:

from: Diary 2012, The Royal Horticultural Society

Work In Progress

There are three main projects I'm working on right now. I love them all.

♡

My Haiku-Quilt. I know some letters can't be read easiliy, I want it to be this way. I want me (and readers) to be interested and to look closely and to WANT to understand things, and  - I think -
THEN we know! :-)

My complete Haiku can be found on my site:

 http://flugblatt.blogspot.de

(post from December 7, 2011)

My coverlet with hand-appliquéd leaves.

And my Jane-Austen-quilt. 

By the way: If anyone is interested I can fax my templates for this quilt. Just send me an e-mail then with your fax-address (MARIASmail@t-online.de)

(if you are interested: click on the image of your choice for a closer view)

Oh, I'm happy that my "Jane-Austen-Quilt" seems to turn out allright. 

Centerpiece

Well, I made some mistakes and miscalculations, it's all not that easy, but somehow now I have constructed the centerpiece of my quilt which I call 

"Jane-Austen-Quilt".

Very delightful work!

Jane - Austen - Quilt

Jane Austen seemed to have had a very productive time as a writer in the beginning of the 19th century. She also was a very accomplished seamstress and during that period she, her beloved sister Cassandra and her mother worked on a wonderful quilt.

Somehow I am drawn to her. I love her novels, the story of her life, I loved to watch the movie "Becoming Jane" with Anne Hathaway, and I love her quilt.

So now I decided to make a Jane-Austen-quilt. It will show her arrangement of diamonds, it will be made of floral and black-and-white spotted cotton fabrics, it will have nearly the same dimensions (236 x 155 cm) and a lovely centerpiece, it will be made of about 3000 pieces and it will be completely handmade.

Since each and every individually made quilt is unique I can't and don't want to make a quilt which tries to look as much as hers as possible... it wouldn't turn out right. But I can try to muster the same determination and the love for details as Jane Austen and her sister and her mother did in such an adorable way.

So, I made a start. After some research on the internet about the specifics and doing the maths I now have my templates ready and I found and cut my centerpiece as well as some diamonds.... This project will give me satisfaction and happiness for months and months and months and years to come. I will work on lots of other things, too, but the collecting of suitable fabrics (Jane Austen used 64 different fabrics!) and the construction of this quilt will be some kind of a steady "background melody" from now on.

For everyone who is interested, here are some wonderful and very informative sites about Jane Austen's quilt:

http://www.jasa.net.au/quilt.htm

http://www.jasa.net.au/quiltclark.htm

http://www.janeausten.co.uk/jane-austens-quilt/

http://www.rosaleeclark.com.au/making-janes-coverlet/jane-austen-quilt-pattern/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alisabethpix/3464487483/

Butterfly

The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough.

Rabindranath Tagore

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/butterfly.html

G is for Giraffes

A is for the Apes who danced between trees,

B for the Bear, disturbing the bees;

C is for the Clown who stood on his hands,

D for the Dolphins from far away lands;

E is for the Elephant, mighty and strong,

F for the Flags in the wind all day long;

G is for Giraffes who've escaped from the zoo,

H is for Hares saying how-do-you-do?

I is for an Island far out in the sea,

J is for Jaguars looking at me;

K is for the Kangoroo, handsome and bold,

L for the Lions whose fur glows like gold;

M is for the Mice with their long tails,

N for the Nutcracker whose bite never fails;

O is for the Orange trees that stand on the hill,

P is for the Pelican with his long bill;

Q is for Quinces, so yellow and round,

R is for the Roses climbing up from the ground;

S is for Salamander, creeping so slow,

T for the Table and my toys down below;

U is for Underwear, dried in the sun,

V is for Volcano, spitting fire like a gun;

W is for the Weasels, on their hind feet,

X is for Xylophone, making music so sweet;

Y is for Yeti, who lives in the snow,

Z for the Zebras who don't know where to go.

from: An Address Book For Children, by Monika Beisner, 

1978 Eel Pie Publishing, England

Finished!

It's time to celebrate for me! I finished a new quilt!

I worked on it (though not continually) since August 2011 -  I talked about it earlier here, on August 9, 2011 ("Reverse Side") and March 3, 2012 ("In and Out, A Blue Underground Pattern")...

... and right now I just sit and am happy with it! 

It's funny, but this work really means something to me.

fragments and pieces

when assembled they explode

and form a new quilt

Carpet Bag

"Why," said Jane, "there's nothing in it!"
"What do you mean - nothing?" demanded Mary Poppins, drawing herself up and looking as though she had been insulted.
...
"From the carpet bag she took out seven flannel nightgowns, four cotton ones, a pair of boots, a set of dominoes, two bathing-caps and a postcard album. Last of all came a folding camp-bedstead with blankets and eiderdown complete, and this she set down between John's cot and Barbara's.
Jane and Michael sat hugging themselves and watching. It was all so surprising that they could find nothing to say. But they knew, both of them, that something strange and wonderful had happened at Number Seventeen, Cherry-Tree Lane."


(from: "Mary Poppins" by P.L.Travers, 1934)


... and this here is a "carpet bag" I made, it seems to be empty? Well, it isn't!

It's A Girl

Well, here is my Easter bunny taking a break from hiding eggs, posing for a quick photo. 

And yes: It's a girl, wearing her best dress today. And yes: She (again) had put on two different shoes, it happened in her haste today to get everything done. And yes: She is often being complimented on her extraordinary ears!

And off she goes again!

HAPPY EASTER!

Easter Bunny

Easter is coming ...

and my Easter bunny is waiting to get all dressed up!

"You never forget a beautiful thing...

... that you have made,' [Chef Bugnard] said. 'Even after you eat it, it stays with you - always.” 

-Julia Child, My Life in France

http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/3465.Julia_Child

Since I like cooking and lovely kitchen utensils I now sewed a potholder which shows the same pattern as my fragrant coasters and my hanging-bag (see my posts here from March 19 and March 26, 2012). It is also a great way to use up all my scraps in my scrap-bag!

Somehow I think I managed to design a potholder which answers all my seven wishes I have potholder-wise! :-)  

First: This potholder looks good and special I think. It is an eye-catcher because of the circular and multi-colored design. Both sides are made in patchwork-style, consist of three layers of fabric each and are hand-quilted.

Second: I can hang it up easily because it has a large nice string.

Third: It is a slip-inside-potholder, it can be used like a glove.

Fourth: This potholder is big enough to handle larger baking trays or pots (it is 27 cm or 10 1/2" in diameter).

Fifth: It is thick enough to protect the hand against the heat, because of the three layers of fabric on each side, but also because an additional inner bag is inserted.

Sixth: This potholder provides a firm grip, because the inner bag is fastened with buttons and with quilting stitches which are set according to the size of the hand of the owner: it is a made-to-measure-potholder!

Seventh: Washing is easy because I use robust fabrics only, for the inner and outer layers alike.

...and here is some good advice on cooking, coming again from Julia Child ( I love her!)

“Always start out with a larger pot than what you think you need.” 

“Everything in moderation... including moderation.” 

and:

“The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude."

http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/3465.Julia_Child

Take, if you must

Take, if you must, this little bag of dreams, 

Unloose the cord, and they will wrap you round. 

William Butler Yeats

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/bag_3.html

Fragrant Coaster

Since I love the scent of herb, especially of lavender, I sometimes make round fragrant coasters. 

When a cup of hot tea or coffee is placed on a coaster which is filled with dried herb, the full aroma unfolds with the warmth. I love that!

It works well not only with lavender, but also with thyme, rosemary, sage.... 

This is how I make them:

I fill lavender into a hand-sewn form (about 13 cm, 5") like this:

I close the form with a round piece of fabric (here I use the sewing machine) and attach a self-made, flat button in the middle. A larger circular piece of fabric with a buttonhole in the middle can then be attached on top. 

I often accidentally spill my tea everywhere, so to me it seems to be very practical to be able to remove the top of the coaster for washing, leaving the rest of the coaster with the herb inside dry.

Isn't it lovely to go outside and to enjoy the first rays of warm sunshine in early spring with a cup of hot tea or coffee, and to breathe in not only the fragrance of the fresh air, but also the aroma of your favourite brand and of last summer's lavender?! :-)

Amélie

This is Amélie.

And this is where she comes from:

I made her with several pieces I found in my scrapbag.

Amélie is able to hold and keep some things in her rosy belly, whatever fits. I intend to feed her with some loose bills and coins, I think she'll make a fine "piggy bank", even though she looks more like a cow...., that's ok. She has more character than beauty, and that's better than the other way round, I like her as she is. :-)

I especially love her secret: she has a hidden compartment for very special things I'd like to keep, I know she can be trusted with this. :-)

Barn Quilts

I LOVE THOSE!

http://littlebeestudio.com/blog/wp-content/media/barn-quilt-algood.jpg

Here are more lovely pictures of barn quilts: 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tumblingrun/sets/72157618419125531/

http://pinterest.com/beelori/quilty-barns/

And here is a beautiful article about the history of barn quilts:

http://fairmontsentinel.com/page/content.detail/id/506370.html?nav=5044

A Decision

Decide To Forgive

Decide to forgive

For resentment is negative

Resentment is poisonous

Resentment diminishes and devours the self.

Be the first to forgive,

To smile and to take the first step

And you will see happiness bloom

On the face of your human brother or sister.

Be always the first

Do not wait for others to forgive

For by forgiving

You become the master of fate

The fashioner of life

A doer of miracles.

To forgive is the highest,

Most beautiful form of love.

In return you will receive

Untold peace and happiness.

And here is the program for achieving a truly forgiving heart:

Sunday: Forgive yourself.

Monday: Forgive your family.

Tuesday: Forgive your friends and associates.

Wednesday: Forgive across economic lines within your own nation.

Thursday: Forgive across cultural lines within your own nation.

Friday: Forgive across political lines within your own nation.

Saturday: Forgive other nations.

Only the brave know how to forgive. A coward never forgives.

It is not in his nature.

“Decide to Forgive” was written by the late Robert Muller, former assistant secretary-general of the United Nations.

http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/11107681-452/forgiveness-can-bring-love-into-the-world.html

In and Out, a Blue Underground Pattern

Here I found some lovely modern quilt patterns:

http://blueundergroundstudios.com/patterns/

The top of my latest quilt has a Blue Underground "In and Out" pattern.

Yesterday I ironed the newly finished top, spread it out on a layer of fleece and the big piece of fabric which is the back of my quilt, and basted all three layers, so that I now can start to do the quilting work.

Now, for the first time, my three separate layers of fabric here FEEL like ONE quilt, after they have been put together with these rough basting-stitches....and it feels good!!

(Maybe you notice that there is one block at the bottom which doesn't follow the general rule of arrangement... I love to do this, to include something which keeps the eye "fresh" and attentive!)