Jane Austen's Birthday

Happy Birthday Jane!

Jane was born on this date in 1775.

Her writings give us insight 

into a world we will never visit in person...

but delight to visit over and over

 through her words.

I could not choose a favorite of 

Jane's stories...

Thank you Jane.

Thank you for your life 

and for sharing your 

wonderful stories 

with all of us!

You may have seen

a Jane themed Christmas tree

 I had fun making two years ago.

I add to it each year. 

I thought I might offer a 

Jane themed craft in honor 

of her birthday...

Follow this link

to see post about Jane

and the tree.

Here is one of the first ornaments 

I made about Jane,

and some instructions

in case you are interested.

Winter Blessings

I tried to recreate it as best I could.
I didn't' have all the same supplies.

 1 cardstock strip 1 1/2" x 12"

Score it at 

1/4"...ish

Fold on scored lines 
and glue the ends.

punch two holes at top,

usually opposite of seam.

Lay in small hoop

or anything close to 3"

Press it down,

(you might need a weight to keep it down)

 

 Give it some glue in the center

to begin to coax it to stay.

put a weight on while you 

get the other pieces ready.

Jane image:

2" vertically and 

1 1/2" wide.

(I  Googled "Jane cameo images" )

Circle to frame the cameo

approx. 2 1/2".

adhere silver glitter to it.

 (This circle here has a scalloped edge)

Use a piece of script 

for a 2 1/2" circle on the back. 
I used a print of a letter Jane wrote

I found a Jane cameo

stamp to put on the back.

 Here is the front with all

three layers front,

and two layers back.

Adhere them in place.

 Add some glittered snowflakes,

pull ribbon though holes at top

and make a loop with knot.

Choose a saying and 

create a banner with the sentiment.

I really snowed this one up as my edges

were not totally symmetrical ; 0

This is the back.

The original one has a 

silver glitter fan back. 

 The original is on the right.

Deck the Halls is new today : )

Thank you for stopping by today : )

I know how busy we all are.

Winter blessings!

Happy Birthday to Jane

And Happy Birthday to my

youngest son!

Hugs,

Terri

Jane Austen Themed Trimmed Tree

Hello All!

It is that time of year again,

when I go down to the basement...

and rummage through boxes....

find things I forgot I ever had...

and gather up arm fulls of nostalgia

to deck our home out for the holidays.
Yay! 

You can see the wintery cup I had 
my tea in while I decorated.

Each year I bring out my Jane Austen tree,

and each year she looks just a little different.

This year I added 

silvery minty pine cones.

 

Here she is last year with 

additional adornments 

created by loving friends!

Jane did not mind sharing : ) 

Here is my new 2015 Jane ornament! 

My dear friend Suzy creates
beautiful angel ornaments in this style,
and I crafted this with Suzy's angels in mind.
Thank you for inspiring me Suzy!

   
"Be Merry in the Moment" is written on
one of her ribbons. 
It seemed like something Jane might say.  

The artist is the English portrait painter
 William Beechey, and the 
woman he painted is Marcia Fox.   
I believe this image was one of the first
portrait art used on a Austen book cover.

She looks very Jane like to me : )    
Do you think she looks like Jane? 

Steventon was Jane's Childhood home.
She wrote Northanger Abbey, Sense & Sensibility

and Pride & Prejudice, here 

but they were not published until later.
This is a very easy ornament to create.
2 1/2 x 3 1/2 card stock with glitter edges,
Pinked edged image
A little lace, a little button
and some glittered branches.

This ornament looks a littler harder,
but it is quite easy to make too.

A Jane image of your choice,
This one is not accuate
for clothing or hairstyle
but the feeling for me
was very Jane like.  
two ovals of cardstock 1/4 " larger all around
than your image.

16 snowflakes, two kinds...

6 " of ribbon,

1 rhinestone, 

1 large jump ring

1 bead dangle.

I used two kinds of glitter on

the snowflakes.

The back piece is a print 

of a letter of Jane's.

I did a short video of making one,

and if I can figure out how to get it off my phone,

lol, I will post it : )  

*Most of the images I used can be*

*found if you go to all my Jane posts*

HERE  

Many of you are making all kinds of
amazing Christmas art!
I love visiting your blogs and seeing
what you are doing.  

Holiday crafting is so much fun : )

Whew!

this was a long post 

and hopefully not overwhelming!

 The most important part of Christmas 

is not crafting, decorating or shopping...

(those these are joyful too...not the shopping though...lol)

The priceless part of celebrating Christmas

is the magic of HOPE and

being with loved ones!

Sharing here with you is wonderful!

Wishing you all a December full of LOVE

  

 Hugs to you all,

Terri 

I am joining Sandi for No Place Like Home
and Bernideen's BTTCG party

Martha is back posting for Tea Cup Tuesday!
I am so thankful : )
Yay Martha!
 

Last Autumn Tea...with Jane

Hello All!

It is good to "see"

you all again this week

: ) 

I enjoyed visiting you!

Yesterday was a brilliant day to

have tea outdoors.

As you can see,

the maple tree was still wearing 

her fall coat. 

The birch in front of her 

had long lost her golden glow.

Today, 

the maple is almost bare 

after a cold wet and windy day. 

This time of year weather can 

change so quickly,

and it reminds me winter is coming!

Having tea outdoors...

with Jane...

on a gift of a day...

Bliss full! 

"but for my own part, if a book is well written,

I always find it too short.”

Jane Austen 

I totally agree with Jane here. 

The Christmas season always 

brings Jane close to me.

I do not know why...

Her birthday is December 16,

the same day as one of my own.

As the weather chills...

 ...I find myself reading my 

favorite stories all over again,

 Having a lovely tea cup 

to drink from?

: )

I forgot to take a pic of my tea.
I enjoyed a cup of chai! 

She is a pretty cup?

Her shape interests me.

Her roses are lovely.

Her country of origin is Austria

and this stamp was in use from 1880 - 1925.

*

Do you have favorite stories you

love to read during December?

I am very honored that 

The Jane Austen Center 

(click on name above to see)
is sharing my Jane Austen themed 

Christmas tree in their 

newsletter and online magazine...

There is a recent picture of me there...

if you would like to take a look : ) 

Thank you for coming by for a visit today!

I loved reading all your comments last week.

You are all so kind!

I do not know if Martha will post this week.

Please...

keep her in your good healing thoughts

and prayers.  

I am joining Ruth, Bernideen, Sandi  for tea,
as well as Judith for her Mosaic Monday. 

Thank you ladies for hosting! 
 

Hugs,

Terri

Deck The Halls

Happy Holiday!

Merry Christmas to All!

And to All a Good Night.

Thank you all who shared their Christmas art during Deck The Halls Sunday.
I enjoyed sharing my progress as I worked on new ornaments for the Jane tree.

I really enjoyed visiting you and seeing the beautiful decorations and gifts you have created!

Hugs,

Terri

Deck The Halls Sunday-Christmas is Coming Soon!

Hello All!

Welcome to Deck The Halls Sunday
where we take a moment to share our holiday
decorating and gifting crafts.
I have been working on creating more Jane
ornaments and have been having so much fun.
I wish I had time to photograph each one and
show everything,
but I will just have to share what I can. 

I created this ornament by using two glass prisms.

You could use two glass slides as well.

I used this stamped image of Jane that I purchased in the gift shop

at Jane's home in Chawton, England. 

But you could also google, "cameo of Jane Austen" and 

there should be one or two to choose from.

The loop at the top has short tails secured between the two
pieces of glass, and the tail of the bead dangle
is also tucked between the images and glass.
The bow is added last.

The glass is held together around the edges with
silver stickles. Which is a glitter glue product.
I used just enough around the edge to seal it,
not enough to seep in onto the images.

I adhered the bow with a little Diamond Glaze.
(which I also used to adhere the snowy glitter).
You can try white glue, just water down about
15% and see if it doesn't show through too much.
 Maybe try a test spot first.

I chose a statement from Jane about the holidays
to put on the back.
Then I sugared the sides and it sparkles nicely!

Here is a miniature paper version of a townhome
that looks like the one Jane lived in
for a few years with her family.

You can still walk by the home they rented in Bath
It is down the street from the Jane Austen center
and is now a dental surgery.

I bought this paper kit for it from the
gift shop at Jane's house in Chawton.
I have searched the internet and
not found any recently.

 (this is how it looked, but no manufacturer's
name anywhere)

The kit house was much larger, so I
reduced the size and reprinted.
I sugared it up as well as put some stickles on the windows
and doors for wreath and boughs.

Next up was wrapping paper!
I decided to print out some of Jane's writings in the "Jane Austen" font
(which I downloaded from a free font site online)
and printed it out on paper to wrap gifts with.

I used the cameo stamp again from the gift shop to do the tags.
You can see beneath the gifts the ruffled tree skirt I made out of batten.
I do love the soft look of it.
If you can not find this stamp anymore,
you can use a cameo image of Jane from online images.
Search Jane Austen cameo images.

There is also a Jane Austen stamp set at Oxford Impressions
 http://www.austengallery.com/stamp-plates/jane-austen
There is a cameo stamp in this set.

I tucked a small white quill under the ribbon on this gift...since Jane wrote with a quill
(though  as fluffy as this one, lol)
I thought it might be a nice touch.

Here I am in Jane's dining room, and there in front of me is the table she wrote at and a quill.
I get goosebumps just seeing this image again! I am a silly goose!

Next Sunday....Christmas!...I will show off the entire tree!

Now below is my next giveaway prize in my 
Holiday Giveaway Extravaganza!
Yay!

A pair of French inspired earrings!

If you would like to enter to win, just be a follower and leave a comment saying you would like to enter, just so I know. Not everyone wears earrings or likes "French" styled items.

If you would like to enter to win my other prize...a Vintage Illustrations CD from Crafty Secrets, just click on here, and you will be taken to that post.

I love to host giveaways.... it is just a small way I can give back to you all for your kindness and encouragement in my creative life. I appreciate all your visits and comments. I also love to pop over and see what you are up to as well. Thank you so much for your friendship!

If you would like to join in Deck The Halls Sunday (this is our last one for this year) then just share something you have made or decorated for the holidays, and link up below with Linky Tools.

Hugs to you all!
Terri