Category: Frivolity

Fun posts

Dishy Non Sequitur

Updated on January 28, 2013 by megan

It’s Sunday, I’ve only had one cup of coffee, I’m sitting here in my jack-o-lantern jammies while my son eats cocoa pebbles. . . In other words, uninspired. So I thought I’d post one of my favorite things: Chris Cornell. He was the lead singer of Soundgarden, one of those ’90s grunge bands, had his own record, and is now the singer for Audioslave, which is the band Rage Against The Machine with a new singer (him). Way more than you wanted to know, but my gosh–look at that chest! And he usually performs shirtless! Do you blame him?

I’m feeling more inspired now.

Megan

Obsessions

Updated on January 25, 2013 by Elena Greene

While I was down with the flu, I was finding it very hard to just rest. I am so unused to lying around and doing nothing! So some of the time I did some crochet and I’ve continued to do bits of it during odd moments, like waiting for my daughter to get out of her play rehearsals, etc… It’s an obsession.

I blogged about Regency Crochet a few years ago. At that point I was unable to discover much evidence of ladies crocheting during the Regency, although it was possible. It was around that time that tambour work (embroidery that resembles crochet on fabric) evolved into what the French called “crochet in the air”. Crochet didn’t become popular in England until the time of Victoria. (Check out that old post if you want to see some examples of truly hilarious modern Bad Crochet.)

Anyway, today for fun I tried googling “Regency crochet”.

I found a book called “Austentatious Crochet: 36 Contemporary Designs from the World of Jane Austen”. Some of the patterns use crochet technique effectively; some I’m not so sure about as they use swathes of single or double crochet (boring!) to do what might be done with ordinary fabrics. For instance, I think I would redo the cover pattern by just adding the crochet embellishments to a knit top.

There’s an example of another pretty item that uses crochet more effectively, Lizzie’s Lace Mantelet, on the Ravelry website.

Sense & Sensibility Patterns has some crochet patterns mostly inspired by periods other than the Regency, but cute, like these Edwardian style earrings designed by Jenny Chancey.

At the Jane Austen Centre website, I found a pattern for crocheted gloves. Now these look fun to make although I wonder if they would stretch as easily as the pattern claims. I have longish fingers and gloves often feel a smidge small to me. If I do this, I’m going to check them against my hands frequently and add rows if I need to.

The Jane Austen Centre also has a page on the art of tatting. That’s something I would very much like to try sometime. It says it can be addictive and I don’t doubt it would be for me! I have a plain fabric reticule made to go with my Regency gown and it would be fun to decorate it with tatting like the one below.

Anyone else enjoy handicrafts of any sort, to make or to wear? What should I work on next (besides finishing the mess-in-progress)?

Elena
www.elenagreene.com
www.facebook.com/ElenaGreene

Posted in Frivolity, Regency, Research | Tagged crafts, crochet, tatting | 8 Replies

Megan to the Beach!

Updated on January 23, 2013 by megan

Today, the Framptons head out on vacation. I will likely not see this individual, although we will be at the beach.

While the Frampton boys are off kayaking, I’ll be writing, which is also a vacation–time for me to get ME time, as opposed to cobbled-together-whenever-I-can time.

See you next week!

Megan

Posted in Frivolity | Tagged Megan | 6 Replies

Austen heroine? No thanks.

Updated on January 18, 2013 by Janet Mullany

I was asked this question in an interview in which I talk about Dedication–now on sale at AllRomanceEbooks (cheaper than amazon or kindle!) but the question of the day there is what rules you tolerate being broken in romance. Many thanks to Layna Pimentel for having me visit, and please go visit–we’re a bit quiet there at the moment.

You can also find out which Austen character I’d like to be and it’s such a fascinating topic I thought I should extend it here.

Lizzy Bennett. No. Not even if you snag the 1995 Colin Firth. A lifetime of jollying him along and trying to stop him telling Bingley and Jane what to do?–no thanks. Besides which, exactly how often do you expect him to parade around in a wet shirt?

Wowsa

Mary Crawford. Smart, manipulative, daring, but brother Henry has possibly screwed up her chances for the good marriage she needs to shine. Besides which, she’s the SISTER of the best looking guy in the movie, I mean the book.

Anne Wentworth nee Elliot. No, not even if you snag the 1995 Ciaran Hinds. Life aboard ship, even as the Captain’s lady, was nasty (ruinous to the complexion too), and how will Wentworth take to life ashore in peacetime? The last time he diverted himself by flirting and marrying. Uh oh.

Emma. Oh dear lord no. Rich and clueless and has to sleep with Mr. Knightley.

Dashwood sisters–see above re Hinds and Firth, and I always thought Alan Rickman looked particularly jowly in that role. Marianne, I’m sure, is destined for a short life of ill health following her nearly fatal strep throat, and Elinor is… well, you know what Elinor is, it makes me fall asleep just thinking about her.

Catherine Tilney nee Morland. Exactly how many children is she supposed to have? Awful father-in-law and brother-in-law? No. (But she is married to Henry…)

Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Now we’re talking. Clueless but it doesn’t matter because she’s rich and powerful. It’s all about the power, baby.

Now you see where this is going, don’t you? So tell me how violently you disagree, or visit Layna Pimentel to see if you agree with my choice there.

Posted in Frivolity, Jane Austen | Tagged heroines, Jane Austen | 6 Replies

Timesuck and Productivity

Updated on January 17, 2013 by Janet Mullany

No, not the name of an undiscovered Austen book.

I’m thrilled to announce that I have discovered a new timesuck.

badlipreading.com

Lots of good stuff there. I hope someone will eventually add an Austen clip for our edification and enjoyment.

MI0000315907 Today is my writing day and I’m all set up in the eyrie (ok it’s on the second floor but eyrie sounds so much better) with a thermos jug of tea and snacks which I seem to have eaten already. I’ve dusted off my writing CDs, an opera compilation, Ann Sofie von Otter’s crossover album with Elvis Costello For the Stars, and Handel’s Messiah. I know, weird, but I like to listen to vocal music when I write. I have yoga blocks and a couple of short workout videos bookmarked if I need to take a break.

Six months ago I wasn’t even sure if I’d ever write again. Zero ideas, zero motivation, zero interest. But it’s come back and whether it was because I feared I might actually have to start cleaning the house and attacking the weeds outside as a substitute, or I’d have nothing to talk about, who knows.

So I’ve started a new three-book series (with an alpha male hero, no less!), resurrected something old, and am preparing a workshop on writing comedy. (Title so far, which is about all there is: Romance: It’s No Laughing Matter.)

What about you? What are you up to?

Posted in Frivolity, Writing | 3 Replies