I spotted this somewhere in the past few days, and decided to just jump in & buy it.  It's also reminded me to join the JASA - although apparently it's a much more scholarly society than those in other countries.

So, hopefully A Dance with Jane Austen is in the air to me already. Or at least being packed for posting.

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It was around midnight when we got back from the ball to our hotel & El Prez kindly pinned up the hem of my open robe so that I could sew it the next morning.  We wanted to sleep in if possible and have a decent breakfast which we did.  So we arrived late and completely missed the promenade in the park. LOL not that anyone noticed but us.

It was a ( Read more... )

I'm suprised that I didn't feel like the poor relation at the ball, due to my wearing a blinged up old day dress when there was so much finery in attendance, but I didn't ( Read more... )

Well, I woke up with a vile migrainous headache, so I took an Immigran.  I thought I'd be fine but as I was ironing my dress I realised that lying down was the only I'd keep the pill down. & keeping it down was the only way to have fun at JAFA at some point before the ball.

Jo was great & remembered to put the do-not-disturb on the door.  I managed ( Read more... )

I've got 10 minutes internet time, cos I did all my chores and am ready to head off to party in Selma.  I'll have pics later today (from the train) or tomorrow fo' sho'. The flower encrusted diadem that is inspiring me is this one though I'm not doing white, cos it doesn't flatter my skin.  I'm using the base that I made at this year's JAFA - or ( Read more... )

I figure that I'll need

1 evening dress
1 ball gown
2 day dresses
1 walking dress

Evening gown:
~ I'll go for the black net dress, thank you V&A
   - diadem tiara for my head. I'm going to do a floral encrustation, so I'll need to pick the underdress colour & match that. or find a purple flower that will work regardless of pale purple or dark purple ( Read more... )

I don't remember noticing this black net evening dress before.  I'd be tempted to put it over purple. hmmmmm

V & A Museum Number =  T.175-1922

I haven't had a lot of posts lately, cos I haven't done much. But I've been watching costume movies, and yet again I've wondered what Miss Anne de Bourgh's life could have been like if her mother died while Anne was still youngish.  And has anyone written a book set around her.    I see her as either suffocated by her mother and maybe not capable ( Read more... )

I'm still hoping to the get my own copy of an Austen era cookbook, but as I don't have one as yet I've spent a teency bit of time today looking for picnic ideas for February.  I've found a recipe for ratafia biscuits - almond meal & orange liqueur mmmmh.  I'm going to make me some of them.  Naturally, my mind then turned to drinks and found this ( Read more... )

Saturday night was the Pride & Prejudice Ball in Canberra, hosted by Earthly Delights.  John provided us with 2 hour lesson on Saturday afternoon (at such a minimal cost) so that us out of towners weren't going to be completely lost.

A salutory reminder that the basic fitness level of the past was infinitely greater than ours.  I really really ( Read more... )