A lovely Jane/Tom YouTube from Mariana!

Dear friends, I hope you have/had enjoyable and peaceful Christmas. Our dear friend Mariana sent post before Christmas, but I'm sorry that I haven't got time to post it until now. 

Jane Austen ~ Once Upon a Christmas

This is what she said:

Hello dear friends, I'm sending a little video I've created to celebrate Jane/Tom youthful love, which is dedicated to you as a thank you for your kindness and support received during the last 4 years for my exceedingly enthusiastic theses. Also, to send my "Kind love & good wishes for a happy New Year to you all".

Thank you so much, Mariana! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

"Jane Austen"

One of our blog readers has emailed us wanting to share her fantastic song about Jane.

Holly Christina dedicates her song to Jane Austen fans everywhere. It is available on iTunes also.

See it here

Pic: Elizabeth and Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen music on radio!

Lily Miceli of 'InBetween The Music' has a radio show on a community frequency off of a WPR/NPR station in Wisconsin. Her shows are an hour with a theme that includes music,history and a bit of trivia.

One of her first shows was done on the music of Jane Austen. You can hear that show and others on her website. The show is listed near the bottom. Please go to http://www.inbetweenthemusic.blogspot.com.

Thanks Lily for the info. Ladies and Gents, enjoy!

New wallpaper from Maria!

My dearest Maria, please forgive us for missing your email notifying the new Becoming Jane Wallpaper! Totally unintentional!

So here's the beautiful wallpaper from Maria once more, dearest friends. Hope you like them as we do! Thank you so much, Maria. We hope you and your family are well.

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New header and desktop from Maria

Dearest friends, last month Maria sent me a very lovely collection of new header and desktop for Becoming Jane Fansite. I am ashamed to say that I have neglected her email because of my thesis and the business of moving back to Indonesia. Hence, this is a make up post, terribly and excessively late by any standard. For that, we extend our apologies, particularly to dearest Maria.

The download links are here:

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PS: Quote of the week is coming up.

Anne Hathaway visited the JA Centre in Bath!

Thanks to Linda for the lovely news, we found that Anne Hathaway visited the Jane Austen Centre in Bath! Awww... reminds me of the old time of watching the movie and crying over Jane and Tom...

The May Newsletter
Well, what an exciting month it has been here! Firstly, we had Anne Hathaway unexpectedly visit us at the Centre. She was absolutely lovely and signed a book for us. Then of course we’ve had the Royal Wedding. Did you watch it? I was there on the Mall! Now, if only Prince Harry would marry Pippa Middleton we could have a real life ‘Pride & Prejudice’ moment . . .

Pic: Anne Hathaway as our dearest Jane Austen in 'Becoming Jane'

BJ Calendar for May from Maria!

Thanks ever so for Maria who is always excited to send us darling monthly Becoming Jane calendars! The May edition is this one, and can be downloaded from the links below.

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March desktop calendar from Maria!

Sorry for the belated posting; I was a bit under the weather last week (and Maria sent it on 27 Feb!). But thanks a lot Maria!

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And a new Valentine edition banner!

Thanks a lot Maria! You are so valuable here!

And a very lovely Valentine wallpaper from Maria!

Thanks so much dearest!

Download here:

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Wallpapers by Maria from Sweden

Jane Austen Festival Australia 2011

I've been aware of this news for at least a month now, but just kept forgetting to post it.

Anyway, yes Ladies and Gents: the Jane Austen Festival Australia 2011 is to be conducted in the fine city of Canberra on 14-17 April 2011!

The early bird tickets were already sold out (!), but there are regular tickets (AU 225) and door tickets (AU 295) remaining for Adult over 18. You can also apply as a volunteer, there is discount ticket for that!

There are various programs, including Ribbon Trims, Regency Sleeve Styles (I was not aware of various sleeves in Regency era!), Regency Riding Habit (there you go Darcy!), Austen in Performance, Gothic Novels of the 18th CE (is Miss Morland to attend?), Regency Spicing, Chemisette workshop, Regency Makeup, Hair Styling the Regency Way, and Jane Austen's Music!

Alas, my student visa expires on 28 March and towards Bali I must thusly go beforehand. Otherwise, I'd tag my partner along (his birthday is the last day of the festival) and dress from head to toe in Regency style. I even have the dress ready, look! Just came from Etsy a few days ago.

I am just unsure that my partner wishes to dress as Mr Knightley in Regency style. Hmmm... Perhaps we can save it for next year instead... that is if the Immigration lets me visit with the tourist visa.


Pic 1: Jane Austen Festival Australia 2011
Pic 2: Me in my baby blue Austen dress!

Austen wedding dress

Found this one on Etsy again; the tag says Edwardian wedding dress, but I think it's very much a Regency style. Size small, so definitely not for me (not that I have a wedding coming up soon anyway!). Lovely buttercup ivory satin with a medium train. A bit pricey at $98 (before 20% discount), but for a wedding in February or so, it might be worthwhile!

Happy Birthday Jane!

Roxana reminded me that yesterday (Australian time) was Jane Austen's 235th birthday (thanks Roxana!). Since it's still 16 December in U.S., I can still safely wish Jane a very happy birthday without being ashamed of being late.

And Maria provided me with a Google picture of what looks like Jane Austen and Tom Lefroy here, so thanks to Maria as well!

More Austen dresses

Nicole from Etsy gave me this link to a very pretty dress (right side) that might be desirable for some of us. It's not truly faithful to Regency style, but still has a high empire waist and overall Regency look. For $10, it's a big bargain!

There are some more dresses in Etsy (search for 'Austen dress' or 'Regency dress'), but this blue velvety one also attracts me (left side). It's too hot for my city and I'm not fond of long sleeves, but who knows it fits Austenites in Northern hemisphere?

A beautiful painting of Austen dresses

I should stop visiting Etsy; but in my defense, if I didn't visit that place, I wouldn't find my Austen dress. There was another item I found a few days ago that I'd like to share: A very beautiful painting of Austen Dresses by Janet Hill. She's a very talented artist and I wish I have enough money to buy the original oil painting of this print; but I am certain another lucky soul has snatched it up to adorn her/his abode...

Oh how I wish I have those dresses... and opportunities to wear them!

Pic: 'Austen Dresses' by Janet Hill

The Jane Austen Made Me Do It Short Story Contest

In conjunction with the publication of the new anthology Jane Austen Made Me Do It, Ballantine Books, Austenprose.com, and The Republic of Pemberley are pleased to announce an online short story contest. Enter for a chance to win the Grand Prize: publication of your entry in the anthology – a collection of original short stories inspired by the life and works of popular English novelist Jane Austen (1775-1817). Hosted by the Jane Austen web site The Republic of Pemberley, the contest begins on January 1, 2011. Publication of Jane Austen Made Me Do It is tentatively scheduled for publication by Ballantine in Fall 2011.

Contest Highlights

· Eligibility: Previously unpublished U.S. residents over the age of 18
· Entries must be approximately 5,000 words in length
· Manuscript submission January 1 – February 13, 2011
· Voting for the Top Ten finalists February 14 - 28, 2011
· Top Ten finalists announced on March 1, 2011
· One Grand Prize winner receives $500.00 and a contract for publication in the anthology Jane Austen Made Me Do It
· Grand Prize winner announced Fall 2011 in conjunction with the official release by Ballantine Books (Random House, Inc.) of Jane Austen Made Me Do It

Jane Austen Made Me Do It contains more than twenty best-selling and popular authors who have contributed short stories inspired by Jane Austen, her novels and her philosophies of life and love. From historical continuations of her plots and characters to contemporary spinoffs and comedies, the stories encapsulate what we love about our favorite author: romance, social satire and witty humor. Contributing to the line-up are best-selling authors Karen Joy Fowler (The Jane Austen Book Club), Adriana Trigiani (Brava, Valentine), Lauren Willig (The Pink Carnation series), Laurie Viera Rigler (The Jane Austen Addict series), Syrie James (The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen), Stephanie Barron (Being A Jane Austen Mystery series), and the husband and wife writing team of Frank Delaney (Venetia Kelly’s Traveling Show) and Diane Meier (The Season of Second Chances). Many Austenesque authors and others from related genres have also contributed stories to the project. One spot in the anthology remains open for the lucky Grand Prize winner.

The anthology’s editor, Laurel Ann Nattress of Austenprose.com, is very excited at the prospect of discovering the next star in the burgeoning sub-genre of Jane Austen sequels and inspired books. “Jane Austen has been inspiring writers for close to two hundred years. It seems quite fitting that she should be the witty muse of our anthology and short story contest. Encouraging writing and discovering new talent is in spirit with her true legacy. I am ‘all anticipation’ of what will develop, and am honored to be part of the selection team.”

Visit the official Jane Austen Made Me Do It Short Story Contest web page for official contest rules and eligibility requirements. Best of luck to all entrants.

“[S]uppose as much as you chuse; give a loose to your fancy, indulge your imagination in every possible flight which the subject will afford.” Elizabeth Bennet, Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 60

Another Austen dress for sale!

Oh, I found another Austen dress for sale in Etsy! Click here for the said Etsy shop. I bought mine from the same shop. This green dress looks stunning, particularly with the mock buttons (authentic Regency dresses have real buttons at the back), but this lady has promised to shop no more, hence this lovely green Regency dress can be another lady's companion. Besides, green is not really my colour...

Crack myself on a Jane Austen dress!

Forgive my indulgence Ladies and Gents... but I have a story to tell. I know this humble Jane Austen fan who could not help herself when she saw a beautiful 1960s empire dress that resembled a Regency dress being sold on an online shop called Etsy (weird shopping habits, these creatures of the 21st CE!). She must have it, although not at any cost (what with being a student), and after much deliberation (which lasted only a few minutes actually), she bought it!

In her defense, she had been searching for a decent Austen dress which would not make her ample bosoms look larger and would still fit her rather uhm... healthy frame. Several talented dress makers in Ebay (that is another online site, weird 21st CE citizens, very accessible through the famous Google Avenue!) have tempted her in the past, only to have her deterred by the excessive price (of over $100!). In recollection, it is only fair that we must forgive this rather reckless young lady, for indeed she had done her homework of researching better prices in the past, to no avail of course. Also we must consider her plan to visit a certain dear Miss Kingston in Surrey en route visiting Chawton and Bath, and what dress more proper to wear than this (old but) new blue 60s dress?


Do forgive her, Ladies and Gents... for she promises that she would publish the weekly quote in time this week (after one dear Mrs Fern supplies her one). And she solemnly promises not to be so impulsive in purchasing any other Regency artifacts next time, lest she would not have the means to visit the aforementioned Miss Kingston!

Lovely Becoming Jane wallpapers

I found two elegant BJ wallpapers from fanpop.com here and here, and thought that I'd like to share them with you. Click the two links for higher resolutions.


I'm not sure who created them, but I thank him/her nonetheless. So poetic. Methinks I shall watch an Austen DVD tonight...

Becoming Jane fanfic section in Fanfiction.net

I just found out that Fanfiction.net actually has a section for Becoming Jane the movie alone. It's here, and it has 26 stories there. Our Maria from Sweden is one the most prolific authoresses (if not THE most prolific one), I beleive, with 44 chapters (I Remember Love) and 303 reviews! Well done, Maria!

I think what I want to say is that it's been more than 3.5 years since I saw the movie in April 2007, but the movie still has followers and inspires many writers. Good job, Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy! And good job for Jane Austen and Tom Lefroy as well, in that sense.