Announcing Pen Friend Sign Ups for February-April

A Scene Out Of A Book

I had received a letter before the holidays from one of my pen friends.  Included in the letter was a pretty sketch of Jane Austen.  I decided to respond to the letter with a picture out of The Jane Austen ten Guide to Life by Lori Smith,  and the charming illustrations are  by David Grant.  So out came my water colors and away I went.  I wish I could have done more justice to the sketch, but it is what it is.

A Jane Austen Quote...always a nice touch!

And the Letter Writing Society's official wax seal!

After my letter was written with a dipping pen ... and I included of course, Tea for two!  I had thought of sending this envelope in a clear cello bag, but  opted instead to just spray with some Krylon Kamar varnish on to protect it through its journey.

It is time to announce the next round of Pen Sign ups!   What say ye? If you are reading this, and would love to create lovely letters  (ha, ha, illustrations are not required!) to send to someone, then  go ahead and fill out the pen friend application  (you just need to copy it into an email) and forward me your completed application at jalwsociety@gmail.com.   Let's have the cut off by February 11th.  That is a two week time period.  So let your friends know about the sign up and let the letter writing begin!

Write Letters

Write Often,

Lady Pamela

Christmas Tea with Jane Austen

Merry Christmas!

I enjoyed some tea time with Jane Austen this week.  I haven't read the commemorative book on Pride and Prejudice yet, but  had fun flipping through it and reading bits and pieces while sipping on Chocolate spicy chai tea!

This month has been busy with two  lovely tea parties.  I was able to take my Jane Austen tea sandwiches to  both occasions and was pleased with the results each time.  The cookie cutter can be purchased at Austentation.com  

For those of you involved in the Nov./ Dec. Pen Friend exchange, I hope you have had at least one letter exchange and hopefully a second one in the mail soon.    I need to get my second letters in the mail this week.

Have a blessed and happy day,

Write Letters,

Write Often.

Lady Pamela

Jane Austen Letter Writing Society Kit On SALE!

Make Haste!  Make Haste!

Just a quick note!  If you have been wanting to purchase a Jane Austen Letter Writing Society Kit, don't delay!  My Etsy Store:  LostArtRevived is having a 20% off the entire store, which means all of my letter writing kits!  This sale is going on NOW and will end Monday at midnight. 

Write Letters,

Write Often,

Lady Pamela

Jane Austen and Living Simply

The Allure of the Simple Life...

Simple living is a vaporous idea , beyond the grasp of most  people today in our fast pace, technology driven world.  Think of the number of times that we don't even slow down enough to simply take a stroll outside, looking at our changing surroundings.  I believe that Jane Austen's novels strike a chord in many of us regarding the simplicity, and slowness of the lives that the characters seem to live.  The characters took walks,  had gardens, visited the sea shore, wrote letters, visited friends.  All of these things somehow seem to be a shadowy existence to us today.  But one day recently, I slowed down and felt that I was doing an "Austen-ish" thing!  I was outside raking leaves, when I cast a glance over at the wild flower beds in front of our home.  It was a withering mess, with weeds, bent over long stems, dried seed pods, but still, gorgeous blooms peeking out here and there.  I decided to retire the flower bed and "put it to bed" for the year.  

Do you remember the scene in the A & E version of Pride and Prejudice when Lizzy and Jane Bennet are in the garden with their baskets picking flowers, and Jane's famous line: 

 I shall be perfectly content … I shall be myself again …..  

I love that scene...I guess because I love flower gardens and the simplicity of the scene.

So, here I am, slowing down on this warm, balmy November day, enjoying the beauty of a dying garden and making beautiful bouquets.

Saving seeds for next years garden!

Oh my porch...how little I avail myself to its simple pleasures!

This furry creature, Shadow, needs no lessons on slowing down, and enjoying the opportunity of an almost empty flower box!  What about you?  Have you had any simple pleasures lately?  I enjoyed my break in routine to enjoy the beauty around me in Austen style  and  I will be including a package of seeds in forthcoming letters to friends, a reminder of a simple time.

Write Letters,

Write Often,

Lady Pamela

Austen Mail, Outgoing!

Outgoing Austen Mail!

Has everyone put pen to paper yet?  I know some of you have.  My daughter told me that she had received her "Austen Mail" even BEFORE I had gotten around to writing mine!  That got me motivated, and I carved out the time to get my Austen mail out the door and into the mailbox!  I had such an enjoyable time penning my letters, and putting ink to paper.  Such a lovely pastime.  

I went to work on my envelopes.  One of my pen friends is an "Elinor Dashwood", so I used sheets out of a copy of Sense and Sensibility to  decorate my envelope.  I did put these letters in a cello envelope to protect it, and to give the USPS a helping hand.  I added additional postage as well.

I wanted to let you know that these Jane Austen Letter Writing Society postcards are now available in my LostArtRevived Etsy store.  If you are looking for some Jane Austen -ish  postcards, this might fit the bill.


I hope you having an enjoyable experience  in the Pen Friend  exchange.

Write Letters,
Write Often,

Lady Pamela

Tea With Jane, Books, and Letters!

The Making Of Pride And Prejudice...

We have had several days here in Central Virginia of heavy rains and very cool temperatures.  Today called for a hearty mug, not a delicate tea cup to take my tea . A cup of robust Chai and a nibble on one of these dense muffins of every sort of grain, or seed imaginable, and I am set! 

 I have been re-reading The Making of Pride And Prejudice, I think this is my third read  through.     The book is, of course, photo rich, and full of so many details  of the actual film making.   Just the fact that  the film project was on the back burner for oh, lets say, 11 years before production began is hard to imagine.  The book also chronicles all of the deadlines,  searches for the perfect houses,  procuring the period musicians (on period instruments), etc. etc  All of the dance scenes (Meryton assembly, and the Netherfield ball where musicians are shown , they  showed up and just played the music, absolutely NO practice beforehand.  The only exception to this was the fortepiano key board player.  He got a running start, receiving the score 2 days prior to filming!  It is such a delightful read, I highly recommend the book.

Do I have everyone settled for the  Nov. / Dec. Pen Friend Exchange?  Please let me know if you have not made contact with your pen friend.  I plan to get my letter out  by tomorrow.   Please feel free to leave comments below about how you plan to approach this round of letters.  Do you have any special topics of discussion?  Do you have any creative ideas to share?  Anyone doing the ghost writing challenge?   I am going to begin with an introduction letter, and go from there.  I have a special idea for December that I will be sharing later this month.  

Write Letters,

Write Often,

Lady Pamela

Last Call for Pen Friend Sign Ups!

Tomorrow  is the last day to sign up...

"Which of all my important nothings shall I tell you first?"

Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow is the last day to sign up for the November/December Pen Friend Exchange.  All the details can be found here .

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at:  JALWSociety@gmail.com

Write Letters,

Write Often,

Lady Pamela