// My Dear Jane //

 

 

 "I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!"

-Jane Austen

December 16th marked the 240th birthday anniversary of the beloved author Jane Austen! If you haven't already noticed I kind of have a little obsession with Jane Austen. I fell in love with her, her books, oh and the movies not only because she was a great writer but also because of her irony, wit, and wisdom.

Sunday I got to go to a birthday celebration in honor of her with the Austin Texas JASNA group. I wore my white dotted swiss gown and a teal bonnet that I recently made.

"There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature."
-Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

Happy Sewing!
Samantha

Gold Circles On Red Day Dress

My beautiful sister is on the blog modeling her Regency dress that I made her. She picked out this lovely cotton fabric from Joann's. I am quiet stunned by its beauty and the same print came in a lovely light blue and silver. This day dress is so beautiful that it would make an elegant ball gown after some gold trim was added.

Simple gathered bodice with short puff sleeves.

The gold buttons are so pretty!

 

 

Striking her pose;)

Happy Sewing!
Samantha

Floral Print Regency Day Dress

I am so excited to share my very first bib-front Regency dress! I had been wanting to try a bib-front Regency dress and I am pretty pleased with how it turned out!

So what makes bib-front Regency dresses unique? Well unlike most Regency dresses that fastened in either the front or the back, bib-fronts have a panel in the front that gets fastened (in my case with handmade dorset buttons).  The panel also gets tied around the back and then tied in the front inside of the bib.

 The added bonus to bib-fronts is that they're super adjustable! ;-)

Handmade dorset buttons

I love how the gathering turned out.

You can slightly see the panel opening in the front.

Inspecting the shrubbery :P

I also made the reticule!

More dresses to come. I am currently working on three ball gowns for a Regency dance workshop and ball coming up next month.

Happy Sewing!
Samantha

Regency Underpinnings

Here are my completed Regency underpinnings!! I used the Sensibility Underpinnings Pattern for the shift and stays.

I was pretty pleased with how the stays turned out. The only thing I would fix is to fit the cup size to me better. The cup is slightly large.

Ballet shoes from Bloch

 The petticoat I drafted myself with help from a tutorial from Sensibility Patterns. The bodice is boned and has a drawstring in the neckline.

Boning in the darts

 

I am excited to be adding more to my Regency wardrobe!!

Happy Sewing!
Samantha

In the Kitchen| Blackberry Cobbler

Special treat for you all that I am posting another In the Kitchen, but I could help doing it since I already had this one ready;)

Time: 1hr. 20 minutes
Yield: 8 servings

1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 c. water
1 1/2 c. self-rising flour*
1/3 c. milk
2 c. fresh blackberries, washed
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 Tbsp. sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a 10in round or oval baking dish, melt 1/2 c. butter; set aside. In a saucepan, heat sugar and water until sugar melts; set aside. 
2. Place flour in a mixing bowl; cut in remaining butter until fine crumbs form. Add milk, stirring with a fork until dough leaves side of bowl.
3. Turn out onto a floured surface; knead three or four times. Roll out in an 11in by 9in rectangle 1/4in thick. Spread berries over dough; sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll up, jelly-roll style. Cut into 1/4in or 1/2in thick slices. Carefully layer slices in baking dish that has the butter. Pour sugar syrup around slices( syrup will be absorbed). 
4. Bake for 45minutes. Sprinkle sugar over top and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm or cold. ( *If self-rising flour is not available, use 1 1/2 c. flour plus 1/4 tsp. salt and 2 1/4 tsp. baking powder). 

Hands down guys, this is the best cobbler!! Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream  and voila!!

Happy Baking!
Samantha

In the Kitchen| Banana Walnut Bread

I am starting a new series here on the blog where I will be sharing my adventures in the kitchen! Today's goodness is banana walnut bread! Oh how I love it;P 

I got the recipe from our worn, but well used Good Housekeeping Cookbook.

Yield: 1 Loaf

1 3/4 c. Flour( I used white wheat)

2/3 c. Sugar (I used 1/2 c. honey)

1 tsp. Baking Powder

1/2 tsp. Salt

1/4 tsp. Baking Soda

1/2 c. (1 stick)  Butter, softened

1 c. Bananas, mashed (about 2 ripe large bananas)

1/2 c. Walnuts, coarsely chopped

1 tsp. Grated Lemon Peel( I don't usually put this in the bread)

2 Eggs, slightly beaten

1.  Preheat oven to350 degrees. Grease 9" by 5" loaf pan.
2. In a mixer, blend eggs, butter, sugar or honey, and bananas. Next add baking powder, baking soda, salt, and flour. Mix until well blended. Finally, add the walnut and lightly mix. Spoon batter evenly into loaf pan. 
3. Bake for 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in to center of the bread comes out clean. Cool bread in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes; remove from pan and finish cooling on wire rack.

I usually triple the recipe since I have a large family! Makes a great breakfast!

Happy Baking!
Samantha

Spring Tea-Dressing Mr. Darcy

The Jane Austen Society region of North Texas hosted a delightful Spring Tea last Sunday! I had the pleasure of attending it! The Spring Tea was held in the stunning French Room at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas!!

You have bewitched me, body and soul. -Mr. Darcy

My Regency ensemble, that I sewed, consisted of a drawstring gown made from dotted swiss, my straw bonnet, and a reticule.

Isn't the French Room stunning!! I couldn't get over its beautiful architecture!!

Stunning chandelier!

Lovely place setting!

The delicate food was very scrumptious! Almost to lovely to eat!

Itty bitty little desserts!

Mr. Darcy *aka Brian Cushing from Beneath the Layers * did his excellent presentation on men's Regency clothing! This the was main highlight and reason for the tea!

I found Mr. Darcy! :P

I made my mom's ensemble too!!

Playing the piano forte on this 1860's Steinway!

I had a lovely time and look forward to going to their next event which is June with Jane and the Netherfield Ball!!

Samantha