Jane Austen Flower Power!

"Indulge your imagination in every possible flight."
~Jane Austen

I'm getting ready for the annual Spring JASNA SW Conference in May with a few Jane Austen Flower Power framed cards! These 5" x 7" cards have a burst of spring color and pattern, with lovely Jane the center of attention.
I will also have on hand some new Jane bookmarks in spring colors.
At the end of May I will be launching a Jane-inspired store on Etsy. If it sounds as if I have Jane Austen on the brain~I do! How could I not, when I come across a quote like this:

"I cannot help thinking that it is more natural to have flowers grow out of the head than fruit. what do you think on that subject?"
~Jane Austen, letter June 11, 1799~on buying a "sprig" for her sister's hat.

Imagination is everything

I've been hard at work...okay, hardly at work, but either way, I'm having fun. Here is a new bookmark with an imprinted quote on the back. Everyone looks at the front of a bookmark, so I love the idea of a little surprise for those that turn it over.

The lovely Nancy Gallagher, Regional Coordinator of the Jane Austen Society of North America SW, has asked me to participate in their annual spring meeting in May. I am so excited! I'll be making a lot of new cards and plenty of the new quote bookmarks just for this event.

JASNA Portland, Oregon 2010

I came home exhausted but exhilarated by my first JASNA AGM. My Jane Austen cards and bookmarks were met with enthusiasm and brisk sales! I am very grateful to all of the Janeites for supporting my small business and their kind words of encouragement. I could not have had such success without the generous help of my sisters Alston and Michele. Alston came between lectures to relieve me for a bite of lunch or a bit of rest. Michele worked all three days all day long without complaint and did double duty selling books for Juliet McMaster! I am one lucky sister!
One of my favorite aspects of being a vendor at the conference, was meeting other vendors. Masha Laurence had a wonderful collection of Jane Austen watercolors that I fell in love with. Masha accepted a commission to paint a portrait of a favorite non-Austen hero of mine, John Thornton.
I came home with boxes of the most wonderful tea from Bingley's Teas. Not only are their teas delicious, but their Jane Austen Tea Series has the most delightful names: Wicked Wickham, Longbourn Wedding Tea and Mr. Bingley's Reserve. I think I need a cuppa right now!
I loved being in Portland! Since Michele and I got there a little early, we had time to explore. Okay, we had time to shop. One of my favorite finds was Button Emporium & Ribbonry. They have the most astounding selection of buttons and ribbon. I would move to Portland just to shop there. Hopefully I will be able to incorporate the beautiful ribbons I bought there into my cards. Or just stare at them endlessly until I make it back to Portland to buy some more!
But now it's back to work. My inventory is just about down to zero and I'm on top of the world with all of the inspiration I found in Portland.

Jane Austen Society of North America, here I come!

In a few short days I'm off to Portland, Oregon to sell my cards at the Annual General Meeting of the Jane Austen Society of North America. This will be the second (and largest) event for JASNA that I have participated in. I've had so much fun making the Jane cards and look forward to meeting other Jane enthusiasts. I'll be in Portland with two of my beloved sisters and will hopefully get to visit with a friend from Washington. Jane Austen, sisters, friends, Portland. Life is good!