'The Art of Using A Quill"

I thought writing with a quill would be hard, and it is! I began by preparing with a bit of newspaper underneath and then I removed my quill from it's covering. I placed the ink in my new ink well and grabbed a piece of paper from the printer to practise with. The results were a little different than I thought.

I started out writing and the words resembled the font of my own pen, however, I did progress with a more stroke driven action, which resulted with a more consistent line. I found that writing with a quill can take a lot longer than I anticipated. I needed to refill the quill every couple of words; which of course was extremely annoying!
I must say though I was having fun and I now am a convert to using a quill and ink.

What I have also found is that ink is very messy; I cannot even contemplate what it would be like to write a whole novel this way! I am now very appreciative of the intense pain Jane Austen must have gone through, to pen her wonderful works!

I am entusiastic about how this activity will fit into the project and I am also happy that maybe my dearest friends will receive letters from me, hand written by quill and ink.

My practise letter begins like this...

Dearest Elizabeth,

I hope this letter finds you well. I have thought it unfortunate that you have been ill in recent days. With the season change upon us, it is without malice that I plead for God's good sense that he gives you a reprieve from your ill health... 

' Old Copper Washtubs'

It has been a while since my last post, but I was waiting till I had something more interesting to show you. I had sent out emails; I had searched between Ballarat and Castlemaine for the one item I do not have for The Jane Austen Experience.

I was hoping to find a washtub I could use for one of the activities. I searched again high and low, to no avail. I had given up all hope in finding what I needed. We did come across an old steel washtub but at the price of $95, it was out my budget.

So by this time the likelihood of finding one in the vicinity of Ballarat was poor and I thought I would have to use a very modern bucket instead.

During the week, I was busy reading for other classes when my husband turned up with this wonderful original copper washtub. As you can see it has seen better days but it is perfect for washing my clothes with the washboard. After a bit of high pressure washer action, it has come up trumps! I am proud to say I have an original copper washtub!
Instead of it being $95, it was a cool $50. It may need a bit more tender loving care before I use it, but I think it is pretty good!

So as it stands now, I have been accumulating many props for this project and I am looking to photograph each activity as soon as I finish sewing! Hopefully by next weekend!

Dearest Followers,
I dare to dream that my journey is of substance to your sensibilities.

'Ink Wells All Round'

I ventured out to the antique shops

to browse; instead I came out of

there with two ink wells for the price

of one. I didn't really want two,however,

the man at the store said I could have

them both!

Each one is the exact replica of the
other, but one has a large inside crack
that allows it to have a very slow leak!
Not good when I planned to put ink in it!
The other has no cracks in the glass,
thank goodness or I would be out of pocket $40.

The ink well has a rim of silver at the top; the glass is very thick and shape like a diamond. I am excited that the quill I have, will stand up nicely inside it.

All I have to achieve now is to learn how to write an 18th Century inspired letter; with all the curves of artistic writing and the joining of letters that flow so beautifully together.

With some luck, I will have a talent I didn't know I had!

To My Dearest Followers,
I will endeavour to correspond when time permits me!

'The Costume Takes Shape'

Sunday began with the alarm going off at 6.30am. Climbing out of bed to take my son to catch a bus for 'Boatrace'. After a bit of breakfast, I started getting things ready for the all important 'sewing experience'.

As we know I am definitely not a sewing person, however, I think I am becoming a convert! Although this whole experience has been somewhat painful for me(needles), it has been rewarding at the same time.

I was so glad that Mum came to 'supervise', because I do not think I could have done this on my own! Everything from the pattern to cutting the right pieces out, and not to mention actually sewing the bodice to the skirt; with nerves of steel I proceeded forward!

There was a hiccup; the pattern wasn't very clear so we had to add material to the very bottom of the dress; thank goodness it doesn't look out of place! Considering the photos won't show the very bottom of the dress, I am sure all will be okay!

It now resembles something like the 18th Century picture on the front of the pattern. All that needs to be done is, to sew the sash onto the waist; add the nice brown wooden buttons; fix the sleeves and finally I must hem it to fit!

So, with the first task sort of finished, I can move onto the next.

I must consult my notes!

'Sunday is Sewing Day'

Decisions had to be made, before time gets away from me and also before I get bogged down with other assessments. I have been excited, but I have also been dreading anything to do with the sewing part of my project.

Well the time has come; this Sunday I will be re-introduced (with only High School experience under my belt and a pair of sheepskin mittens) to the field of sewing or dressmaking, to be exact. All aspects, including the cutting out and especially the pins; I hate trying things on when they are full of pins!

I am lucky to have a very capable person to help me with the sewing! What would we do without our Mums! I know what would happen; it would be a disaster. So Mum and I will be spending the day navigating our way through the maze that is the pattern and attempting to come out at the end of the day with something that may resemble a 18th Century garment.

My first idea was to try and sew the costume by hand, which is historically correct, but with time pushing by, it was clear I wasn't going to have enough time to learn and perfect this very tedious art. So we will have a go at sewing the costume on a 20th Century electric sewing machine. I know its not very authentic but it will have to do!

Oh well! Here's to Sunday; lets hope the costume atleast fits me!

'Folding An 18th Century Letter'

I have spent the morning searching websites for answers. I knew I would find a solution eventually and I have. Folding letters in the 18th and 19th Centuries was obviously easy for those who lived in those times, however, for me, not so easy!

Well, I started out with a video that showed me how to fold a letter; I thought I was going well until, I realised it was a Japanese website detailing the art of 18th Century Japanese letter folding. After mastering Japanese letter art I moved onto finding what I needed.

Before long I found a PDF file containing instructions. It was a teaching tool for how to take a class in folding 18th Century letters. So after taking the option of printing it off, I began developing my folding skills.

After a few tries at it, I was able to fold my first replica of an 18th Century letter. I am proud of myself, even if it is a small accomplishment.

So now I have to master the art of putting both the folding with the actual letter writing.

Before I know it, I will be writing letters to all my friends. I am not sure they will be able to read them, but they will receive them nonetheless!

I have the quill, I have the ink; now all I need is Jane Austen's desk to feel exactly like I am in the 18th Century, somehow I think the last request is not possible!

Folding letters is a dying art! It is fun to try though!

'The Expense of Props'

I knew when I started this project, that to make things authentic I would have to purchase some props. This weekend has started out with some more purchases. A feathered quill, blotting paper and a beautiful wax seal stamp can be added to the collection.

I am excited about how the project will turn out; it helps, knowing I have the right equipment. I want the photographs to be as true to the experience as possible, allowing for the reader to gain a sense of the 18th and 19th Centuries.

It is with these extra props that I can experience what Jane Austen wrote about in her novels; the domestic rituals of the middle class ladies of that time. Although, I will be re-creating some of the domestic duties associated with the housekeeping staff.

I am hoping to gain new skills in writing; which would include being able to master the art of writing with a quill. I hope to get a new appreciation for my washing machine by experiencing the washboard option and as I have stated before sewing is not one of my strong points. As I already wear glasses, I am sure that reading under candlelight will be a challenge.

I am still unsure as to how I will heat up my cast iron so I can iron all those pieces of lace I have lying around! I will, however, find a way. The only thing I haven't purchased as yet is a needlework project I can do. I will try to find something simple! Again I am not particularly gifted in this vocation!

With these small activities in mind and a few more lined up, I will start my project as soon as I have my costume made!

The expense has been high, but I think it is going to be worth it!

The Jane Austen Experience is coming slowly together!