In Celebration of Pride and Prejudice

This week we are celebrating the 200th anniversary of one of the best-loved books on our bookshelf—Pride and Prejudice! We’re not going to weigh in on the Colin Firth versus Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy discussion (though we do have our favorite), but we are going to take a look at some of our staff’s favorite quotables from this excessively witty work of literature (and a couple other Austen classics for good measure).

Editor, Ande Fanning: “I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than a book!—When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”
Associate Editor, Kathleen Whaley: “I have not the pleasure of understanding you.”
Assistant Editor, Faith Morgan: “There are few people in England, I suppose, who have more true enjoyment of music than myself, or a better natural taste. If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient.”
Copy Editor, Nancy Ogburn: “I must learn to be content with being happier than I deserve.”
Editorial Coordinator, Becky Goff: “It isn’t what we say or think that defines us, but what we do.”

Check out these fun, artistic interpretations of some of Jane Austen’s other bon mots, and see if you are not quite diverted.

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Centsational Girl

We loved getting to know the crafty, thrifty guru behind Centsational Girl in our recent holidays issue. She has some great tips for cutting costs while staying impeccably stylish—she calls it “diamond style on a dime.” We’re especially smitten with her latest project—a navy and coral budget-friendly redo of her eldest’s college bedroom. Check it out!

What We’re Reading Now: The Homes I Have Made

We just stumbled on the fantastic blog The Homes I Have Made by Marine wife Megan, who’s a pro at taking military housing units from boring to beautiful. She shares the befores and afters of her DIY decorating projects, with lots of fun tips and crafts along the way—we’re especially impressed with her vinyl “tile” backsplash.

Head over to her blog to tour her cute and crafty homes in Japan, California, Virginia, and (her current project) North Carolina.

Fun with Paper

When we were putting together our latest issue of fresh style, we came across this wonderful crafts book from Margaret Van Sicklen titled Modern Paper Crafts.

 

 

 

We were instantly smitten, and we knew we had to showcase one of the projects in the magazine, so we chose the Holiday Ornaments. You make them from cardstock or scrapbook paper, and we think they look like happy, little kites flying across the Christmas tree. There are so many other projects we like, from the really cool Op Art Mobile to the Baroque Mirror Frame with its fancy scrolls. Who knew you could create such fabulous things from a few slips of paper? Head over to ABRAMS Books to order your own copy, then send us pictures of your crafty creations!

Ruffles & Stuff

  

One of our favorite bloggers is Disney Powless of Ruffles & Stuff. She designed this darling headband (modeled by Disney and her precious little girl, Paige) for our Summer 2011 issue. It’s the perfect DIY preppy accessory for a first-day-of-school outfit.

Be sure to check out Disney’s two projects from the “Crafts for Kids” section of the Holidays issue of fresh style.
 

Hoffman Media