Confession: I’m an old-fashioned girl at heart. I love everything old-fashioned and handmade. Gifts made by hand are more precious to me than any other kind of gift. One of the reasons I love reading novels that take place during historical time periods like the Georgian Era, Victorian Era, or Civil War Era, is because I love the way people lived back then. Making your own clothes, growing your own food, tending your own needs. I greatly admire how people in the 1700’s and 1800’s were so self-sufficient and resourceful. I wish we lived like that today!
One of my favorite novels to read during Christmas time is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I just love how the focus on Christmas is one of simple pleasures and charitable giving. Ever since I read Little Women in high school, I felt inspired. I wanted to emulate their simple and unselfish holiday spirit.
I love making gifts for my loved ones. I wish I was more talented and crafty – the only skill I’ve managed to successfully progress in is crocheting. Many of the Christmas gifts I give to my family and friends are scarves, hats, and blankets I’ve crocheted. I also like to make a bunch of simple scarves and donate them to goodwill every year.
Last year, my wonderful mother bought me Austentatious Crochet: 36 Unique Designs from the World of Jane Austen and I’ve finally gotten around to making my first project from it which is the Lyme Regis Scarf. I decided to make the scarf in dark ocean blue in hopes it will remind the owner of the sea, Lyme Regis, and Jane Austen.
I feel so blessed and thankful to be a part of this wonderful and kind Austenesque community. For the past three years, blogging and interacting with other Austenesque readers and authors has brought such happiness and fulfillment to my life. I love all the friends I’ve made online, and I love how I feel connected to you all – even though we may never have met in person!
In addition to the LYME REGIS SCARF, I’m giving away a copy of KATE’S CHOICE by Louisa May Alcott. This is a rediscovered collection of THREE short stories by Louisa May Alcott, all filled with charming heroines and heartwarming tales of Christmas, love, and kindness. I enjoy rereading this collection every Christmas. And while the stories may be about young adults and children, they are definitely inspiring to adults.
Thank you, dear readers of this blog, for your support, conversation, and friendship! Mr. Bingley and I wish you and yours the merriest and most blessed of Christmases this year!
GIVEAWAY TIME!!! Today I’m giving away a blue LYME REGIS SCARF and a new hardcover copy of KATE’S CHOICE by Louisa May Alcott to ONE lucky winner!
To be entered, all you need to do is leave a comment.
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- This giveaway is open worldwide. Love my international friends!
- This giveaway ends December 27th.
I love this post, Meredith, thanks for sharing your heart with us! (don’t enter me for giveaway-I’ve won recently!) Merry, merry Christmas!
June, you are so sweet and generous! Thank you for your kind words! Merry Christmas to you!
I agree with you totally about the way LMA inspired me, when I was about ten years old about the Christmas Spirit! I loved the sisters, and their loving relationship, even though I did not understand the conflict with the war and what was going on around them until I read the book for the 3rd time. Then I had to re-read it to see what else I missed as I matured, and then I had to re-read it because I just loved the story so much. I have never read Kate’s Choice, unless it was very very long ago and I don’t recall. Thanks for the generous giveaway, that’s a great color scarf, I love it!! marieburton2004 at yahoo dot com
Hi Marie! That’s great that you discovered LMA at such a young age, at 10. I was still in my American Girl Doll phase and only reading their books! I love many books by LMA and Kate’s Choice is just perfect to get you in the holiday spirit!
Oooo, what a lovely giveaway!
godslilbookworm[at]hotmail.com
Thanks, KatySue! Best of luck! 🙂
Oh, my heart is right there with you. There is just a feeling I get when I read books from the periods you mentioned, and for many of the same reasons you mentioned. I equally love seeing films set in the same periods. The decor and dress! My perfect escape!
Your scarf is beautiful, by the way, and I think handmade gifts are the best–nothing like them!
Thank you for offering this give-away! 🙂
carascarlett at yahoo dot com
Yes, period movies are wonderful! When watching them I sometimes think I could definitely live in that time period with no difficulty…but then I remember how cold I am all the time and how I’d miss electric heat!
Thank you for you kind words! 🙂
I agree that even though ‘back then’ involved alot of work in making your own clothes and food, etc, it was certainly a less hectic time. I wouldn’t mind going back!
Pretty scarf! Thanks for this wonderful giveaway!
Whitby1734(at)aol(dot)com
I’m with you, susied! I love the slower pace of life, how families sit all together after dinner reading aloud to each other, how you could walk to town to get supplies…I love it! 🙂
So few people these days appreciate the homemade, considerate and personal gift. ‘”Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents,” grumbled Jo,’ is the typical sentiment rather than Beth’s reminder that at least they had each other.
Your scarf is lovely; you’re very talented. I am horrible at crocheting. Perhaps I need a teacher rather than a book, but I never moved past a lumpy, uneven pot holder that shall never be used due to some safetey concerns.
And thank you Meredith, for hosting such a welcoming, entertaining and thoughtful community of all-things-Austen lovers!
hmoll(at)nycap(dot)rr(dot)com
“a lumpy, uneven pot holder that shall never be used due to some safety concerns.” – LOL! I was in the stage too! The great thing about crocheting is you can unravel and work it again if something doesn’t look right. I’m working on a baby blanket for a friend…I’ve taken it apart three times because I saw I was doing something wrong (it’s a new pattern for me). 🙂
Thank you so much for being a reader of my blog and your kind words, Heather! I love hearing from you!
I always try to homemake (is that even a word) as many gifts as possible..they mean more in my point of view as they come from the heart. Your scarf is beautiful…love the blue…
Stephanie (AT)lucasaaron((AT))yahoo.com
Thank you! I definitely agree with you! I wish I had time to make all my Christmas gift! I always have more ideas than I do hours and days! LOL!
You are talented, Meredith. I wish I have the time, creativity and patience like you to spun out some homemade handicraft gifts. The closest I ever got was doing cross-stitch.
And thank you for your contribution on Austen-themed blogs. I made it a point to read all your posts though I don’t comment on all of them.
evangelineace2020(at)yahoo(dot)com
Oh thank you, Sylvia! I’m still learning and it’s been a slow process! For years all I did was one stitch. Cross-stitch seems to me to be very challenging! I’d love to be able to do something like that one day!
I appreciate your readership and friendship, Sylvia! Thank you!
What a beautiful and thoughtful gift! I’d love to be entered.
diaryofaneccentric (at) hotmail.com
Thank you for your kind words, Anna! Best of luck!
Homemade is so meaningful and special. Lovely giveaway. thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you,traveler! I always treasure homemade gifts!
A beautiful and precious gift. Thanks for this great giveway. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thank you, petite! Best of luck!
The scarf looks wonderfully warm and cozy. And such a great colour! And I lOVE Lousia May Alcotts Little Women series. One of the difts I bought at Laura Boyles Austentatious-Etsy-store the other day where the March Sisters-clothpins for my sister, as the are such childhood memories.
I also had Little Women as a mandatory “special-topic” (sounds strange, but I don´t know how to describe it in english :D) in my oral english exams ending high school.
I´m sooo thankful for Austenesque friends! I have had so many wonderful conversations via facebook, blog and twitter with lovely people this alst year! Thank You, Meredith!
kewinkler at gmail dot com
@kaewink
Thank you, Katrin! I was worried about the color! I hope I picked one most people want too wear and one that matches their winter coat! I love the March sisters clothespin dolls! (I love all her clothespin dolls actually!) That must have been fun!
Thanks for your conversation and friendship, Katrin! 🙂
Meredith, that scarf is beautiful! I love the color, too. I used to know how to crochet but I haven’t done it since I was a kid. I love Little Women as well (I call my mom “Marmee” all the time) and my 8 year old niece was reading it last Christmas when I was visiting. I’m not sure how much of it she understood, or even if she finished it, but I was so pleased she was reading it.
Thanks for your festive, true Christmas spirit and your friendship!
@jaffobsession
Thanks, Monica! That’s so sweet that you call your mom, Marmee! Gosh! I’m so impressed that she even attempted to read it at such a young age! I guess I was a late bloomer as far as reading goes! You could probably explain the parts she didn’t understand… or show her the movie! LOL!
So grateful for your friendship, Monica!
Oh, That’s so fun that you enjoy making and receiving handcrafted gifts. I can admire them, but i can’t make them so I guess its good that I only vicariously visit the past instead of live there. I got my sister in law a Jane Austen knitting book and I’ve already reaped the results in a plum colored wool wrap.
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
sophiarose1816 at gmail dot com
Ohh! I’ve never tried knitting and to me, it looks harder than crocheting! How nice that you have a Jane Austen wool wrap! I just love the idea of wearing clothing inspired by our beloved Jane!
What a lovely post! I wish I had the patience and the smarts to crochet and knit. Some of the best gifts I’ve ever received were handmade from my Oma.
Felicia
felicialso @gmail. com
Thank you, Felicia! It is so nice to hear how people treasure their handmade gifts! 🙂
Love Louisa May Alcott! Although I’m new to this blog. I’ve enjoyed the posts. Merry Christmas!
Welcome to Austenesque Reviews, shinekarobinson! LMA writes such wholesome and inspiring stories! I love reading her works!
Oh that scarf makes me want to learn to crochet – beautiful! And ‘homespun’ gifts are my favorite – every year I try to make as many as I can, or at least support others who make with their own hands in their own homes.
Happy holidays to you!
nicolerjlapierre [at] gmail [dot] com
Thank you, Nicole! Yes, if I don’t have the time to make all my own gifts, I love buying special gifts that someone else has made. I like to go craft fairs and support all those talented crafters. And…I love etsy! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Nicole!
Holy cow! Did you teach yourself from the book? It’s beautiful!!
Like ten years ago my mom taught me how to do a double crochet stitch (which I think is the most basic stitch). In the last two years, I’ve finally got brave and started looking up my own patterns and tried attempting harder patterns and stitches. Most patterns and websites make it easy for beginners like me, and there are plenty of videos on youtube that help too.
This book is great for new beginners like me they have everything well explained and good illustrations and a glossary. They actually said this scarf was at an medium level of difficulty, and I’m happy to say that I didn’t find it too challenging! 🙂
A very nice post and a wonderful scarf!
Merry Christmas!
cardinalemoni (at) gmail (dot) com
Thank you, Monica! Merry Christmas to you! Best of luck!
Thank you for such a lovely giveaway! 😀 I haven’t read Kate’s Choice yet, but I ADORE Little Women and would love to read something else written by Louisa May Alcott.
Again, thank you for this chance!
Giada M.
fabgiada (at) gmail (dot) com
You are most welcome, Giada! I’m so excited about giving this little treasure of a book away! I hope it brings someone as much joy as it has brought me! 🙂
Meredith, I love your post and your scarf is absolutely beautiful! You do a fantastic job and I am impressed. It was so good learn more about you through your post although I feel as I know you, anyway. It has been wonderful to meet so many Austenesque people through the blogs and posts. I too feel I have made many new friends.
Thank you for the giveaway opportunity and Merry Christmas to you and Mr. Bingley!
forgot to add my email
jbtaylor12(at)gmail(dot)com
Love the scarf. It looks like a neat pattern. I’ve seen the JA crochet book, but have not picked it up for myself. But I like the two different stitches in the pattern. THanks for the giveaway opportunity and a Merry Christmas.
colleenday [at] hotmail [dot] com
I love Louisa May Alcott! And the scarf’s nice, too.
MargayATaolDOTcom
Lovely post, Meredith. The scarf you made is absolutely gorgeous! I love the color!Learning to crochet is on my list of things to do, but for now I only knit! Thank you for this awesome giveaway! Merry Christmas!!=)
kellik115(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thank you for the giveaway, Meredith. The scarf is truly lovely and I have never read a Louisa May Alcott book, not even Little Women, so I’m sure that would be a treat as well.
bledsoefamily4 (at) sbcglobal (dot) net
Great giveaway, the scraf looks gorgeous. I’ve started knitting recently by making a blanket for the arrival of my niece. I love homemade presents 🙂
cerian(dot)halford(at)gmail(dot)com