Welcome Patty Marq, artisan of the Etsy shop, Amor Amas Amat!
In 2003, I saw the first installment of Pirates of the Caribbean and loved Keira Knightley’s character, Elizabeth Swann. Two years later, I heard that Keira Knightley was filming the movie Pride & Prejudice, which I knew was based on a book I had heard of but had never read. At 15, I knew nothing of Jane Austen nor her novels but I decided to read it before I saw the movie. My English teacher at the time had a book-buying program the students used to get cheap books and I decided to buy it. I remember that when I was reading those first pages, I had a problem understanding her English, and frequently looked up words I didn’t understand. Slowly, I began to read the book with no knowledge of the author nor the story to cloud my perception of the story. This I later found to be advantageous because it allowed me to experience what Lizzy experienced when Darcy first proposed.
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| Mr. Darcy Proposal |
I was essentially flabbergasted. With Lizzy’s prejudiced view on Mr. Darcy, I saw what she saw, and had not expected to find out he was in love with her. That was the the most defining moment when I realized I love the story and Jane Austen. After reading Pride and Prejudice, I bought the other books and read about Captain Wentworth and Mr. Knightley. The words these men used to express their love for these admirable women were beautiful words, a beautiful expression of love that I never forgot.
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| Captain Wentworth Proposal |
Now in 2012, I am so thankful to have met other Janeites through Twitterand that I got to read some of their Austenesque novels that I wouldn’t have even heard of if I had never met them. They make me feel normal in my Darcy obsession. Some of these friends are the same ones who encouraged me to open an Etsy store (Amor Amas Amat) when I started posting pictures of some of the calligraphy I began to do using the words I knew by heart from Jane Austen. I used my calligraphy to make these words that were inherently beautiful, physicallybeautiful, to turn them into a higher form of art than they were already.
From there I ventured into other crafts, such as the bookmarks I hand make using the pages from my first copy of Pride and Prejudice. I love that each bookmark is entirely unique and has a story embedded in it. Such as this bookmark that came from the pages where Lizzy rejects Mr. Collins’ proposal.
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| Pride and Prejudice Bookmark |
Growing up, art was always a hobby, not something I expected to go that far with. Now, my art hangs in the walls of people throughout the United States, and I am very honored to think that someone feels my art is good enough to display in their homes. My custom work so far has revolved around real couples in love, some starting their lives together, others celebrating many happy years together, and it is touching to celebrate their love with my art. How could I not love being an artist.
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- This giveaway is open to residents Worldwide. Thank you, Patty!
- This giveaway ends December 27th.
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Need to do some holiday shopping? Do you love great deals?
For the entire month of December, everyone can use the coupon code AUSTEN4HOLIDAYS to get 15% off anything at Patty’s shop. Woot Woot!
Wow, Patty!!
What *gorgeous* calligraphy — it’s so beautiful! If I were lucky enough to win it, I’d hang it in my writing office :).
Aww, thank you!
Seeing that makes me want to cross-stitch it….truly, one of the best opening lines ever. Thanks for the giveaway, and the extravaganza!
I’ve been wanting to try cross-stitching! Any tips?
Oh, this is so pretty! I would hang this in my office/guest room over my desk. It’s my “girly” room with pink walls and white furniture and I think that something by Patty needs to go up on my wall 🙂
Thank you! Good luck!
I think that is so neat that you have this artistic ability to express your Jane- love. I actually have a small historic bungalow home that is decorated in such a way that this would fit into any room in my home.
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Yes I was very happy to find a way to express both loves together. I’d love to see your historic bungalow, I love old houses.
Love the bookmark too. I’ve wanted to do something crafty with one of my many copies of P&P but have not been brave enough yet.
I’ve been looking for something to go over my desk in my office P&P related, but have not settled on anything yet. But your calligraphy is beautiful.
I’ve been exploring the crafts I can do with the pages from the book but an easy thing to do would be to cut out a page and place a cutout (any material or wood) of your initials on top of it and put it in a frame (without the glass if using the wood or in a shadow box). Trim the page to fit the frame and if there’s a gap, you can put some decorative scrapbook paper that fits the color scheme of your room behind the page.
So pretty! I would probably put the lovely work by my desk. I have a few Jane Austen items there and I love to look at them.
Felicia
How pretty! I love the bookmark as well. I would hang it above my bookshelf. I’d love to have a whole room done in a Regency/Austen theme but I have to move first :/
@jaffobsession
This is so lovely! I would either hang it in my office or in my bedroom, both places are where I do most of my reading.
Kendal
@kstegmann
I would definitely hang it in my bedroom 🙂 It’s so pretty 🙂
Redrose15
@rosefire15
I really love your blog.. Great colors & theme.
Did you build this web site yourself? Please reply back as I’m planning to create my own website and want to learn where you got this from or what the theme is named. Thank you!
Feel free to surf my page – erinmore
What a lovely story! I love your calligrapy and quotes. Magical!
samjaymc[at]gmail[dot]com
Love your Jane story :o) I met Jane at the tender age of 16 myself, but several years before you ;o) haha …
Where would I hang that delectable tidbit? On my bedroom wall. Where it’s the first thing I see in the morning as I try to figure out where the snooze button is, haha
quarterback.girl[at]gmail[dot]com
Thank you for sharing your story. Your work is absolutely gorgeous. If I won, I would hang it right by my bookshelf! Thanks for the giveaway!!=)
kellik115(at)yahoo(dot)com
My #TheLBD-tweetfriend! I love your work, Patty! I have looked at your shop a few times already and am thinking of whom I could treat to such exquisit art!
I´d most definitly would hang it near my bookshelf. It would need a very special place!
kewinkler at gmail dot com
@kaewink
In my bedroom, near my bookcase full of Jane Austen books and re-tellings would be the perfect place for this wonderful piece.
Stephanie Carrico
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Beautiful works! Would be a fabulous addition to any Janeite’s art collection! I’d hang one in my office as part of my inspiration collection.
I would display it in my study/computer/library room. It’s nice to hear of how Jane Austen has inspired you to open an Etsy shop and market your hobby.
That bookmark is really cool and the prize is so pretty. I might hang it up on my bedroom door or in the computer room in my house.
crystal_dark[at]att[dot]net