Hello dear readers! Our beloved authoress’s birthday is today! In this season of festiveness and joy, we must stop and celebrate the day Jane Austen was born!
How shall we celebrate, you ask?
Well, how about by making an Austenesque Christmas Tree!
As you might know from our posts earlier in the month, Mr. Bingley and were preparing to close on Netherfield and move in!
Well, we did close! YAY!
And pretty much the next day, began moving in!
I was so happy to have my books make the trip safely! They’ve been residing in my office this past year! But I couldn’t unpack them properly yet, since I don’t have any bookshelves! (They will hopefully be coming soon!)
So after seeing so many lovely Book Christmas Trees posted on Facebook, and being tagged by several friends with them! I decided, I must make a Book Christmas Tree, myself!
I’ll have you know this particular Book Christmas Tree is extra special because it is made up of Austenesque and Jane Austen books! 😉
What do you think? Would Jane approve?
Mr. Bingley had fun making a time lapse video of me in action…I will say that it is harder than it looks and took me three tries to get it going correctly!
The happiest of birthdays to our dear Jane!!! 😀
~~~
GIVEAWAY TIME!
This is exciting! The lovely people at HarperCollins Christian Publishers are generously offering two of their titles for me to give away in honor of Jane Austen’s birthday today! And both are books I’ve read and reviewed in the past on this blog!
The first book is A Jane Austen Devotional by Steffany Wollsey (check out my review here!)
And the second book is The Christian Encounters Series: Jane Austen by Peter Leithart (check out my review here!)
To enter this giveaway comment below! You can comment about:
- Book trees (have you ever made one before?)
- The two lovely books from HarperCollins Christian Publishers (are they on your TBR, wishlist, or completely new to you?)
- Jane Austen’s birthday (are doing anything special to celebrate?)
- This giveaway is open to residents worldwide. Thank you HarperCollins!
- The giveaway ends December 23rd.
The tree is fabulous, Meredith! I have never made one, but I love yours. I especially like the tree topper.;-) congratulations on your new home!
Thank you, Paige! It was my first attempt. 🙂 My Jane dolls were packed away all these months, it worked out as the perfect tree topper for my Jane Austen Book Christmas Tree!
Never thought to make a book trees – might want to read one of them, then what happens.
Not come across either of these books before so interested in reading them
We shall have a glass of wine this evening to celebrate Jane’s birthday
And congratulations of new home.
I didn’t either until recently! I would definitely recommend choosing some books that you don’t plan on reading in the next month. 🙂 All the books in my tree are ones I’ve already read.
Thank you for the congrats! I hope you have a lovely day celebrating and best of luck in the giveaway!
Jane Austen would definitely approve. Happy Birthday Jane X
Thanks! 🙂
Love your book tree! I’ve never made one, but I have more than enough to construct a pretty darn tall one, I do believe!
Happy Birthday to our dear Jane. 🙂
Thank you! LOL! Mine is rather short and stout…I did have loads more books to add, but I was afraid of having it topple. 🙂
I would so love to make a book tree! Alas the only way my husband would approve was if I were giving them all away in the end. There’s also no time or space this time of year…Perhaps Thomas Jefferson’s birthday-he liked books!!
NO! Don’t give away your books…that just cannot be borne! Great alternative…I think it can be argued that a book tree is appropriate decoration for any holiday!;)
Lovely tree! I think I would have enough books for that but not all JAFF… Congratulations on your new home!
Definitely go with hard covers first if you have them. I only had enough for the bottom row and half of the second. 😉 Glad you enjoyed our little tree!
Yes!! I made a book tree one year when we didn’t have an actual tree. I must confess that both books are indeed completely new to me, but they do sound interesting. Well, since we’re on the subject, yes I will be celebrating by listening to soundtracks from the Austen films and maybe watching a bit of Northanger Abbey. I wish I had enough books to make an Austenesque tree now..:)
Nice! Both books are lovely and enlightening and thoughtful reads. I love listening to Jane Austen soundtracks! Do you have any favorites? Mine is the Emma soundtrack by Rachel Portman.
I’ve never seen a book tree before–how appropriately festive on Jane’s birthday! And both those books sound great 🙂
I’m glad you thought it was appropriate for today! 🙂 I was trying to come up with something new to do for today. It worked out well that we were all moved in and the timing for everything!
I love your Christmas book tree, it looks amazing.
Thank you! It’s a little on the short side, but I’m very happy with it!
Love the tree, Congratulations on closing and the start of your move. I don’t have as many books as you in only Jane Austen books or JAFF so I’ll just admire yours from here. Hope the weather stays dry for your move and will look forward to the video of you constructing the “tree”.
And Happy Birthday dear Jane Austen!
Thanks you, Sheila! The move is all completed! We did it 3 hours (well…the movers did!) The weather has been lovely and so warm here! Hope it is nice by you!
Sunday and Monday had record highs – 68 degrees here in Pennsylvania. Lots of people in shorts or just sitting outside, reading, bird watching, girl watching, etc….LOL
Congratulations on the house! My daughter shares a birthday with Jane so we are celebrating with cake and a bouncy place. I hope to also watch some Jane Austen adaptations! Would love to read that Jane Austen devotional.
How lovely to have two special people share the same b-day! Maybe when she is older, your daughter will enjoy knowing she shares her birthday with Jane Austen and want to watch some Jane Austen adaptations!!
That book tree is fabulous! I’ve seen them on FB and Pinterest, but never even contemplated making one. So fun and apropos! I love the topper. Both of these books are new to me but I think I need that devotional!!
Thank you, Stephanie! It was fun and I’m glad you found it fitting! I’m so glad I could introduce these two lovely books to you! The devotional is very well-done!
What a wonderful feature and the tree is amazing. You are talented and special. I am having a tea party since my birthday was on Monday and today we will celebrate Jane.
Thank you, Anne! Happy belated Birthday to you! A tea party sounds sounds wonderful, enjoy!
Happy Birthday to Jane.
Congratulations to you and Mr. Bingley on your new home.
Have made a book tree before, lots of trial and error, but no time-lapse video, What a great idea.
Both books sound wonderful, thanks for the chance to win.
Thank you, Stephanie! It definitely isn’t as easy as it looks! 😉 Trust Mr. Bingley to come up with a way to make my idea even more fun!
I love, love, love your Janeites book tree!
Next year I am going to try it. Happy Christmas and New Year in your new home and much joy there for you.
I am rereading Persuasion in honor of
Jane’s birthday, as a second chance at
love is certainly one of the best gifts of
all. I’d love to win a book for a holiday
gift for me.
Thank you, Susan! 🙂 It is fun to deck our home with all things Jane! 😉 What a lovely way to spend Jane Austen’s birthday! Hope you are enjoying your day!
Cool book tree Meredith! I had never even heard of such a thing but it looks awesome. I am celebrating Jane’s birthday by reading a P&P variation I bought and received only just now. Happy Jane Austen’s birthday, fellow Janeites!
Thank you, Debbie! 😉 I’m happy with my first attempt! Oh nice! Happy reading!
I’ve never made a book Christmas tree – but it seems like something like belongs in my house. I love yours. I’ll probably wait for the kids to get a bit bigger for it though! I haven’t seen either of these two books before and they both look great!
Yes, this does belong in your home, Laura! 😉 I’m sure it would be fun for you to make. Glad to introduce these two books to you!
Happy Birthday Jane!!!
I think if she was to come back today she would be overwhelmed by how famous she is and how large a franchise ‘Jane Austen’ is. It’s my own birthday on the 20th, oh how I wish I had been born four days earlier!!!
Never made a book tree.. Might have a go over the hols. Good luck with the new house. Looks great.
Happy early birthday to you, Teresa! I hope you have a great day celebrating and how fun to be so close to Jane! Thanks for the kind words, I wish success with your book tree! 🙂
You have the best ideas, Meredith! Of course, I was ecstatic to see my books in your trees. Happy thought, indeed.
Thanks, I really can’t take the credit for it though. Facebook posts be circulating! Good eye, Robin! 🙂 They are nice and thick, provided good support!
Happy Birthday, Jane. Beautiful tree. Book trees seem to be really popular this year. Lots of pictures on my Facebook and Twitter feeds.
Thank you! Yes, they are!
Well, I’ve always admired those book trees, but didn’t give it much thought as to what must go into getting it just right especially with hardbound and softbound books together. I am curious to try it now. Thank your hubby for videoing your efforts. 🙂
Your new house looks lovely. Glad you’re able to start moving in.
I know you have a sizable collection of books to choose from! 😉 It was fun to do and I definitely think I”d want to do it again next year. Thank you! We are happy to be in, love this home! (Mr. Bingley was pleased to hear your thanks!)
Hello, again congratulation on getting your Netherfield and share with all of us the processus 😀
Thank you for writting this article to celebrate the 240th birthday of our fav author Jane Austen.
I never made a book tree, though I has seen one before on th net . It is a clever idea 😀 The moment I saw the picture, I knew that there were books in the you have so many boxe of books!! :DDD
I might try to make my book tree this year. When the news of JA’s birthday cale it was already 17h for me and I was busy and it din’t come to mind that I could celebrate it myself, so I have not plan anything at all ;(
and now it is night…I might watch P&P 1995 and 2005 some majors scenes on YT.
Have great holidays Meredith
Thank you, Mariam, my sweet friend! I thought it was clever too! What a great way for booklovers to celebrate and decorate for the season! I wish you much success if you try to make a book tree and I hope you enjoyed your night! Happy holidays to you!
Congratulations on your new home! And you book tree looks fabulous – I’ve never attempted one before. It looks rather complicated but very nice!
Thank you, Sarah! 🙂 It is a little complicated, but worth it!
Congratulations! And what a wonderful book tree! As for Jane Austen’s birthday, I’m going to finish re-watching the 1995 Pride and Prejudice to celebrate (and keep writing). 🙂
Thank you, Reina! Sounds like a great way to celebrate! I hope you enjoyed your day!
Congrats on your new home! I love the book tree and topper! 🙂 My brother’s birthday is the same as Jane’s so in my mind the birthday cake is for the both of them 🙂
Thank you! 😉 It is a popular time of year for birthday! Hope you have fun celebrating the day for both people!
I have wanted to try to create the Christmas book tree for sometime now but as I always go back to Spain for Christmas, eventually I barely decorate my house, so I keep delaying the “construction” of my tree. However, I do not have so many JAFF books to create my tree, I wish I could use my ebooks!! 😉 then I would have a massive tree!!
Happy birthday Jane Austen!
Whenever I travel over the holidays I find it hard to get all the decorating in. Too busy preparing for the trip and making sure I have all gifts bought, made, and wrapped. 😉 LOL! Ebooks might be a little hard!
I love the tree!
Thank you!
Would love to make a book Christmas tree but sadly don’t have the floor space.
The joys of unpacking! But so lovely to have your own new home.
Nothing special for Jane’s birthday. A few years ago I did trek all the way to England and Chawton for her birthday. They had free entrance to the museum, snacks and tea!! What a wonderful memory. It was raining when I was ready to leave and one of the ladies that worked there was so very kind and gave me a lift to the train station so I didn’t have to wait in the rain for the bus or taxi to get to the train. Such kind people.
Thank you, Jennifer! It has been so much fun unpacking! We had nothing but space at the moment! LOL! Thank you for sharing! That trip must be something so wonderful to think of and remember on this day! I can’t imagine the people who work at the Jane Austen House Museum being anything but kind! 😉
Love the book tree! I’d love to try it but we have a 1 year old who would love it too much too. Thanks for the giveaway chance. Merry Christmas! And congrats on the new house.
Thank you! LOL! That would be a bit disastrous unless you could put it up higher on a table. 😉 Merry Christmas to you!
I love your Jane Christas tree! I have never had one, but friends are encouraging e to. Jane would approve!
Thank you, Denise! Your friends must know how much you love to read!
Congrats in your new home! Thanks for sharing with us these special moments! . I had never seen a book tres and yours is gorgeous! . Jane would be proud of it! 🙂
Thanks forma the giveaway but don’t put me for it!. Merry Christmas to you and Mr Bingley in Netherfield!
Thank you, Teresa! It was fun to make a book Christmas tree that is all Jane Austen! 😉 Wishing you a very Merry Christmas, my friend!
Happy Anniversary of the great lady’s special day and HUGE congrats for the move into your lovely new home! Love your book Christmas tree and the lady at the top, what a wonderful idea!!! Please don’t enter me in the giveaway, just wanted to pop by to say Happy JA Day and have a wonderful Christmas!
Thank you, Joana! Hope you enjoyed your JA Day! And I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
I love the idea of book trees but I’m not sure if I have enough books to date! Mostly have ebooks for my Austen obssession. Congrats on your new home!!! Exciting times!
Whoever thought of it is brilliant! LOL! I’ve greatly enjoyed gazing upon it this season. Thank you, JJ! IT is indeed a very exciting and happy Christmas!
The tree is amazing! It’s such a great idea!
Thank you!! 😉
Seriously, you guys are too cute! Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year in your new home.
Meredith, I’m so happy for you and Mr. Bingley!! Enjoy your new house! 😉 Love your book tree (should try and make one myself). Merry Christmas!
Thank you, Maria! It is such a happy time! The last couple of weeks have been such a blur, but hopefully things will settle down! Hope you have a lovely Christmas!
I love the booktree and will try to make one myself 🙂 I celebrated Jane’s birthday by watching Pride and Prejudice, again, with a slice of gingercake.
Ooh! What a wonderful way to celebrate! I wish I had time to watch a JA adaptation! Best of luck with the tree!
I like the idea of a Christmas book tree and I’m positive Jane Austen will approve of yours. And on that note, I would like to wish Jane a belated happy birthday.
Thank you, Sylvia! I’ve been enjoying the tree a lot this year, I think I’ll do it again in the future! Hope you had an enjoyable JA birthday!
We made a Christmas book tree. It was fun and exhausting.
Awesome! Yes, it is exhausting. Especially if you are like me and start incorrectly twice and finally get it right on the third try!
Adorable. Congratulations on moving into your new home. So proud and happy for you. A lovely Merry Christmas to you and Mr Bingley, and a truly blessed New Year. Looking forward to what AR will bring us in 2016.
Happy Birthday to Jane and Beethoven, too! So much pleasure given over the years by two of those people born on that day. On a more personal note, however, my father-in-law shared the same birthday. So of course without him and my dear mother-in-law (both gone now, sadly) I wouldn’t have the perfect husband I have now. And that perfect :/ hubby wished me ‘happy Jane’s birthday’ that day.
Thank you, Michelle! I greatly appreciate your kind words! I hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and that the New Year brings much health and happiness your way!
I love that two of my favorite people of all time have such a close birthday! That is sweet that your hubby remembered Jane Austen’s birthday! 😉
Wow… the book Christmas tree is awesome! I would love to have my own tree out of Austen sequels books but at my location we do not get those books… Great job anyway!
Love and light,
Thank you! It was a lot of fun to make. Might be a yearly tradition…we will see! I hope you enjoyed a lovely Christmas and that some Austenesque books find their way to you in the future!
Congratulations for closing on Netherfield! I loved Mr. Bingley’s video. You have a wonderful book tree and I love the Jane Austen tree topper. Thank you for the giveaways.
Thank you, Eva! I thought the video was a fun idea! 😉 I might try it again next year! 😉
The house looks great (and looks like a newer home). You could put up a sign declaring it Netherfield. I am more interested in the second book. I’d never heard of them before. No, I never made a book tree before but with all my books I should. The cats would knock it over and I really don’t have a place to assemble and put it. I did know that the 16th was Jane’s birthday because I was recently looking at my copy of Emma (hardcover from Barnes & Noble). It mentioned her birthdate and other notable dates. Unfortunately, the newspaper didn’t mention Jane’s birthday in the “This Date in History” section.
Where is the video posted? I am not on Face Book and somehow don’t see a link above.
The video should be embedded in the post now, but if you can’t see it here is the link on Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo1hfZNOVwY
Thank you. Found it and posted a comment. You look so young! That’s an asset as you get older.
I loved the time-lapse video. Tell Pedro he did a wonderful job.
Thank you! 🙂 We have been having fun making videos together more!
Finally saw the video. So cute you guys! I recognized the P&P shirt you were wearing in the first part of it. Mr. Bingley did a good job on the filming. I think you should leave the tree up until you get your bookcases…that’ll give y’all a kick in the pants to get them done 🙂 I love it. Does the whole process of the past year seemed to have dragged or flown by in a flash?
Yes! Good eye with the shirt…I did it on purpose! I think we both like the idea of leaving the book tree up! 😉 It makes me smile wide every time I look at it!
The past year feels like it zoomed by! I can’t believe all that has happened and that it feels like not too long ago the year and all the process of moving and buying a home began! I don’t like the idea of time going so fast and years advancing rapidly. I hope it slows down next year!