Happy 235th Birthday

Yes, I am a Jane Austen, fan, although not a fanatic.  Perhaps it's my name, perhaps it's merely my English major reading habits, but mostly it's the courtly romance, tension, social mores and wit that I simply love.  So today, happy birthday, Jane.
Each December I celebrate Jane's birthday by re-reading one of her novels.  It's the perfect antidote to any holiday craziness.  Wonderful escapism into a different world.  I don't treat them equally.....love Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, enjoy Emma and Mansfield Park and tolerate Northanger Abbey.   I also love the BBC adaptations and one of the contemporary DVDs, "Lost In Austen," is a total delight.  Even businesses are aware of her long time popularity.  Jane Austen and the Wall Street Journal  This year Persuasion is on my bedside table.  (Irene, I bet you understand.)

Enough of my Anglophile ravings.  To make this slightly sewing related I suggest a project that will allow you to watch a movie of your choice while making something nice and useful for your sewing room.  I have been using these plain metal washers for pattern weights for several years.  A dear sewing friend and new blogger just posted this lovely gift version,
Michelle's pattern weights
something I had been meaning to do myself.  So last evening, while watching Survivor (not all my interests are seemingly highbrow:-) I wrapped these up.  Side bonus, it keeps your hands out of the cookie jar.

From this

to this