A Jane Austin Festival is Coming to Canberra …

Can you ever have enough of Jane Austin? I’m convinced that even those who claim to be over her are just a little bit tempted when another period production comes to the small or big screen. It’s re-living all the possible (and impossible) romances that we find hard to resist don’t you think?

Well, for those who would like more of Jane I’ve just discovered that a Jane Austen Festival is on in Canberra from 15-18 April 2010. While looking at the programme I noticed that Jennifer Forest was speaking and giving workshops. Jennifer, who wrote Jane Austen’s Sewing Box, was a guest at the Craft Fair in Sydney last year where I interviewed her. She talked about daily life for women in Jane’s time and I must say I had no idea what a typical day was like for them and just how many hours of sewing they were expected to do. Jennifer is going to be a guest speaker at the conference along with many other experts.

You’ll learn to dance a reel - who doesn’t think they can probably already do this after watching so many dance parties - sew crafts from the era, make and decorate a bonnet, discuss Jane Austen in C21, listen to music from the period, understand some of the problems in delivering period dramas to the modern screen, play card games, enjoy a dinner and picnic and attend a Regency Ball. Actually, I would love to go to some of the events - but what would I wear?

Imagine if you could have a Regency gown and bonnet made for you. Well … you can! (Look at the Costumes category) I don’t think you need me to tell you just how seriously many take all things ‘Jane’.

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