Valentine Transferware

This fine collection of red and white Transferware includes a plate of particular interest...

Another Chatsworth House, a.k.a. Mr. Darcy's Pemberley, plate! The view is of the house in 1792. I love how this dish illustrates the house from the side, from the River Derwent, through the arches of the bridge (which pictures the statue that is no longer there), nestled in the foliage. The clouds look like pointillism. In 1792 I suppose Mr. Darcy would have been a boy playing in these grounds, or, you know...diving into the lake! (Hope that induced a Happy Valentine's swoon!)

Pamela

I'm currently reading this 1740 epistolary novel, Pamela, by Samuel Richardson. Richardson (1689--1761) was a printer in London, and also wrote letter writing manuals instructing readers on how to write and behave properly. One of the letters in the manual sparked the plot of Pamela, the first classic English romantic novel. Pamela is told through a series of letters from Pamela, a beautiful  and godly servant girl, to her parents, beginning with her master's attempts to seduce her. According to this documentary by the fabulous historian Lucy Worsley, which goes into more detail about the success of the novel, Richardson was one of Jane Austen's favourite authors, and Pamela inspired her writing as well as the writing of other love novels.

Threadless Design: Artistic Standard

Well this is exciting! I love this Jane Austen quote so I illustrated it with watercolor paint and turned it into a t-shirt design for Threadless. Artistic Standard is the first design I've submitted to the site, and now it's up for voting right here. If you like the design and want to see it printed onto a purchasable shirt, please feel free to give it a high score! 'Twould be much appreciated!