Jane Austen’s Sewing Box
Piecework‘s Sept/Oct 2010 issue focused on craft in literature and featured my knitted purses from the book.
Check the blogs and other reviews below to find out what people are saying about the book:
Blogs
Television
Stateline, ABC Australia
The Quilt Show USA
Reviews
Booktopia’s craft newsletter July 2009 book review below:
“I cannot imagine a more finely realised combination of literature, history and artistic creation than is found in this book. Forest is intricate in her research, from the details of Regency period etiquette and fashion, to its relevance to and notation throughout Jane Austen’s novels. Forest begins her book with two introductions, the first being of social history, placing Austen’s heroines within their historical context. The second is a cultural and artistic history, of the materials and tools used in ‘women’s work’ of the period. From this, Forest launches into a description of eighteen objects that were created and used everyday during the period, and how we can recreate them now. Using a range of techniques from sewing, embroidery, papercraft, knitting, netting and painting, Forest highlights the skill level of each of her tasks from beginner to advanced. Each project begins with a description of the historical and literary significance of the object, and stunningly coloured illustrations of period examples and uses. Forest also photographs her own creations, demonstrating a vision of the reader’s final product. The step-by-step instructions for each project are clear and concise, providing material and tool check-lists, as well as diagrams along the way. The real pleasure is in matching your finished product to the quotes from Austen novels and feeling yourself dressed in, or holding a piece straight from Emma, Lizzie or Elinor’s wardrobes. The books is pure delight, both to read and to create from, and will provide many hours of pleasure.”
Jane Austen’s Sewing Box can be found in all good book stores and ordered online from a range of book stores including Amazon and Indigo Books.
