Winter 2013 Design

As December and Christmas have flown away, it seemed time for a new blog design. I was rather sad to loose the old theme as I was quite proud of it. :-(

The Young Victoria - December 2012 Theme:

Christmas Header

Background Image

Comment Button

(feel free to use it you wish!)

Christmas Buttons 

Still available on the Blog Buttons page.

The Young Victoria Banner from the bottom of my blog.

Winter 2013 Design:

I'm currently reading The Secret Garden for the first time but the 1994 film adaptation has been a family favorite for a long time in my house. I loved the bleak Winter-ish feel at the beginning of the film, but there's always the hope of Spring. On the left hand sidebar are photos of Mary Lennox, Martha, Dickon and two comment buttons featuring Colin and Mrs. Medlock. The Secret Garden key is featured on the right hand sidebar. I've also made myself some new signature photos that you'll see popping up in the near future.

New Blog Button:

<center> <a href="http://old-fashionedcharm.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Old-Fashioned Charm" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UHHMLbCFfSAmklElmbQpuPAgyx6XeBGxFUlHnVxNLwF5mB5CziFmh7X_ZWwa8ghsYjRHZM1xI31Hf5H9UtSsTGl6qf-TeI8-zZwfH7faRRyVoQMdLYE1RpfSzywSxRy4huQ1cSFwFsHA/s180/TSG+Button2.jpg" /></a></center>

And a fun button for fans of the story/film:

<center> <a href="http://old-fashionedcharm.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Old-Fashioned Charm" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2kXFBCoakqbEFS1uA8TGTaIka8kH22HnMQ2UxRZ-B8F2pu2kxpAYoT2k4P4eCpgDgRlaBBZVd8-HoU578EXWUohlzli8cUiH5tLubYjV3SafOamijpp1o6dv0szWBCXwtNEPAPVIunpn/s180/TSG+Button.jpg" /></a></center>

What do you think of the new blog design?

Are you a fan of The Secret Garden?  

Period Drama Don't Keep Calm Contest!

Entries are now closed. Finalists have been announced here.

Winners can be found here.

Back in April I post a Period Dramas Keep Calm Contest (check out that post if you're not familiar with Keep Calm Posters). The game this week is a contest similar to that but with a twist. The twist is that there's somethings in period dramas that you just can't keep calm about - whether it's something verrrrrry exciting or something rawther vexing!  

In this contest your entries must be related to your favorite period dramas and they must begin with the phrase "Don't Keep Calm And..." or end with the saying "...and I can't keep calm".  

Here's a couple examples of Period Drama related Don't Keep Calms: 

Based on Anne of Green Gables

Based on Alice in Wonderland

Based on Cranford
Poster made by Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Elegance of Fashion

This is just to give an example of the "...And I Cannot Keep Calm" option.

 Entries & Rules: 

• Create your own witty posters beginning with "Don't Keep Calm And..." or ending "...And I Can't Keep Calm" that are related to your favorite period dramas (related to Austen, Dickens, Gaskell, Alcott, Montgomery, Downton Abbey or other period films). 
• You may enter up to three Don't Keep Calm posters. 
• Post your Don't Keep Calms on your blog or website and leave the link in a comment, or if you don't have a blog leave the image URL(s) in a comment, or you can e-mail your entries to me.
• When you comment please tell which period drama(s) your sayings come from. 
• Contest will be open for entries from now until 12:00 AM (EST) on Friday, November 23rd at which time I will choose my five favorite posters and will post them and a poll for everyone to vote for their favorite. Winners will be posted Sunday, November 25th. 
• Sayings may be related to any period drama but keep in mind that the more well-known or witty the saying the better chance it will have of being generally agreeable.
• Please keep your entries clean and upbeat. 
• Photos on your posters are encouraged by not necessary. 

The Keep Calm-O-Matic is a wonderful tool to use when making your posters but you can also use a paint or another photo editing program. (Note: If you can't make them yourself drop me an e-mail with your three entries ideas and I can make the posters up for you).

And one more thing...have fun! Lots of fun!

I am very much looking forward to seeing your entries! :)

Lark Rise to Candleford Banners

I made these a few months ago just after my sister and I finished watching the entire Lark Rise to Candleford series. Not sure why I didn't post them then but I was thinking about about the series today so thought I'd post them.

Pearl & Ruby Pratt

"The Sisters Pratt" was one of my sister's favorite sayings from the series. Pearl and Ruby are always so funny and I love how their characters grow sweeter as the TV series goes on. 

A favorite saying of mine! 

Minnie

Poor Minnie! She was always getting herself into trouble but is always so cute and funny!

"Minnie Happened" is one of her phrases for explaining her whirlwind. :)

Dorcas Lane

Loved this description of Dorcas Lane, it fits here perfectly! :)

Feel free to use any of these images on your blog but please link back to me if you do. 

Which is your favorite?

Have you watched all four seasons of Lark Rise to Candleford?

Keep Calm and Love Jane Austen!

Miss Amy Dashwood at Yet Another Period Drama Blog is hosting a Jane Austen Keep Calm Poster contest.
I had WAY too much fun creating my entries, indeed I was inspired to make several and had a hard time choosing just two! hehe :)

From Pride and Prejudice:

From Emma:

I'll probably post the others I made and a few other period drama related posts after the contest ends. 

Thanks for hosting this contest Mouse! This was so much fun! :)

Disney Blog Buttons Contest

Disney movies (especially the princess stories) were among some of my favorite films growing up so when Stephanie at Eccentricitee posted a Disney Blog Buttons Contest I just couldn't resist the challenge!  And as you'll notice I couldn't help using great quantities of Jane Austen quotes in my entries! :)

Disney Movie: Snow White

Quote: Admiral Croft, Persuasion by Jane Austen 

Disney Movie: Mulan

Quote: Mr. Bennet & Elizabeth Bennet, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Disney Movie: Mulan

Quote: Elizabeth Bennet, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Disney Movie: Beauty and the Beast

Quote: lyrics of song 'I Feel Pretty' from the musical West Side Story

Disney Movie: Tangled

Quote: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Thanks for hosting this contest Stephanie! I had so much fun making these and seeing other people's entries. :)

Don't forget to check out Stephanie's blog Eccentricitee and enter some buttons of your own!

Miss Dashwood's Period Drama Button Contest

Miss Dashwood at Yet Another Period Drama Blog has a fun Period Drama Button Contest going on for lovers of period dramas and witty sayings.

These are my entries for the contest. Hope you enjoy and are inspired to join in the fun!

(Click banners for larger image)

Photo: Actor Rupert Evans as Mr. Frank Churchill in Emma (2009)

Caption: Quote from Isabella Thorpe, Chapter 3 of Northanger Abbey (one of my favorites!)

Photo: Bennet ladies from Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Caption: Beatrice from Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing

Photo: Anne & Captain Wentworth after Louisa's fall in Persuasion (1995)

Caption: Mr. Knightley in Jane Austen's Emma

Photo: Mr. Rochester hurries Jane to the altar, Jane Eyre (2006)

Caption: Song Get Me To The Church On Time from My Fair Lady

Photo: Actor David Bamber as Mr. Collins, Pride and Prejudice (1995)

Caption: Said by Ruby to her sister Pearl in Lark Rise to Candleford, Christmas episode

Miss Dashwood, thank you for hosting this contest! It was so much fun seeing other people's entries and making my own buttons!

Little Dorrit Banners

A few weeks back my sister Bea and I watched Little Dorrit. While looking through a few of screencaps I was inspired to make a few banners.

And my personal favorite:

You are more than welcome to use them if you wish, I only ask that you link back to me or mention my name if you use them.

Some Christmas decorating of Old-Fashioned Charm is in the works so be on the lookout! :)


Very Truly Your's,

Period Drama Film Tournament!

We all love period dramas, old fashioned stories that touch our hearts making us laugh and cry. Beautiful films filled with gorgeous costumes, amazing scenery,  charming manners of days gone by and talented actors portraying our favorite characters from history and literature. 

Elegance of Fashion & Old-Fashioned Charm 

are pleased to present the 

Period Drama Film Tournament

60 of your favorite period drama films competing against each other for the title of Best Loved Period Drama! 

There will be 6 Rounds where you will get a chance to vote for your favorite films. Polls will be split up and set up for voting at both Old-Fashioned Charm and Elegance of Fashion. Poll matches are always randomly generated.

The Tournament starts June 22, but until then be on the lookout for six sneak peek posts of some of the Period Drama Film contestants! 

How it works:

• Round 1 - 60 contestants will compete in 30 polls 
• Round 2 - 30 contestants will compete in 15 polls 
• Round 3 - 14 contestants will compete in 7 polls  (the film with the most votes from Round 2 gets immunity this round.)
• Round 4 - 8 contestants will compete in 4 polls 
• Round 5 - 4 contestants will compete in 2 polls 
• Round 6 - 2 contestants will compete in 1 poll, the film with the most votes wins!

PERIOD DRAMA FILM TOURNAMENT

Sneak Peeks Day One - Old-Fashioned Charm & Elegance of Fashion
Sneak Peeks Day Two - Old-Fashioned Charm & Elegance of Fashion
Sneak Peeks Day Three - Old-Fashioned Charm & Elegance of Fashion

Round One (Results)

Round Two (Results)

Round Three (Results)

Round Four (Results)

Round Five (Results)

Round Six - Final (Winner Announced!)

Want to spread word about the tournament? Try one of these buttons!

Bleak House/Emma Button

<center><a href="http://old-fashionedcharm.blogspot.com/2011/06/period-drama-film-tournament.html"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkW9NjzkAjQtHKR5l_gvhGxVhFePPs92ZQ_KrITk4JMWQIbQTc9RPqMh6v9qcWwFr_WFRLfIvlbD2ejXDNpMCSeCKofLCtxBsQO7ZMUt7mHQ6eFUN9zUThACIldf6YJajzkMANU6SfxW0b/" /></a></center>   

Sense and Sensibility/Little Dorrit Button

<center><a href="http://old-fashionedcharm.blogspot.com/2011/06/period-drama-film-tournament.html"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRfYyhkvmr063U7d4It0rQZCVZcZD68e5-RWJn0pbSijY8bU-CIoUEGbCI-3U_yh-RB4eem7kZJvZr9Sd39KbLD01BWSAfcZBPush3sxJg8-8-yVwkSeptGnz4IZYugHxepblFxXI6wmC/" /></a></center>   Wives and Daughters/Emma Button 

<center><a href="http://old-fashionedcharm.blogspot.com/2011/06/period-drama-film-tournament.html"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcbAJPRYPxDKxIN6FZeO6_D9wXSEqnpa8e8RkhzPmdPyQZzxvre_pBMJQM3asov-_tsbhRRCO2FLYid5OU0MgCxKMZBFoWLOIz44yuS-SDhSEHcT9AvMWvQ_sqB9SWOh7HNVCAlXOoao3/" /></a></center>  

I'm Still Alive!

Hello dear readers! I'm sorry these last two weeks have been fairly quiet. I been meaning to post many things but I find as Spring draws closer my schedule gets busier!
I'm very excited to share a book review with all of you very soon. The book I'll be sharing is one that I found for only 99 cents at a thrift shop this past week and I've received so much enjoyment out of reading it. So stay tuned for that!

I've also been wanting so share what I'm looking forward to at the end of April. My dear childhood friend Miss Amanda has asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding! I'm so excited to celebrate her special day with her! I have spend some of my time over the last month working on getting my dress, shoes and other things for the wedding ready.



This is the style and color dress I'm going to be wearing (photo at left). It's a Cornflower blue color and will have a sash and peek-a-boo slip in this lovely Watermelon pink color (in photo at right). Because I'm shorter the dress comes well below my knees and then with the slip it's even longer. I really like the clean lines and the colors together are lovely.



These are the shoes I'm looking at. My friend told me white and these are similar to the other girl's style shoes. I like that they are low thick heels because I can be terribly clumsy.
I've never been in a wedding before and I'm very excited. It's also been a while since I've seen my friend because we live in different states. My family and I are really looking forward to this as a mini vacation April 28th -May 1st. Can't wait!

So what have all of you been up to lately?

Do you have flowers or snow where you live? My state just got hit with some crazy snow storms - just when I was hoping for some green!

Very Truly Your's,