New Autumn 2012 Header

 
Thank you all for voting in my poll What Should Be The Theme Of My Next Blog Design?, the votes have been tallied and the wining choice is:

The Young Victoria -- 22 votes

I know what you're thinking (because reading minds may or may not be among my many talents), you're saying to yourself: "Wait, so if The Young Victoria won then why is Miss Laurie's blog currently decorated in a delightful Anne of Green Gables theme?"
And, the answer to that is that although The Young Victoria did get 22 votes I had a difficult time finding photos from that film that were particularly Autumn-ish. So, since Anne of Green Gables came in a close second with 21 votes and I found tons of Anne of Avonlea (aka The Sequel) photos that were very Autumn-ish I decided to use that as a theme for now and make up a very special The Young Victoria theme for Christmastime!  So all you Queen Victoria and Price Albert fans will have to wait a little bit longer, but not too long! :)

I've even made a new blog button featuring Anne of Avonlea for ya'll to use if you wish. Find it below or on the right hand sidebar.
(The old Molly Gibson button can be found on the Blog Buttons page)

<center> <a href="http://old-fashionedcharm.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Old-Fashioned Charm" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXS1CRe3Kv6vq_MkwNIMQYJY1YCrP3qiYHAG5RzwSubLk-n5ZKzv1gMDOmF1tHiVoje_Xd5KmB8_NAFkwk41PhLJOd-493r_0p4mZ9a8sCUK6ZVFljyS2kZ9X8n2nMZaPuhKQDM4TZqT6G/s180/annebutton.jpg" /></a></center>


For memory's sake here is the previous header:

And the previous background image was this:

and this was my Please Comment button:

As I was gathering photos to make up this theme I couldn't help remembering how wonderful the Anne of Avonlea movie is (even if it isn't completely faithful to the books)!  Fond memories of watching both Anne movies with my mom, at least once a year, are still indelibly stamped on my mind and I still find myself getting teary-eyed just thinking about the sweetly sad scenes from both films. 

This scene makes me teary-eyed every time!

What do you think of the new header, button, background and overall theme?

Are you a fan of the Megan Follows Anne of Green Gables movies? Do you have a favorite scene?

12 Period Drama Wardrobes I'd Love To Own!

As Miss Elizabeth Bennet is hosting the Period Drama Fashion Week at Elegance of Fashion the costumes of my favorite period dramas have been circulating in my mind this week. 

There are so many period dramas that have gorgeous costumes that it's often difficult to pick favorites. But my favorite eras for literature and history as well as fashion are the Regency and Victorian eras so that narrows it down a bit. 

For this post I asked myself this question:

"If I could own any period drama character's wardrobe which character's wardrobe would I choose?"

That in itself is a very difficult question to answer and proved to be one that was easier answered by making a list of my top 10 favorites, which of course stretched into my top 12 favorites, and I still feel like I'm missing a few! heehee :P

Without further ado, here the top 12 Period Drama Wardrobes I'd Love To Own!

#12. Ladies from Cranford 2007 & Return to Cranford 2009 - Coming in at 12th on my favorite costumes list are not one lady but rather a group of ladies - those "amazons", as their authoress described them, the ladies of Cranford! I really enjoy seeing all of the dresses worn in this miniseries from the fashionable and youthful styles worn by the young ladies to the slightly "outdated" styles worn by the more mature characters the costumes of Cranford are just gorgeous! If I had to choose one character from the series it would probably be a toss-up between Peggy Bell, Sophy Hutton and Mary Smith but I also really like Miss Matty's dresses too! 

#11. Emma Woodhouse from Emma 1997 - Although this 1997 adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma doesn't capture the complete story there are many things I still love about it and one of those is the costumes. The dresses worn by Kate Beckinsale as Emma are such elegant Regency styles and a lovely array of rich fabrics are used. I'm also a fan of the hairstyles she wears in the film and during the summer you can often find me imitating her looks. 

#10. Catherine Morland from Northanger Abbey 2007 - Though not always modest the dresses worn by Felicity Jones as Catherine Morland are so delightfully pretty! I really love all the fabrics and details that were put into Catherine, Isabella and Eleanor's dresses for this film. My favorite is Catherine's drop-front gown (far left) because the fabric is just exquisite! 

#9. Bella Wilfur from Our Mutual Friend 1998 - I've come to like Bella quite a bit and a lot of that has to do with how pretty Anna Friel as Bella looks in the gorgeous Victorian dresses used in the miniseries! Though most of her evening gowns are rather low cut her day dresses are so sweet! My favorite is her yellow dress with the ribbon at the waist (far right), it is just such lovely fabric and the cut is so lovely!

#8. Marianne Dashwood in Sense & Sensibility 2008 - Most of the costumes in this miniseries are stunning and though I like both Elinor and Marianne Dashwood's dresses in the film I like Marianne's more. Perhaps it's the gorgeous fabrics, sweet feminine styles or maybe just how adorable Charity Wakefield looks as Marianne Dashwood when wearing them. My favorite of her dresses is the yellow one with the blue sash (far left) and by the way have you ever noticed how similar the fabric is to Bella Wilfur's yellow dress above? 

#7. Elizabeth Bennet from Pride & Prejudice 1995 - The costumes from the BBC's 1995 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice are in an of themselves an exquisite masterpiece and Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet has the prettiest gowns of all! I'm particularly fond of the sleeves used on her dresses, some are rather sheer fabric while many of her day dresses have sweet ties at the cuffs! Her spencers and pelisses are also to dies for!

#6. Anne Shirley of Anne of Green Gables 1986 & The Sequel 1987 - When I think of period drama costumes I'd want to wear every day I usually think of the styles worn in Anne of Green Gables because the lower dress waistlines, pinafores, skirts & blouses and cardigans of Avonlea not only look delightful but also look very comfortable! And Megan Followes as Anne looked so charming in whatever she was wearing. Oh to live in Avonlea and wear the late Victorian / early Edwardian styles Anne Shirley and Diana Barry would have worn!   

#5. Esther Summerson from Bleak House 2005 - The colors and styles worn by Anna Maxwell Martin as Esther Summerson so perfectly suit her character's modesty and meekness while combining her natural elegance. My favorite is her green dress with the buttons down the front (far left) that she more towards the start of the miniseries and I loved the hairstyles she wore in the beginning of the film too. The fabrics used for Esther's and Ada Clare's dresses are just gorgeous and no less gorgeous are the gowns worn by the elegant Lady Dedlock. 

#4. Margaret Hale from North & South 2004 - I love Margaret Hale, she's stays so strong during all of the hard circumstances in her life, and in the miniseries she also stays particularly well dressed! I love the color palate they used for the dresses as worn by Daniela Denby-Ashe as Margaret - the darker shakes of greens and maroons being well balanced with the pale blues and whites. The cut of her clothes is always very elegant and (with the exception of the gown she wears to the Thornton's dinner) very modest. I also like the mixture of dresses with skirt and blouse sets. 

#3. Molly Gibson from Wives & Daughters 1999 - From her charming "tartan" evening gown to her iconic blue "jumper" dress the comstumes worn by Justin Waddell as Molly Gibson are gorgeous! It was hard to choose just four dresses for the collage above because all of her gowns are so detailed and pretty! In fact all of the dresses in Wives & Daughters 1999 were spectacular and I like some of Cynthia's dresses almost as much as Molly's! Wearing Molly's dresses would be so much fun!

#2. Anne Elliot from Persuasion 1995 - This film is my favorite Jane Austen adaptation for several reasons and one of those is that the costumes so perfectly reflect the Regency time period and suit the characters so well. The dresses worn by Amanda Root as Anne Elliot are simple but elegant just like the character herself. They are is pretty pastel tones that reflect Anne's sweet, gentle nature and really make her beauty shine. My favorite is Anne's pale blue drop-front dress, so lovely!

#1. Emma Woodhouse from Emma 2009 - After careful consideration my favorite period drama wardrobe would have to be the dresses worn by Romola Garai as Emma Woodhouse in Emma 2009. I love the Regency styles, the fabrics are gorgeous and the cuts of her gowns are mostly quite modest. Even the less pretty dresses are so pretty and colorful! I definitely would love it if I could wear Emma's dresses all the time! :)


Which of these wardrobes are you favorite?


Are there any of these character's clothes that you dislike?


If you could own any period drama character's wardrobe which would you choose?

Lucy Maud Montgomery Unscramble Game - Answers!

These are the answers to the Lucy Maud Montgomery Unscramble Game from list week.

Thanks for playing everyone!

Lucy Maud Montgomery was born November 30, 1874 and died April 24, 1942. Many of her delightful books weave together experiences and circumstances from her own life growing up on Prince Edward Island. Her stories of precocious youngsters and kindred spirits are certainly timeless classics.

Female Characters
1. AEHI SNEYNRL - Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables books)
2. EARRY STMIL - Emily Starr (Emily of New Moon books)
3. SAAT SEYARNL - Sara Stanley (The Story Girl)
4. JETU SANART - Jane Stuart (Jane of Lantern Hill)
5. MEACYL SURIT - Muriel Stacy (Anne of Green Gables)

Male Characters
6. TETYN KEDD - Teddy Kent (Emily of New Moon books)
7. GRYTHET BLILBE - Gilbert Blythe (Anne of Green Gables books)
8. METHBEW CUATTHRT - Matthew Cuthbert (Anne of Green Gables)
9. SLHYEYT BLHIRE - Shirley Blythe (Rilla of Ingleside and other Anne books)
10. DYIT KEAVH - Davy Keith (Anne of Avonlea and other Anne books)

Novels
11. EYOFN WO NEO MMIL - Emily of New Moon
12. TER SORLY GITH - The Story Girl
13. JTEE OR LANLANN FIHL - Jane of Lantern Hill
14. ANVO NE AOEAFNL - Anne of Avonlea
15. RNLFA GO IILDELESI - Rilla of Ingleside

Player's Scores:
Miss Dashwood - 57 points
Jemimah - 57 points
Bekah - 53 points
Melody - 49 points
Jillian - 47 points
Mary Beth - 45 points
Rose M - 37 points
Ella - 22 points

Which of Lucy Maud Montgomery's works have you read? Which is your favorite?

Lucy Maud Montgomery Unscramble Game

The Period Drama Keep Calm Contest is still open for voting until Sunday so don't forget to vote for your favorite finalist posters! Winners to be announced soon!

Lucy Maud Montgomery was born November 30, 1874 and died April 24, 1942. Many of her delightful books weave together experiences and circumstances from her own life growing up on Prince Edward Island. Her stories of precocious youngsters and kindred spirits are certainly timeless classics.

To Play: Unscramble the character names and titles from Lucy Maud Montgomery's books and put your answers in a comment. I'll respond with your score. Guess as many times as you wish. Answers will be posted next week.

Points: One point will be awarded for each correctly guessed name and word. You can earn two extra points per character for naming which book they appear in. Maximum score is 57 points.

Female Characters
1. AEHI SNEYNRL (2 names)
2. EARRY STMIL (2 names)
3. SAAT SEYARNL (2 names)
4. JETU SANART (2 names)
5. MEACYL SURIT (2 names)

Male Characters
6. TETYN KEDD (2 names)
7. GRYTHET BLILBE (2 names)
8. METHBEW CUATTHRT (2 names)
9. SLHYEYT BLHIRE (2 names)
10. DYIT KEAVH (2 names)

Novels
11. EYOFN WO NEO MMIL (4 words)
12. TER SORLY GITH (3 words)
13. JTEE OR LANLANN FIHL (4 words)
14. ANVO NE AOEAFNL (3 words)
15. RNLFA GO IILDELESI (3 words)

Have fun! :)

Period Dramas Keep Calm Contest

Based on Anne of Green Gables (1986)

This week's game is a contest, a Period Drama Keep Calm poster contest to be exact. I can't say this idea is very original, the idea was inspired by Miss Dashwood's Jane Austen Keep Calm poster contest at Yet Another Period Drama Blog who kindly agreed to let me "steal" her idea. Thanks Amy!

Don't know what a Keep Calm poster is? The saying "Keep Calm And Carry On" was originated by Winston Churchill in England during WWII. The saying has recently become more popular than every with merchandise of all types showing up in bookstores and other shops. There have also been many spin-offs related to everything imaginable (usually favorite books, films and TV shows) circulating on blogs and websites lately too.

In this contest your entries must be related to your favorite period dramas and they must being with the phrase "Keep Calm And" (but just "Keep Calm" is okay too if it works with your saying).

Here's a couple examples of Period Drama related Keep Calms:

Based on Little Women (1994)

Based on North & South (2004)

Entries & Rules:

• Create your own witty posters beginning with "Keep Calm And..." or "Keep Calm" that are related to your favorite period dramas (and try to think outside Jane Austen - Dickens, Gaskell, Alcott, Montgomery, Downton Abbey or other period films). 
• You may enter up to two Keep Calm posters.
• Post your Keep Calms on your blog or website and leave the link in a comment, or if you don't have a blog leave image URL in a comment. 
• 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 Thursday, May 3rd 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, May 6th.  
• 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 and it's what I used to make the posters above.

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

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

Contest is now closed, thanks to everyone who voted!

Finalists Announced: http://old-fashionedcharm.blogspot.com/2012/05/keep-calm-and-vote-for-your-favorite.html

Winners Announced: http://old-fashionedcharm.blogspot.com/2012/05/period-drama-keep-calm-contest-winners.html

Louisa May Alcott Unscramble Game - Answers!

These are the answers to the Louisa May Alcott Unscramble Game that I posted last week.
It was delightful to see how many of you are familiar with Alcott's characters and works!


Louisa May Alcott was born November 29, 1832 and died March 6, 1888. Her first work Flower Fables was published in 1849. The work we now know as Little Women was published in two parts - Little Women: or Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy in 1868 and Good Wives in 1869 but today they are usually published together. There are two sequels to this tale which are Little Men (1871) and Jo's Boys (1886).
Even though Alcott is best known for Little Women she wrote many other stories including An Old Fashioned Girl (1870), Under The Lilacs (1878), Jack and Jill: A Village Tale (1880), The Inheritance (1849, unpublished until 1997), short story An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving and my two personal favorites Eight Cousins (1875) and Rose In Bloom (1876).  
For more information about Louisa May Alcott's life and works I highly recommend the delightful biography Invisible Louisa by by Cornelia Meigs.

Puzzle Answers:

Female Characters
1. MADASSEA BTHILTT - Mathilda Bassett (An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving)
2. REMP CABEOSLL - Rose Campbell (Eight Cousins & Rose In Bloom)
3. EDELH ADITON - Edith Adelon (The Inheritance)
4. PLTOO MLLYIN - Polly Milton (An Old Fashioned Girl)
5. AYC MAMRH - Amy March (Little Women)

Male Characters
6. TAURENRE LHEODOCE - Theodore Laurence (Little Women)
7. JROO BOHNK - John Brook (Little Women)
8. MPC CABEAMLL Mac Campbell - (Eight Cousins & Rose In Bloom)
9. FRERICHAH BRIED - Friedrich Bhaer (Little Women)

Novels
10. TTE IHERNNHIACE - The Inheritance
11. LOMELE WITTN - Little Women
12. ON LAS FAHIIRNED GLOD - An Old Fashioned Girl
13. EUSIT COIGHNS - Eight Cousins
14. UHILA TND LCEERS - Under The Lilacs
15. RONO MI BLOSE - Rose In Bloom

Players Scores:

Ella - 50 points

Jemimah - 48 points

Lit~Lass - 48 points

Sarah Grace (In His Wings) - 48 points

Naomi - 42 points! Good job!

Emily Ruth - 41 points
Melody - 41 points

Scullery Maid - 40 points

Charity - 37 points

Rachel Olivia - 34 points

Anne-girl - 29 points

birdienl - 28 points

Stephanie - 28 points

Thanks so much for everyone who played!

Which Louisa May Alcott works have you read?
Which are your favorites?

Anne of Green Gables Week - My Tag Answers

These are my answers to the Tag Questions for Miss Dashwood's Anne of Green Gables Week at Yet Another Period Drama Blog. She came up with some lovely questions! 
I had such fun answering and I've also added banners that I made a while ago that seemed to go with my answers.

1. How many of the Anne books have you read, and how many of the films have you seen?
I have read the first book and a bit of the second book. I'm not sure quite why I gave up after a few chapters of the second book except that I'm not a great reader. I have loved the films since childhood and ever since I can remember I'd watch the first one at least once or twice each year with my mom. I have also seen that dreaded masquerading as Anne's continued story twice but each time it's been terribly disappointing! :(

2. If someone yanked your hair and called you carrots, what would you do to him?
Just smile, giggle and tell him he was very silly. My hair isn't the least bit carroty, in fact Anne would probably call my hair "a beautiful raven black"! I don't think I'd get upset because I enjoy a little bit of teasing and an Anne themed teasing would be just fine with me! Although, if there was a slate handy I might enjoy teasing him right back by pretending I was going to hit him over the head with it. :)

3. What would you do if Josie Pye dared you to walk the ridgepole of a roof?
Stay on firm ground because it is a silly dare, but probably regret that I didn't try.

4. If you had the opportunity to play any AGG character in an AGG play, which role would you choose?
Diana Barry! I have the dark hair and I'm rather more like her than imaginative Anne. Marilla or Mrs. Lynde would be fun to play attempt too! :)

5. If you were marooned on a desert island, which AGG character would you want to have as a companion? (Anne, Gilbert and Diana are not options. Let's keep this thing interesting. Not that they're not interesting.... oh, yay, now the disclaimer to this question is longer than the question itself. Lovely lovely lovely.)
Hmm...maybe Miss Stacey. She seems like a sensible but kind lady with a good head but she enjoys a good laugh too. "Tomorrow is always fresh with no mistakes on it."
(Your MMG made me giggle Miss Dashwood! :) )

6. If there was going to be a new adaptation of the Anne books and you could have any part in making the movie, what would you choose to do? (screenwriting, acting, casting, costume-making are a few possibilities)
Casting could be fun! I'm not really an actor or a costume-maker and don't really have enough knowledge to write a good screenplay.  Set designer would be lots of fun!

7. What are, in your opinion, the funniest AGG book/movie scenes? (choose one from the books and one from the movies)
I love Anne & Diana's mud puddle scene from The Sequel, it's just too hilarious for words! From the book...it's been so long since I read the first book, I just remember that everything made me giggle, especially Anne's long speech to Matthew on the way to Green Gables for the first time! :)

8. What are, in your opinion, the saddest AGG book/movie scenes? (choose one of each again)
In The Sequel the saddest part for me if when Anne rejects Gilbert's proposal after Diana's wedding. That scene always make me cry now because I feel a bit of Gil's heartbreak during that scene!
Saddest scene in the first book (the only one I've read) is definitely's saying good-bye to Matthew.

9. Which AGG character would you most like to spend an afternoon with? (again, Anne and Gilbert and Diana are not options for this one--think secondary characters)
Maybe Diana's Aunt Josephine. She's an interesting lady with a lovely big house. Or maybe Matthew Cuthbert could be my guide to Avonlea.

10. What is your definition of a kindred spirit?
A kindred spirit is someone who shares many of the same interests and favorite things as you. Someone who doesn't mind if you chatter away because they'll be chattering with you. Someone who you can always rely on to be there for emotional support and help when you just need a friend. Someone who shares you faith and will pray for you when you need guidance.
I have met several Kindred Spirits during my time of blogging and I praise the Lord for blessing me with such kind and encouraging friends!

Thanks Miss Dashwood for such a lovely tag!

Anne Shirley and Autumn

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn't it? Look at these maple branches. Don't they give you a thrill--several thrills? I'm going to decorate my room with them."

- Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery

The foliage around my neighborhood is really turning quite lovely in shades of red, orange and yellow!

Here are some lovely pieces of Autumn:

Photos not taken by me

Hope you're having a lovely week!

Very Truly Your's,

Contestant Sneak Peek - Day One

Are you read for a sneak peek of one of the 60 film contestant who will be participating in the Period Drama Film Tournament?

Here's the first one:

Anne of Green Gables (1985) & The Sequel 

Starring: Megan Follows, Colleen Dewhurst, Richard Fransworth, Jonathan Crombie

Synopsis: At the turn of the century on Prince Edward Island, Matthew Cuthbert and his sister Marilla decide to take on an orphan boy as help for their farm. But they get an unexpected jolt when they're mistakenly sent a girl instead: Anne Shirley. Anne's a dreamer with an unusual point of view, far removed from Marilla's pragmatic ways, and it's only on trial that Marilla agrees to keep Anne...if Anne can keep out of trouble. As Anne falls into a series of scrapes, makes a bosom friend, finds several kindred spirits, Matthew and Marilla discover that their lives have become a great deal richer, now that Anne is at Green Gables.

Historical Era: Edwardian Canada, L.M. Montgomery 

Cast List at IMDb 

Film Review: Melody at Regency Delight ~Jane Austen, etc.~ had very kindly posted a review of the series especially for the tournament. Do please check out her marvelous review which includes photos, quotes, music and trailers!    

Don't forget to check out another sneak peek at Elegance of Fashion!

Be on the lookout for four more sneak peeks coming soon!

Very Truly Your's,