Gentle Readers,
What better way to resume my blog than with Jessica Purser’s lovely Jane Austen post cards and bookmarks? I apologize for my unexcused silence. Life simply caught up with me, and due to a schedule that overwhelmed me because of work and family obligations, I had to cut back on my blog, and Facebook and Twitter comments. I did keep up with my Pinterest boards, for I found that cataloging images was as relaxing as playing solitaire. Whenever I found 10 spare minutes here and there (while waiting, watching the news or a television show, or during a solitary meal), I would pin. I want to thank those who persisted in contacting me (and who I needlessly worried) and who coached me to return to my blogging duties a little earlier than I had planned. Jessica Purser sent these lovely cards and notes for me to review in July. They certainly deserved my immediate attention and not such a long wait.

I placed a number of the images on my table. Sorry about the quality of the images. I have interspersed them with images from Jessica Purser’s Etsy site.
I am sure that many of you have already viewed samples of Jess’s images on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Twitter, but I couldn’t help sharing these cute interpretations of Jane Austen’s characters anyway.
Ms. Purser sent me quite a few samples, which I photographed (rather clumsily, I must admit). I am also featuring a number of images from her Etsy site.
I can’t think of a better way to restart my blog than to share Jess’s wonderful creations with you. They are painted on pages of Jane Austen’s novels, which provide context.
The postcards are printed on hardy card stock and the larger images are suitable for framing. I have been using the bookplates and bookmarks, and sharing them with friends.
Thank you, Jessica, for this lovely art work.
Read more about Jessica in this Interview with Jessica Purser on Rockalily Cuts
Order her art work at: Castle on the Hill, Jessica’s Etsy Shop
I feared you had given up the blog. So good to know you are back!
Always enjoy your post. Best, Maria Caudill
Sent from my iPad
Welcome back, I have really missed you.
Dear Vic,
It is so nice to have you back.
I really have missed your wonder blog. Hope things are better for you.
Funny how “life” kind of gets in the way of doing things, even those things
we enjoy doing.
Yours in Austen,
Judy Fox
Thank you for your kind words! I have missed you too!
Glad to have you back, Vic, and thanks for introducing me to Jessica’s lovely illustrations.
Chris H.
Dear Vic,
I am so glad you are back again. I’ve missed so much your posts and knowledge.
Thank you for all the good moments I’ve passed reading your blog
Gracias
Great to have you back.
each time recently when i’ve passed the house where jane died here in winchester
my thoughts have turned to you vic
and hoping all was well
it’s a huge relief to know that it was everyday life that gobbled up your time
and not something awful
you are very special
it was so lovely to see the familiar email flash up in my inbox today
lotsaluv
freda
Kept coming back everyday to check up on you
Vic, I’m so glad you back. I have missed your blog tremendously! Please don’t leave us again…:)
Sooooo glad you’re back! Missed you! Is it true that Jane Austen will be on a British pound note? Thought I read that somewhere..
Yes, absolutely. Isn’t it grand?
What a delight! So glad your back- I missed my Austen fix :)
Welcome back, Vic – I missed you, too. I look forward to your blogs…whenever you can.
Yay! All is right with the world again! (at least this one specific part of it!)
I’m glad you’re back! I so hoped my favorite Austin blog hadn’t ended and that all was well with you.
Those are so nice! I’m glad you’re back. I missed this blog very much. I felt like one of the most well read Janeites at the Jane Austen festival in Bath, England. It was amazing to walk in Jane Austen’s footsteps and recognize the names of places and people she knew.
Vic, I’ll add my thoughts – I’m very glad you’re still with us. This blog (and your Downton segments) have been a part of my day for a couple of years now. We would all miss you if you disappeared. And J. Purser’s illustrations a charming – thanks for sharing.
So glad to have you back!
We missed you. Great to have you posting again.
So glad to see your blog again. I certainly missed you. Something was missing from my day when there was no Jane Austen info. Thank you.
I am really relieved to have you back Vic, we have all miss your “voice”. ML
Glad to see you back, though I’ve kept up with your pins, so knew you hadn’t completely left the interwebs ;)
It is very good to have you back, Vic. I am always delighted when there is a new post on your blog.