Jane Austen gifts & toys

THIS IS GRATUITIOUS SELF PROMOTION

BUT I LOVE MY JANE AUSTEN TOYS

I wept the day I moved away from the state of California. My family thought that I was being sentimental, and rightly so. I had lived there all of my life. I was leaving friends, connections and fair weather. Reason enough to be sad. Truth-be-told, I had just learned that the state of Washington did not offer a heart character in their personalised license plates. I would not be able to re-create my favourite Jane Austen toy; – – my ‘heart’ JAUSTN license plate. Oh misery and woe, you are cruel companions!

My next shock was when I visited the state automobile registration office to apply for a new license. When the clerk coldly asked me to hand over my California plates, you never saw someone walk so decisively out of a government office. Total knee jerk reaction. I didn’t even realize what I had done until I hit the street. Phew! Only Lydia Bennet’s stealth elopement had more velocity.

I can’t tell you how I managed to keep them, because I like my freedom.

There are so many ways that Janeites can celebrate our passion for our favourite authoress. The Republic of Pemberley has a wonderful selection of Austen inspired items at their Pemberley Shoppe. Recently my favourite item is the 2008 wall calendar entitled Aimable Rancor, featuring twelve months of inspiring Regency images and pert quotes by, – – you guessed it, – – Jane Austen. Pemberley’s items are so clever and beautifully designed that it is difficulty to decide which one to gift to a dear friend, or hoard for myself. Purchases are guilt free though, since the profits benefit a most deserving web site, The Republic of Pemberley.

What are your most amusing and or cherished Jane Austen items? Are you the lucky owner of the elusive Jane Austen bobble-head, or the highly collectible ‘peacock’ edition of Pride & Prejudice from 1894? Do you live in your Mrs. Darcy wanabe T-shirt? How many copies of the 1995 Pride & Prejudice have you gone through? Tell all.