Requesting Nominations

Hello all!  So, when most of you filled out my survey, you expressed an interest in my idea of presenting you with a song. Sung by me. I am still considering this, but in the meantime you might choose to help my consideration a little.

I'm looking for song nominations.  Pick any song you like... as many nominations as you like. Next week I will go through and weed out any songs I can't or am not willing to sing.  Then I will ask for Secondings.  Haha.

So for now... go crazy. ...well not really.

Costume Study: A&E Emma 1996

Costume studies were not in my original plans for blogging in the near future, but suddenly I just wanted to do it.  So do it I shall.

The reason?  Actually because I am starting on a new Regency dress.  Did I say that in the last post? I can't remember.  Oh dear.

Anyway, since store-bought patterns can only allow for so much (and everyone else who makes Regency dresses will be using the same patterns, haha), I decided to look to some of my favorite Jane Austen films, costume-wise, for inspiration for both day dresses and ball gowns.

Costume Captures is a lovely place to look for these, but they only have costume studies for two of the movies in this era I really care about (Pride and Prejudice 1995 and Northanger Abbey 2007... oh, they also have Miss Austen Regrets, and I did like some of those costumes so I might have a look at that later).  The Dashwood Sisters, a blog I used to frequent but which is no longer updated, also has a gorgeous study of Wives and Daughters, including tips on making the dresses.  Not what I'm looking for at present, but y'know. Just in case you were curious.

The 1996 Emma (popularly mis-categorized as 1997) is visually one of my absolute favorites for costumes and hairstyles.  Well, Emma's hairstyles.  I think that the whole thing has a wonderfully historically-accurate feel.  Although, of course, overall my favorite is the 2009 one.  (I also love those costumes, even if they feel a little more consistently vibrant than is realistic.)

...and we're back!

Hello, one and all, and welcome to the new and improved Regency Delight!

Let me tell you about some of the updates.

• In case you have not yet noticed, the sidebar is gone.  Totally.  It vanished, like a broken silence.  But don't panic! There are still tools to find your way around.  I put quite a lot of stuff in the tabs (which will be talked of in a minute), and then the followers box, blog archive and my blogging profile are down at the bottom, and under THAT are tags if you are looking for a particular topic.  
• Tabs! We have the following:
• Archives You can find some ancient history for Regency Delight in here, as well as other easy-to-access collections
• Reviews Lists of my reviews for various books and movies
• Ask Me Anything! Questions for future Answers posts! You can use it at any time. You can also use it to contact me.
• Blog Buttons Blog buttons for my blog, blogs I read, and an array of awards I've won in blogging events.
• Request a Post This will take you to a Google Forms survey where you can tell me what you want to read about, and if you have any particular movie or book in mind that you would like me to review.

Can you see this in your dashboard?

If you can, don't bother to click on it, because my blog is temporarily closed for redesign and cleaning up. I hope to reopen it January 17th-- that is the goal-- but I can make no promises. In the meantime, if you haven't seen it, check out the thing that I made. https://youtu.be/aqcGGYXs5jw

Ten Minutes Ago

For all the gushing about the 2015 Cinderella, I have to say I am quite attached to the musical as well!  (And, y'know, LAURA OSNES.)  In honor of Disney and Broadway (andLauraOsnes), I have put together this fan video.

Do watch it on YouTube :) 

Movie Review: Cinderella (2015)

(Warning: This is going to be a very long and detailed review.  I have a lot to say.  But I have tried to write it so you can skim and read what you're interested in. :) )

When I saw this movie in the theatre with my Amy, I hardly knew what to expect.  I had only watched perhaps one of the trailers, and other than that searched for no information beforehand.  I thought it would be okay, or good.  I’ve always liked Cinderella, despite all the clichés it seems to have picked up. 

To be honest, I don’t have the highest opinion of modern Disney movies that come out.  I find most of them stuffed with nonsense, and I was a little afraid they would overdo the whole fairytale thing, so that it pushes into fantasy which is not a genre I’m into.  However, I held out hope since I know that Cinderella, as far as fairytales go, is a pretty mild one when it comes to magic and all that.

I do not hesitate to say that what I was met with in that discount theatre was more much more than I had bargained for.  It was enchanting.  I got completely swept up in the beauty and heart of it. 

It's POSSIBLE! (Cinderella Party Tag)

Hello one, hello all.  I am working on my review of Cinderella 2015 (no, really, I am) but I thought I'd fill this out really quickly so at least you could have something now. :)  Besides, blog party tags are too much fun!  And besides, then I get more giveaway entries. :P

So, without further natter.

1. In the vast array of fairytale heroines, what particular character qualities most define Cinderella? 

Genuine sweetness.  Kind and compassionate both included.

2. What are some of the deeper, big picture differences you see between retellings where both stepsisters are nasty and others where one is nasty and one is kind? How do you think the two takes differently develop/illuminate/affect Cinderella’s character and also the overarching story itself?

IDK.
:P
I feel like when they are both horrid, Cinderella has even more to contend with, and it's even more amazing that she stayed as lovely as she did.  But I also like in the Broadway version how one of them sort of emerged as being a bit nicer at the end.

3. Are you an animal lover? Would you eagerly count mice, lizards, cows, and geese as friends? Dogs and cats? 

Mice and lizards? No.  Cows and geese? Only if they were very special.  Cats and cat-like dogs, yes. ;)

Looking Forward

Dear Readers,

The year of 2015 has certainly been a full one.  It has held some of the hardest things I've ever had to go through, but also allowed me one visit with each of my sisters and their families, Amy once at my house, and Amy and her family once at her house, at Christmastime.  This was certainly pleasurable, to say the least. 

But reviewing the year is something I decided not to do this time.  (Although later I might write a recap of my visit with Amy, for anybody who's interested.)  Instead, I'm looking to the future. Just like John Thornton. :P 

I don't exactly do "resolutions," but I thought I might make a 2016 Bucket List.  Not to imply, of course, that I intend to kick the bucket at the end of 2016.  But these are things that, if it all works out, I am planning on doing or at least trying to do. 

2016 Bucket List

~Make a brand new Regency ballgown, since my last model is from way back in 2012.  (I think.)  And hope that they will have the ball this autumn to wear it to. 

~Try contacts again, since I haven't done so since 2009, when I wouldn't have needed them half as much as I do now, and hope that they will work out this time, because I'm tired of having to wear glasses almost all the time.  This was not my intention in getting glasses, haha.

~Blog at least an average of twice a month. 

~With a combination of reading and listening to audiobooks in the car, get through at least 25 books. (I'm a slow reader, guys.) *

*There are certain books that I particularly want to finish this year. Those in bold are books I intend to review on this blog.

Wives & Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell

Rainbow Valley and Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery 

Pride and Prejudice and Kitties by Pamela Jane

Lady Susan by Jane Austen (sadly, I have not read this all the way through yet)

Emma by Jane Austen (this I HAVE read, but I fancy reading it again)

A Memoir of Jane Austen by James Edward Austen-Leigh