I really got into the handmade holiday gifts this year, and for the next couple of days, I'll share a couple of them! This first one has already been given (to Wendy Smedley), and I made her open it in front of me because she has the BEST reactions—and her latest reaction was no exception. (I almost had to get a fan to cool her off.) So don't fret for a moment that I'm spoiling the surprise here.
You see, Wendy and I are nothing short of obsessed with film adaptations of 18th- and early 19th-century British literature, not to mention the novels themselves. If we could travel back in time to the days of empire-waist dresses, barouches, and cravats, we absolutely would—provided we could live among the landed gentry.
We call or text the other immediately if we discover a new adaptation of a Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell, Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens, or Bronte sisters novel, and we do not hide our crushes on the brooding, dramatic leading men.
With that in mind, please enjoy the flip-calendar featuring scenes from Wendy and my favorite films. (Note: project was heavily inspired by a thoughtful gift I received from Aly Dosdall this year.)
January features Mr. Darcy (Colin Firth), just after he emerged from the lake at Pemberley, in the 5-hour Pride & Prejudice
mini-series from 1996.
This is Matthew McFadyen, who played Mr. Darcy in the 2006 film version of Pride & Prejudice
by Jane Austen. (Sorry about punching right through his head!) This photo, however, depicts the actor's portrayal of Arthur Clennam in the delightful BBC mini-series Little Dorrit
(2008), which is based on a Charles Dickens novel.
Be still my heart! This is Toby Stephens playing Mr. Rochester in what is by far the best Jane Eyre adaptation (Masterpiece Theatre, 2006) I've ever seen. And I am a connoisseur of Jane Eyre films, as the Charlotte Bronte novel
ranks among my favorite books of all time.
Here is a current shot of James McAvoy, who played Tom LeFroy in Becoming Jane
(2007), which co-starred Anne Hathaway as Jane Austen.
Mr. Jonny Lee Miller (who was, incidentally, Angelina Jolie's first husband) played Edmund in Jane Austen's Mansfield Park
(1999). He also portrays Mr. Knightly in a brand new version of Jane Austen's Emma (BBC, 2009)! He happens to be Wendy's current favorite, as we both just finished watching Emma entirely online. (Click here to watch the full mini-series in 9-minute increments.)
Dreamboat alert! May I introduce you to my current favorite fictional crush, Mr. Thornton (played by Richard Armitage) in North & South
. This wonderful mini-series (BBC, 2005) is based on Elizabeth Gaskell's 1855 classic novel
. And if you liked Pride & Prejudice at all, you're bound to love this one too. Trust me.
July is graced by the brooding Mr. Darcy and spunky Miss Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice (1996).
August portrays the very same characters (Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett) from the 2006 film version of Pride & Prejudice, starring Matthew McFadyen and Keira Knightly.
Hmmm... I don't know. Mr. Rochester (pictured here with Jane Eyre) might have edged out Mr. Thornton in my favorites list. I just finished watching Jane Eyre (2006) again on Sunday, which can be viewed in its entirety in 9-minute increments on YouTube if you'll just click here.
In October, Wendy will enjoy a poignant scene from Becoming Jane (2007), the film that's also featured on the cover of this little calendar.
November is adorned by a collage of photos of Jonny Lee Miller and Romola Garai, from the aforementioned Emma mini-series (2009).
And finally, Mr. John Thornton (Richard Armitage) and Miss Elizabeth Hale (Daniela Denby-Ashe) in North & South.
Wondering where I got all the great, high-resolution images? I discovered a new trick in Google. You simply type in a search phrase (e.g., "Colin Firth") into Google, then click the Images tab to limit your search to pictures only. Then click the Show Options button near the top of the page. You'll be able to limit your search to images of a certain type or size (I chose "Large"). You can even search "color" or "black-and-white" pictures only.
If that list wasn't enough for you, give one of these a try:
One More Thing
I believe I have convinced Aly Dosdall to write a flip-calendar tutorial for us! (Aly created the original that inspired my project.) Visit Ella's Daily Trumpet blog next week to partake of Aly's super simple instructions. It truly is easier than it looks! But if you like to stay entirely digital, you could always create a photo book or calendar online and have it delivered right to your door (or to your recipient's door.)
And thanks to Wendy, who discovered so many of these gems for me in the first place.
