Interview with Rio from Literary Emporium

INTERVIEW WITH RIO FROM LITERARY EMPORIUM 📚

 In my last post i attempted to solve your Santa struggles by seeking out lovely gifts for the literary lover in your life. We paid a virtual visit to the family owned Somerset business, Literary Emporium. Today, i speak to the brains behind the business, Rio.  

v  I see from your profile that you are an English graduate, what is the book that first ignited your love of literature?

It would be almost impossible to pick a single book – but from a young age I absolutely loved to devour any book I could get my hands on. I would often stay up late into the night reading by light under my duvet, which partly inspired our ‘Midnight Readers Club’ gift range. Books by Roald Dahl was always a particular early favourite, developing and growing into a love of anything gothic as I grew older.                      

                            The 'Midnight Readers Club' gift set

v  Do you remember the moment you decided to start Literary Emporium?

After finishing my English degree and beginning to work in the charity sector I started to play around with combining jewellery pieces and some of my favourite literary quotes, and Literary Emporium was born from the front room of our flat!

v  How have you weathered the pandemic?

Like lots of small businesses and families across the country, we have noticed an impact of price increases and difficulties in supply chains. Definitely not helped at all by Brexit. We hope that perhaps people may choose a small, family run business for their gifting ideas over Christmas and for special occasions as we hugely appreciate every sale we make.

v  What advice would you give to anyone starting a business?

Plan and map things out, discuss with friends or family where possible and give things a try – if you have your own, unique idea – see if you are able to jump in and go for it!

v  What is your proudest achievement?

We were really pleased this year to celebrate 10 years of Literary Emporium as a business – we are really thankful that people have chosen to support us and return to us for their gifting items over the years and celebrating that felt really special.

v  If you could be any literary character, who would you be and where would you take their story?

What a question! It would have to be a strong female character, perhaps a Shakespearean heroine such as Beatrice or a character from Greek Mythology such as Circe!

        The Circe gift set -

        Greek Mythology

            Collection

                   &

            Beatrice 

Much Ado About Nothing Enamel Pin

Shakespeare's Heroines Collection

Where do you see Literary Emporium in five years?

We very much hope to be continuing to provide customers, gift shops, libraries, art galleries and museums with a range of Literary Gifts – maybe with some new items that are currently in development – watch this space!

What is your favourite item on the site?

Some of our favourite items to package and send out would be our range of gift sets. They contain a beautifully designed cloth-bound classic or special edition book, a Literary Emporium t shirt and a Literary Emporium pin badge. All packaged beautifully in our own Literary Emporium gift box and finished with a burgundy and gold bow. They make a perfect birthday, anniversary or a special gift for a friend or a loved one and are very popular at Christmas time!

 Put your feet up with the Christmas movie and let Literary Emporium get Christmas all wrapped up with their beautifully presented gift sets.

Pride and Prejudice gift set.

Thank you Rio for letting us take a peak inside Literary Emporium in these last two posts! 

I can attest to the quality of the Pride and Prejudice sweatshirt as it was on my Christmas list in a Christmas Past! I think i may be throwing out some not so subtle hints to family and friends for 'The Midnight Readers Club' gift set as, like Rio, i was also a childhood member of the same club... and shhh, don't tell anyone, but i might still be a member now! 

Reader, until next time,  

Literary Lass 

x

GIFTS FOR THE LITERARY LOVE IN YOUR LIFE

GIFTS FOR THE LITERARY LOVE IN YOUR LIFE💕🕮 

While scrolling through social media recently, a writer described how her family always cried down her request for a book as an ideal gift. She called out to the social sphere, asking if anyone could think of a book related gift, that was not actually a book. 

    This post is for her, and for all the literary lovers, whose loved ones have put a ban on books under the Christmas tree.🎄🕮 Consider me your Mrs Clause! 🤶

    You could, perhaps, leave this page open beside your loved one, you might just find something worthy of someone who has been as exceptionally good, as i know you have been, all year! 

    Let me take you on a whistle stop tour of the loveliest literary gifts this Christmas! (Yes, i said it!) Grab a cuppa, plump up those cushions on the sofa, and let me take you through 12 Days of Christmas Gifts courtesy of family owned company, Literary Emporium 

1. A Partridge in a Pear-tree-     This Jane Eyre inspired gift box is a must for those that crave Charlotte's cry for freedom.                                                                                            2. Turtle Doves: Are, according to the dictionary, 'Noted for the apparent affection shown for its mate'.'

These Wuthering Heights earrings are also a perfect pair,

 just like Heathcliff & Cathy'

3. French Hens: Dream of summer holidays with 'Wish you were here' stocking filler postcards. 

4. Calling Birds: Were thought to originally refer to the blackbird. These vinyl stickers are a reminder that you need 'Nevermore' worry re those spooky stocking fillers! 

5. Gold (& silver) Earrings, (& necklaces, & bracelets): These beautiful book earrings are one way to ensure that a book makes it under your tree this Christmas.

6. Geese a-laying:

 Beware what plans you hatch & what you create.

Wear your creative heart on your sleeve with this Frankenstein sweatshirt.   

7.  Swans a-Swimming: Okay, so the Alice fans among you may remember this is not actually a swan but a flamingo! While swans do not feature in the croquet scene, they do look rather similar! Plus the Queen certainly features and she owned the swans! (I think i got away with that!) Anyway, the queen certainly did sock it to Alice, so now Alice can return the favour with this fancy footwear! 

8. Maids-a-milking: Don't let them grind you down, show your solidarity with Handmaids by buying this dystopian gift set.

 

9 Ladies Dancing: Celebrate the emancipation of woman with Suffragette clothing, stationary &, pins. For a special treat this gift set includes Emmeline Pankhurst's memoir.

10. Lords a leaping: You can always keep track of Santa with a compass necklace, earrings, stationery & rings! 

 11. Pipers Piping: 

Give in to the music with the dastardly Dracula gift set & stationary. 

12. Drummers Drumming:

'A drum., a drum! Macbeth doth come!'

Be ready with Lady Macbeth Pins & gift sets.  

You can find everything from Santa's stocking fillers to treasure troves to pop under the tree at 

https://www.literaryemporium.co.uk/.

Coming next; We meet the brains behind the business! 

Creepy Classics-The ghostly goings on behind the scenes of Macbeth & the Austen families scandalous guest

Have you ever wondered why actors go to extreme lenghts to avoid saying MacBeth? Mused over where Jane Austen gained her love of the gothic? 

Halloween is the spook tac u lar ah ah time to tell tales of what put the Shakey in Shakespeare and the Jitter in Jane Austen with these frightening facts about our creepy classics! 

If you are passing a theatre and a gaggle of screaming actors run off stage from a production of Macbeth spitting and turning around,, they haven't been possessed by a ghost, or have they...?! 

Macbeth was besieged by horrific happenings on the scary stage.💀

💀 Just before the opening night of the first production of Macbeth in 1606 legend has it that the actor playing Lady Macbeth fell ill and died, leaving Shakespeare ringing his hands on and off stage as, at the last moment, he had to take on the role of Lady Macbeth. 💀

 👻Other incidents occurred as during another production of The Scottish Play the tip of a knife flew off into audience causing more than an attack of the vapors to the audience!👻

👀Duncan was once again doomed in the 17th century when a prop was replaced with a real dagger killing the leading man live  on stage! 

💀During Olivier dalliance with Duncan a stage weight fell narrowly missing the actor.

👀If you think The Scottish Play is full of fierce fighting, the actors have nothing on the audience! Fights have erupted among the theatre goers on everything from general crowd chaos to the cast choices! These fearsome fights have broken out in the 17 hundreds and again in 1849 leaving a trail of injuries and even fatalities in the plays wake.   

👀Ever wondered what prompted Jane Austen's fascination with the frightening? From the early terrifying tales of her youth, through to the Gothic Northanger Abbey, it wasn't only fiction that opened the authors eyes to sinister society👀

❤The Austen family had a family member descend upon their family home. Eliza de Feuillide became a friend of young Jane, later to marry Jane's brother Henry and become a sister to Jane, all things even Fanny Price would approve of i hear you cry? Except Eliza, fresh from the society whirl of France, arrived as a recent widow, but it was not a putrid throat that brought about the demise of Eliza's husband, Jean-Francois de Feuillide, but the sharp stab of the ghastly guillotine! Eliza's arrival into young Jane's life must have opened the authors eyes! 👀o 

❤Like her heroines, Jane must have engaged in candlelight  conversations with her cousin, only these conversations ended with a hero losing more than his heart❤

Reference 

• R.S.C 'The curse of the Scottish play' 

heroine

 

❤💀👺👻💔💚💜😡

Elizabeth Gaskell House

 

Elizabeth Gaskell House

Interview with Trustee Jane Baxter

Elizabeth Gaskell may not have always shared the limelight of Jane Austen and Elizabeth's friend Charlotte Bronte, however, her steadfast fans display an enthusiasm for her that can only be rivaled by the passions of the author herself. You only have to look to social media to find an increasing number of dedicated fans across the globe. 'Thornton Thursdays' have set twitter alight with images of the 2004 BBC North and South adaptation and gifs of the now infamous 'Look back at me' scene are shared, liked and commented on regularly across social media.

Why then, does Elizabeth Gaskell continue to remain popular with a 21st century audience? Well, aside from the detailed study of character and relationships displayed throughout her work, she highlighted the plight of the poor, while attempting to unite all aspects of a divided society, a theme that still resonates today. 

I talk to Jane Baxter, a trustee at Elizabeth Gaskell House. Jane joined in 2014 to work as a volunteer. A member of the Society, she has also sat on the Committee. She was part of the project team responsible for the restoration of the authors bedroom in 2020-2021. So, she is the ideal person to talk to about the author and how Elizabeth Gaskell House has survived an eventful two years and what direction they see the trust taking in the future. 

How has the Elizabeth Gaskell House weathered the lockdowns? Has it taken the house in a different direction?

     We very quickly developed a series of online offers during the first lockdown – read-alongs on social media, followed by online talks. We have found that these continue to be successful and well-attended and reach a worldwide audience so we have continued with these.

     Where do you see Elizabeth Gaskell house in five years’ time?

     We will have completed and opened our new Conservatory which will benefit our weddings and link the house to the garden. We will continue in our successful promotion of Elizabeth Gaskell and her works to a wider audience and increase both visitor numbers to the house and online.

     Why do you think her work has endured?

     Her work is increasingly being recognized for its observations on the social issues of her time including poverty, class divisions and inequality, which are still relevant today.  

     If Elizabeth were alive today, what do you think she would be doing? Where would she be placed on the shelves? Would she be a political scriptwriter, host a debate show, write for tv? What organisations would she join?

     She would be writing novels – some taking inspiration from people she knows and from current affairs and issues. She probably would write for TV and possibly film. She may also write plays. I also think she would travel widely and perhaps write some travel journals – maybe be a female Simon Reeve…!

     What social issues do you think she would raise if she were writing today?

      She would champion education issues, support equality in the workplace be involved in charity work locally.

     The BBC adaptation of North and South still has a growing fan base, what are your views on the adaptation and adaptations in general? Where do you stand on alterations and modernisation of novels?

     Sandy Welch did a wonderful job of the adaptation, and the alterations she made enhanced the novel without ruining or taking anything from the narrative. I think top quality alterations like her North and South make it accessible to a wider audience. 

     On social media Mr Thornton seems set to rival Mr Darcy, why do you think he continues to grow in popularity as a character?

     Thornton is a more rounded and complex character than Darcy. Whereas Darcy is almost just a “romantic hero,” Thornton has to deal with and overcome so many difficulties and challenges, apart from the romantic side of the narrative – the strike, supporting his mother and sister and losing his business.

     Do you remember the moment you first discovered Elizabeth Gaskell?

     I was always aware of her as I used to pass the House when it was the almost-derelict “pink house” which led me to read some of her work.

     Do you have any similarities to Elizabeth or any of her characters?

     I’m definitely not as talkative and gossipy as Elizabeth!  

WWhatever differences Jane may perceive between herself and Elizabeth, I can say that they both spark an interesting discussion! 

Elizabeth Gaskell’s House have lots of online events on from talks and tours, to workshops and book groups. Visit here https://elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk/whats-on/.

Follow Elizabeth Gaskell’s House on twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Twitter @EGaskellHouse

FB Elizabeth Gaskell’s House

Insta elizabeth_gaskells_house

 

 

 

Jennyvi Dizon Interview

 Jennyvi Dizon Interview 

Jennyvi Dizon was born in the Philippines to a father who, after a hard days work as a computer programmer, would work as a tailor at night making suits for his colleges, fashion was sown into the fabric of Jennyvi's life. By the age of five she was following in her father's footsteps,designing and making outfits for her Barbie dolls. Jennyvi's lifelong passion had began. 

Jennyvi studied Fashion Design and Business Administration at Phoenix College, not content with studying, Jennyvi designed wedding gowns for her friends and then for her own wedding. After graduating, she started her own business designing bespoke wedding gowns and from 2003 she went on to win awards as her designs graced magazines covers.

 In 2021, Jennyvi, now living and working in New York, attended a JASNA (Jane Austen Society of North America) meeting. There she found others who shared her love of Austen, who she says helped her through difficult periods in her life. Her love of Austen reignited, she reread her novels and with JASNA encouragement, started Jane Austen couture which is set to premier in New York on the 10th of September. 

                So, with so many successes under her designer belt, i am curious to know, what                    first ignited her passion for fashion?

JENNYVI: Ever since I was 4 or 5, I was able to play with a variety of fabrics because my father was a tailor in the Philippines. I was able to sketch and then start making clothes for my Barbies and then at age 10 I started sewing uniforms for my mom’s friends who were nurses.

            I wonder what Originally prompted Jennyvi to follow her dream and make fashion her career, and what inspired this collection and, why now? 

JENNYVI: I just fell in love with what you can create from a flat piece of fabric and then bring it to life in a dress. Ultimately, when a woman wears my designs, I feel like that design has fulfilled it’s destiny. I know that sounds cheesy, but it’s true. I don’t create just to have my gowns hang in a closet, I want my designs to give the wearer confidence and fulfill their need. When I started sewing the Jane Austen collection I was creatively lost. I was dealing with grief fog from my mother’s death and I turned to Jane Austen’s novels for comfort and healing. Jane Austen is almost like a therapist for me. The more I read, the more I wondered what my designs would look like on her characters.

     I inquire when were she first introduced to Jane Austen, and why does she think she felt particularly drawn to her work?                                                              

JENNYVI: I was first introduced to Jane  Austen in high school, after I was finished with the assigned reading in my English class. My teacher told me to pick another book from the library Pride and Prejudice just popped out at me.

                                                 Jennyvi Dizon beside her muse Jane Austen 

Who does she think is the most stylish Austen character?                                                        

JENNYVI: The most stylish has to be Emma  in my opinion. With being the wealthiest, she has access to finer clothes. But her style is relative since she is not exactly a city woman. I live in NYC, but I was raised in Arizona which has a budding fashion      scene, but not as trendy as NYC. I’m only guessing if Emma was a real-life character in today’s time she would be following trends from Paris and in the Regency may have smuggled some French wares in or asking her sister to.

     I tell Jennyvi that Emma would be my choice too! I am curious to know if Jane had been born in another era, what fashion trends does Jennyvi think Jane would emulate, and what fashion tribe do she feel Jane, and her characters, would inhabit? Does she think there is an Emo or Punk hiding between the covers of the novels? 

JENNYVI: What a thought-provoking question. If anyone would be punk I think it would be Lizzy, just to make her mother mad and also use the punk aesthetic to ward off Mr. Collins. Jane Bennet would be into the Cottage Core trend which is similar to the Regency. What people call baby doll dresses with the empire waistline and puff sleeve, just reminds me of the Regency. Fanny Price I think would be wholesome and would always have her Sunday best on even if she isn’t going to church. But with the Emo style, it reminds me of the Clueless adaptation which was based off of Emma. Lots of plaid during the 90’s and Cher takes Ty under her wing after she sees how naïve she was. The most mature style would have to go to Anne Elliot, if I were to do a runway show on each character, Anne’s would have light natural fabrics with the Cottage Core easy breezy carefree style and move into darker shades to show the despair she felt in a broken engagement. Right now I’m working on a gown called Anne’s Heart of Gold Gown, which will be towards the end of the Fashion Week show to show how she triumphed and won her heart back. Gold is a symbol of success, hope, and triumph.

                                                                                                     Anne's Heart of Gold Gown 

                              

                                'Here is sneak peek of                                         Anne's Heart of Gold                                         Gown. I chose this                                             fabric because the sequins                                 on the shoulders is a nod                                     to Captain Wentworth's                                     uniform. Gold means                                         success and triumph.'                                                                                         

           

           

What fashion item would Jennyvi never leave home without, and what does she think would have been Jane’s essential item?

JENNYVI: Here in NYC because the forecast is sometimes wrong, you can’t leave the house without an umbrella. Even a small one helps. But as far fashion goes, scarves is a great thing to carry in your purse. They’re portable, they keep you warm when you need it, they hide food stains if you happen to have one on your bodice, or if you have a scarf on and drop food in it, you can easily take it off. Another perk is if a scarf is long enough you can use it as a belt or a head covering. It’s versatile. I think in Jane Austen’s time an essential would have been removable sleeves that you put under your puff sleeves. Today, we want things we can wear more than one way and the concept was the same back then. If women were expected to change 5 times a day. Then portable sleeves can change a woman’s look from day to night. Day to protect your skin from the sun and then night to create an evening gown look. 

 ' I individually sewed hundreds of                              

 strands of ostrich feathers to the hem                         

and the ruffle on the bodice.

 In Emma she was surprised that were 

wasn't any lace veils. I'm doing a long lace 

veil for the finale.' 

         What colour palette do she think best describes                 her personality and what does Jennyvi think                     Jane would choose and what kind of dress would             she design for  the author?

JENNYVI: My color palate is mostly dark reds, blues, and black, but I change my style and palettes depending on the season. Summer, I like bright greens, Spring I like light blues and pinks, in the fall I like dark reds and in the winter is where I wear the most black and navy blues.

           With her designers  eye, which adaptation, or costume dramas, wardrobe do Jennyvi most admire and how does she feel about alterations to the traditional Georgian style that some productions employ? 

JENNYVI: I love Lady Susan, the Kate Beckinsale adaptation Love and Friendship had beautiful gowns. It was still heavily influenced by Marie Antoinette and I have to admit I am a MA fan. I think the media did her no justice and she was a political pawn. I am also an Empress Bonaparte fan, I think her influence helped with the simple Georgian / Regency style. I have no qualms about movies making alterations to styles, just like the Bridgerton dresses.

My own designs are not historically accurate and to recreate something from the past is a slow process. As an aspiring screenwriter who wants to get my first screenplay produced into a movie, just researching historical accuracy can hold up the costume department. Not to mention the staff you would need to hire to help get the actors in the dresses. They didn’t exactly have zippers during that time. But I’ve always had a more fashion forward look towards my designs.  

      Costume is just that, a costume you wear for a production or event and then that’s it. You only wear that costume occasionally. I wanted my designs to be more versatile, costume elements, but more wearable. The perfect scenario is a Janeite has her wedding party wear Regency styled dresses as bridesmaids dresses. This dress she can wear for other date nights or formal settings not related to a costume event. 

 How would you describe Regency fashion to someone who has never seen it? JENNIEVI: If this was a short twitter post i would say Regency gowns are like long versions of the Baby Doll dresses with the Empire waist and puff sleeves that are normally made from a lightweight muslin or cotton fabric. 

      What achievement is she most proud of so far? 

JENNYVI: The achievement I’m most proud of is after some success in Arizona, I was able to build a life here in NYC and making my mom proud of me before she passed away. She initially disapproved of my career in fashion, but after seeing my designs on TV, in magazines, on the runways of New York Fashion Week, or in my photo shoots in Paris and Versailles, she finally saw that it was possible to make a living doing what you love.

Listening to Jennyvi, it is obvious that she has managed to combine her two great loves, fashion and Jane Austen. I cannot help but wonder what Jane herself would think? 

I remark to Jennyvi that i can picture Lizzy Bennet going on one of her infamous walks in Jennyvi's stylish trainers (or training shoes or kicks as i am  informed by Jennyvi they are called in the U.S) and that i only hope they do not get covered in mud! She replies that for her advertising she featured Lydia hiding out in New York. Quite what Miss Bingley and Lady Catherine would think of such goings on i do not know! 

However, what i do think is that Jane would have loved Jennyvi's classic combined with contemporary style. I feel this combination symbolizes everything Jane and her trailblazing heroines were about and anyone who says different, well they would get a dressing down. 

• Jennyvi Dizon premiers her Jane Austen Couture collection on the 10th September at New York fashion week.  
• You can see more of Jennyvi's fashion on her website: https://janeaustencouture.com 
•  Contact Jennyvi at: info@janeaustencouture.com
• You can find Jennyvi on social media on:
•  twitter@jennyvi
•  Instagram@'janeaustencouture or @jennyvinyc

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