A Little Women Creation

-Little Women Collage-
Amy, the youngest of the March sisterhood, is known as the artsy one – as she loves to paint & draw, etc. In my creating, I used her as a sort of muse, thinking to myself, ‘What would Amy do?’ For this collage I used lots of various items that I had in my stash (old buttons, scraps of paper, some old trimming, etc.)(collage is one of my fav mediums by the way). The black & white photo (taken from a magazine) is an image of Orchard House, Louisa May Alcott’s family home (I can just picture Jo running about the place with Laurie making mischief next door). I also typed up a quote that I particularly love from the book & pasted it on (it’s also from one of my favorite chapters, “Under the Umbrella”). It comes after Professor Bhaer learns Jo's feelings (and Jo learns his), & he states that Jo has given him much in the way of "hope & courage" & he feels he has "but a full heart & these empty hands" to offer her. =) Here is the quote:

“Jo never, never would learn to be proper; for when he said that as they stood upon the steps, she just put both hands into his, whispering tenderly, “Not empty now,” and, stooping down, kissed her Friedrich under the umbrella. It was dreadful, but she would have done it if the flock of draggletailed sparrows on the hedge had been human beings, for she was very far gone indeed…”
-Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

How lovely is the improper Jo! Well, it is very sad, indeed, to see Little Women week gone! Thanks again to Rebecca @ A Young Lady's Blog for creating & hosting this literary challenge! It has been most enjoyable! =)

Louisa, You're Such the Literary Fashionista!

In typical Jo-fashion, I'm out-of-doors with bare feet & a stack of marvelous books. I intended to work on my writing, but as you can see from my crumpled companions - I had a bit of trouble.

What I've donned: a denim skirt I found at a yard sale (with a white lacey petticoat underskirt); a Ralph Lauren button-down (I unearthed this at a thrift shop); a Mossimo bolero (Target); a silver pen necklace (it actually has a working pen hanging on the chain - also from a yard sale); vintage rings; & a sweet little book & bow locket pin (you guessed it, from another tag sale) (my book is Louisa May Alcott's masterpiece, Little Women, of course).

Tuesday Tutorial: The Book Clock With Disney!

I just love Disney (yes, that’s her 1st name) over at “Ruffles & Stuff.” She’s an artistic genius! For today’s tutorial I’m linking over to her blog for her “Book Clock” tutorial, cause I thought what better in honor of “Little Women of 2010” week than to create a clock out of an old (or new) Little Women book (or any book =)! Click the link to see how Disney creates her fantastic book clock (& be sure to visit all of her tutorials & thoughts over at her blog (“Ruffles & Stuff”)). You can also visit through my fav links on my sidebar (it’s the “Calling All Crafty Girls” one)! Enjoy, & thanks to Disney for doing all the work for me on this one!

Link: http://www.rufflesandstuff.com/2009/11/time-for-good-book.html

Jo: Little Woman

“Never till I’m stiff & old, & have to use a crutch. Don’t try to make me grow up before my time…” That is Josephine March’s rebuttal to her older sister Meg’s nagging & agitated question of “When will you stop such romping ways?” Jo, as she is known, is well suited to her boyish nickname, as she revels in such activities as fence-jumping, tree climbing, & running about most unladylike.
Jo, the second oldest of the four March sisters in Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel Little Women, has been beloved by generations. In her I find a dear kindred spirit & a very sympathetic soul, indeed – in fact, looking at Jo March is often like looking in a mirror.
Meg’s question has come at me many a time or two. I have enjoyed pastimes that others have deemed too frolicsome, futile, & silly. Climbing trees & jumping over things has always allured me, as well. True to tomboyish nature I have been known to run rather than walk.
Jo is also the writer of the family; scribbling stories as fast as they come to her mind. Louisa May Alcott based Little Women on her own sisterly crew, & Jo is most definitely a close representation of the author herself. I, too, have ambitions to be a writer – it is, truth be told, a very great dream of mine. If I could be a mile near as great a writer as Louisa May Alcott I would be pleased. Jo’s early troubled authorship is very like my own.
As Jo grows up (as she couldn’t stop it); she has a muddled time of it (as I suppose most do). But in her trials I see my own feelings unearthed – needing new horizons & adventures; being uncertain & angry at her family’s ever-changing state (as she loses a beloved family member & sisters marry); not wanting to be romantically entangled or matrimonially captured. She states, “Nobody will want me, & it’s a mercy, for there should always be one old maid in a family.” Yes, those have all been my feelings. Jo is my kindred literary counterpart.
We can read all of Jo’s story & no secrets are left to be had, but my story is still unfolding – and like Jo, I seek to face it & feel it & totally & completely live it, in order that I might see the details, secrets, & ending God has in store.
Quotes Taken From: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (Grosset & Dunlap, 1993)

If You're a Jo, Too - You Just Might Like:

Here's a Jo-inspired Polyvore creation I quite liked:

Jo from Little Women by ♥charlotte♥please join my group on Polyvore.com

The "Little Women of 2010 Literary Challenge" Is Officially Open!

I’m a true Louisa May Alcott fan! Her sweet characters & stories just make me smile! There is something timeless & pure in her words – a rare ingredient, indeed, today. Of course, I definitely recommend reading Little Women (if you haven’t) – it’s one of my favorites!
When I found out that Rebecca was hosting a Little Women event on her blog (“A Young Lady’s Blog”), I got truly excited! Be sure to visit (if you haven’t) & see what it’s all about (click the Little Women 2010 button on my sidebar)! And, Rebecca, thanks so much for creating & hosting this event! QUICK NOTE: You have until Sat., Feb. 27th @ 11:59 PM to enter into any of the 5 categories (you can enter as many categories as you like)!

-RANDOM INFO-
*Louisa May Alcott’s Birthday: November 29, 1832
*Little Women – 1st published as 2 volumes in 1868 & then as 1 volume in 1880!
*Favorite/Most Like: Jo
*Favorite Film Version: Little Women (1949; with June Allyson, Janet Leigh, Margaret O’Brien, & Elizabeth Taylor) – When I 1st saw this version I watched it twice in 1 sitting! (Little Women (1994; with Winona Ryder) is a close 2nd)

I must admit that I had not read the original book until a couple of years ago. When I did I was so inspired (or maybe crazy’s a better word), that I created replicas of the sisters’ “Pickwick Portfolio” & the letter accompanying Beth’s piano (given by Mr. Laurence) – either way, you can tell this book was truly important to me.
I’ve got more Little Women posts to come – (including my entries) so be sure to stop back by! Oh, & be sure to cast your vote in the Girl Talk Poll, Special Edition!