Quaintly & Co’s Jane Austen Themed Box Review (September 2021)

“The ‘Jane Austen’ Box

Love British Lifestyle goes back in time to revisit one of Britain’s best loved authors!

Snuggle up in September with our delightful Jane Austen Box, inspired by the Jane Austen Festival held annually in the beautiful city of Bath where the author based a good many of her novels. Sign up this Wednesday for your next box of Austen-inspired treats and literary gifts, alongside our curated guide to British period living and the history of Bath itself. This is always one of our most popular annual themes… don’t miss it!

I have wanted to try several different subscription boxes, but so far my experiences with the ones I have ordered have not been favorable. Every time I order a box I tend to like only one or two items, while the rest of it are things I don’t really like or can see myself using, and I end up giving them away.

Quaintly & Co was one such subscription box I have had my eye on for quite a while as their past Poldark, Cornwall, London, Outlander, and prior Jane Austen boxes have all looked amazing!

Last year I decided to take the plunge and purchased the London Lifestyle box. While it wasn’t what I was expecting, there ended up being only two items in the box that I didn’t really care for; and I loved the little book that had information and word games on London. When I saw that the following month they were doing a Jane Austen themed box, I decided to purchase that one as well.

This was a September box, but as I live in California, I didn’t get the box until mid-October, (which I had expected as my August box didn’t arrive until mid September.)

When ordering the boxes you have the option of a classic box which is 6 items at £32.99 before taxes (+ shipping and handling) or a Quintessential box of 10 items at £59.99 before taxes (+ shipping and handling). I chose the first as I was still a bit hesitant if I would like what I would receive. My box arrived and contained:

1. A Signare Tapestry Bag: Brown and in an oak motif inspired by a coat belonging to Jane Austen £14.00
2. Lady Austen Tea Sampler: A version of Earl Grey with French lavender and cornflower petals £3.00
3. A Feather Quill Pen: Feather pen designed in the style of William Morris in the 1800s £6.00
4. Magnetic Bookmark: Features a drawing of Jane Austen and a quote. £3.50
5. Greeting Card: Features a quote from Sense and Sensibility (1995)
6. A Booklet on Jane Austen
7. Bonus Items: Shore and Sweet Biscuits, two kinds (Not included on the official “What’s in the Box!” List but was in the box.)

• Signare Tapestry Bag: The Signare Tapestry Bag was nice, but I didn’t really care for it, as I have a lot of those small bags already, and I ended up giving it to my niece who collects them.

• Lady Austen Tea Sampler: The Lady Austen Tea Sampler contained 4 teabags, and I enjoyed it as I love Earl Grey tea. However, Tiesta Tea, makes a similar Earl Grey with lavender and cornflowers that I prefer. I loved the biscuits and ate them immediately with my first cup of tea.

• Feather Quill Pen: The feather quill pen is cute and I enjoy using it. It is probably my favorite thing in the box.

• Magnetic Bookmark Featuring a Jane Austen Quote: The bookmark was cute and useful, I actually really appreciate the fact that they went with Mansfield Park instead of Pride and Prejudice, it’s nice seeing one of her lesser known/loved books getting the spotlight.

• Greeting Card: The card was nice as well, and I sent it to the next person on the Flat Jane list when I mailed Flat Jane.

• Booklet on Jane Austen: The booklet of information on Jane Austen was item I really liked. It had Jane Austen trivia, information on what to do in Bath in the fall (when they have the Jane Austen festival), a biography on Jane Austen, and a a brief overview of the Jane Austen festival. At the end is an ad for Signare

As a whole this was an okay box, however, as I live in the USA I get to see the information from customs on the different items in the box. With inflation as what it was, I’m paying extra for everything from $2-12 more. I probably wouldn’t order another, especially as I can order similar things stateside for cheaper.

But if I lived in England I think I would order this again, or have a subscription as the items weren’t bad and I do often use half of them, and I did use two right away.

For more Jane Austen products, go to MadsenCreations’ New “Spring” Jane Austen Items!

For more Jane Austen product reviews, go to Jane Austen Runs My Life Holiday Gift Guide: Jane Austen Products

MadsenCreations’ New “Spring” Jane Austen Items!

So I don’t know about those of you in colder parts of the world, but here in CA the weather has turned slightly warmer making many think about Spring and Summer plans.

MadsenCreations is no different as she has started rolling out new Jane Austen items in her “Spring Collection”.

Hmm…?

First we have a Pemberley Est. T-Shirt:

I assisted a bit (gave a suggestion of what should go under Pemberley). This shirt is cute and perfect for any Jane Austen fan. Order by clicking here

And then for the Northanger Abbey fans, a Northanger Abbey Crop Top:

If interested order here

Not to mention you can still order the items from the Get Spooky! Collection that I helped design. Such as the Northanger Abbey sweatshirt, Northanger Abbey shirt

Which also comes in children’s sizes!

Or a Jane Austen Catrina/Sugar Skull Mug.

If those aren’t your cup of tea you can also order your very own Jane Austen Runs My Life Shirt.

We also designed a Jane Austen crop top and full tee based off the one Selena wore in Selena: The TV Series.

Is there a Jane Austen item you want and have been unable to find? Reach out to MadsenCreations and she can help make it a reality. AustenTherapy wanted a Jane Austen Henry Tilney Fanny Pack and MadsenCreations made it!

And don’t forget to use the code Janeaustenrunsmylife for 10% off your total order (Jane Austen and non-Jane Austen items).

For more on MadsenCreations go to Jane Austen Runs My Life Holiday Gift Guide: Jane Austen Products

For more Jane Austen Stuff, go to Pride and Prejudice: The Game

My Regency Gown from MadsenCreations

So I don’t know about you all, but I’ve been wanting a Regency inspired gown for quite a while now.

I had planned to have one made for Modesto Jane Con but time ran away with me and we didn’t get a chance.

But this time I was ready. I put an order in early with Madsen Creations and was determined to have my Regency gown for my birthday party.

Now I don’t know about you all but I’m one of those people who I need to see something on me and struggle at looking at fabric and seeing the end result. Oftentimes I don’t know what I want and kind of hem and haw about it all. This time I had seen lots of Regency gowns in different films and had a better idea of what I really wanted. Of course I really wanted a coat like Catherine:

But that is too, too hot for CA spring.

Instead I really wanted a blue gown, as blue always looks good on me, and after searching through many gowns the biggest influence was the cut of Lydia’s gown in Pride & Prejudice & Zombies and the style of Daphne’s gown in Bridgerton.

I haven’t actually seen this show, but I loved the pearls on the dress.

After the gown was selected we went on a trip to the fabric store. Originally we were going to find a lace to add on top of the gown, but there was no fabric that I really liked and time was limited. Instead we purchased blue linen, blue thread, pearl buttons-and swapped out the plans for an overlay for an applique (being inspired by Emma (2020).

I also needed a new fan, as my pride and joy is a red fan from Spain that my brother and sister-in-law gave me, and would clash with this gown. I needed a few supplies from the dollar tree and found a blue fan that matched the fabric for $1.

From there my work was done and Madsen Creations took over. She made this dress in a week, yes one week! Isn’t that amazing?

She ended up using a lace overlay with pearl buttons she had leftover from a previous costume she made. She also said that if it wasn’t for the trickiness of the pearls in the overlay, the dress would have been completed in two days.

My dress was absolutely beautiful, a perfect dream and I looked great in it.

If you are looking for any custom work, definitely check her out.

We are almost done with my party plans. Can you believe it? Just a one more thing to share and then I’ll be back to our usual book reviews and such.

For more on Madsen Creations, go to Jane Austen Runs My Life Collaboration with Madsen Creations!

For more Madsen Creations products, go to I Tried Madsen Creations’ Reusable Cloth Teabags

For more Jane Austen products, go to Marrying Mr. Darcy: The Pride and Prejudice Card Game

Jane Austen Runs My Life Collaboration with Madsen Creations!

Do you love Jane Austen things? Then I’ll think you’ll love what I have to share! Jane Austen Runs My Life and Madsen Creations have collaborated together on two t-shirts designs!

Madsen Creations makes custom clothes and other custom items. I have mentioned her in the past as I won a tunic and capelet from her; along with getting a free reusable tea bag. (I also have a few other things I’ve had made by her that I still need to share a post on.)

Last year, the two of us started Period Drama Saturdays, and one of the period dramas we watched was the Selena TV show on Netflix, I had mixed feelings about the show, (I shared more about it on Instagram, but if interested on more of my thoughts comment below); and in Season One we both noticed right away that in one episode Selena wears a Jane Austen crop top.

I thought it was so cute and tried searching for one to buy, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. Neither of us could.

We both waited a while but after still not finding it available we decided to make our own. It’s not an exact replica, but as close as we could get it. It’s perfect for a seasoned Austenite, a new fan, or for your teens you are introducing to Jane Austen. Click here to purchase.

But we didn’t stop there. I had been playing with the idea of having my own mercy as people always comment how they love the blog name. So we also designed a second shirt:

This one comes in a variety of colors!

And that’s not all. I have a few more ideas of things I want to do, keep an eye out as if I do make anything, I’ll post on it soon!

Both shirts are available on @madsencreations website, click on this link to shop this product.

For more on Madsen Creations, go to I Tried Madsen Creations’ Reusable Cloth Teabags

For more Jane Austen products, go to Marrying Mr. Darcy: The Pride and Prejudice Card Game

For more Jane Austen clothes, go to Read Jane Austen, Wear Jane Austen