March was such an interesting month, wasn't it?  You know one of the best things about March?  It's over...  So here we are in April, hoping that the chances of snow are behind us once and for all, and bracing instead for rain, rain and more rain.  April showers, they say, bring May flowers.  They also bring us tidings of Easter, blossoms on the cherry trees (soon the buckeye next door will be in glorious flower, leading to, one hopes, "conkers" in the fall), and before too much longer Maryland's annual spectacular profusion of lilies.

And, of course, the latest edition of Victorian Times!  But before I talk about that, let me mention one other popular April custom: Spring cleaning!  I'm cleaning out my cupboards, and I've found a stack of publications I'd like to get rid of.  Specifically, I have two copies of A Victorian Christmas Treasury, two copies of Bits About Animals, and eight copies of Time for Tea.  I'm offering these on a first-come, first-served basis for $5 apiece (including shipping).  If you'd like one (or more) of these books, send me an e-mail, and I'll send you a PayPal invoice.  (Sorry, but this offer is only for US-based addresses.)

And now, here's what we have for April:

• Some Peculiar Wills (The Strand, 1897) This article discusses not only peculiar wills, but peculiar hiding places for wills, "from weather-cocks to picture frames.
• "Visiting the Gypsies (Century, 1883) One of the leading experts in gypsy lore and culture gives us a glimpse into a visit with an American tribe.
• Women on Wheels (CFM, 1885) "Four years ago a woman on wheels was a rare and conspicuous sight; but today there are few parts of the UK where a tricycling maid or matron excites any wonder..."
• Explanation of French and Other Terms used in Modern Cookery (GOP, 1887) From "Allemande" (a type of sauce) to "Zita" (macaroni), this article explains terms that would have been familiar to Victorian cooks.
• A Party of Two (CFM, 1894) A young couple decides to avoid the crowds and go on a walking tour.
• Easter Egg Tea-Sets (Demorest, 1889) A charming set of designs to make a tea set (with a variety of pieces) out of decorated eggshells.
• Animal Trials by Jury (CFM, 1893) Cases in which animals take on the roles of judge and jury to settle wrongs done to them.
• Mustard and Cress (CFM, 1890) A bit of the lore and history of these staples of the British tea table.
• English Ladies at Washington (CFM, 1878) In England, thousands of ladies "are debarred by their lack of rank" from ever getting a social glimpse of the Queen - but in Washington, a lady needs no letter of introduction or friend at court to present her to the president!
• Hints and Topics for April (CFM, 1875) A monthly series on the seasons in the English countryside - the birds, beasts, and flowers to be seen, along with tips on what to do in the garden, and natural history notes.
• Precious Stones: Their Homes, Histories and Influence (GOP, 1894) An eight-part series on the lore and history of precious stones. For April: Rubies and Sapphires.
• Road Traveling of the Past (The Strand, 1892) Pictorial feature.

Visit http://www.victorianvoices.net/VT/issues/VT-1704.shtml to download this issue!

Or download it directly from DropBox: https://www.dropbox.com/s/wrok9vjrczhyn5j/VT-1704.pdf?dl=0

Victorian Times Quarterly #11 is now available!  This volume features the January, February  and March 2017 issues of Victorian Times, in a lovely, easy-to-read print edition.  In this issue, you'll find articles on:

• Some Old-Time Picture Books
• A Month-by-Month Guide to Garden, Field and Countryside
• Recipes for New Years' Receptions
• An Imperial Ball at the St. Petersburg Winter Palace
• A Visit to London's Seven Dials Neighborhood
• Some Railway Encounters
• The Story of Josie, a Rescued Starling
• The Lore and History of Precious Stones, Parts 1-3
• A British Look at American Women
• New Years' Celebrations in the French Vosges
• The History of Bank of England Notes
• Rescuing Sparrows of the Storm
• Victorian Valentines
• Recipes for American Breads and Biscuits
• How to Tell a Person's Character from the Back
• Fabulous London Lord Mayor's Shows, Past and Present
• Japanese Fans
• How to Make Crazy China
• Some Home-Made Candies
• Dandy Dogs: Pampered Pooches of London and Paris
• How Card Sharps Ply Their Trade
• Cakes for Afternoon Tea
• How to Become a Police 'Prentice
• The Oxford Proctor and His Disciplinary "Bulldogs"
• Tips for Hosting a Victorian Birthday Party
• The Tale of a Two-Headed Tortoise
• Russian Cross-Stitch Embroidery
• Short Fiction: The Tax on Moustaches; Edwin's Razor; The Laggard Letter's Luck
• Plus loads of poetry, illustrations, trivia, recipes, household hints and more!

Find out more at http://www.victorianvoices.net/VT/VTQ/VTQ11.shtml

Or order it directly from: Amazon, Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.ca

Color Me Victorian!

I am thrilled to announce my very own coloring book from Dover's Creative Haven collection!  And yes, it's Victorian.  Elegant Designs of the Ages is a collection of 31 designs based on Victorian books of design, art and architecture.  Its images are adapted from designs throughout the ages, from ancient days to the Victorian era.  (It even has a design by Fred Miller from The Girl's Own Paper!) 

In this gorgeous collection (if I do say so myself), you'll find Chinese peonies, Japanese koi, patterns based on medieval church windows and traceries, tiles, historic fabric designs, and more.  You'll find mandalas--well, in coloring book land, if it's circular, it's called a mandala, even though in reality one of these is a Victorian pattern for a decorated milking stool!

If you love coloring and you love Victoriana, you'll love this collection.  It's available from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.ca and apparently every other branch (I was even able to find it at Amazon.co.jp).

And of course, since it's a Dover coloring book, you know it's printed on quality paper, on one side of the page, with perforations for easy removal.

Can't wait?  Download a pair of free sample patterns now from Dropbox! 

 Happy Easter!