Guest Post: Papering a wall with Austen By JD Smith

Image JDixon6I’m delighted to welcome JD Smith to Austen Variations. While I’m a great admirer of JD Smith’s book covers, I’ve been discovering that her interest in Jane Austen extends far beyond the covers of a book.

I’ll leave you to discover what that enigmatic statement means by having Jane explain her unique Jane Austen artistic creation. 

When I was nineteen I received a copy of the 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice adaptation as a gift. As an avid watcher of period dramas, so it should have been the perfect gift, but I found it tough going at first. I struggled with the language, so faithful was it to Jane Austen’s original, but muddled through all six episodes I did.

I was a lover of historical fiction, anything from wartime dramas to the Roman Empire. It didn’t matter, so long as it was set in the past, I was addicted. Over the years I’ve become a constant and steadfast fan of everything historical, so much so a friend once said, ‘You would love to live in the past, wouldn’t you?’ to which I replied, ‘Yes, as long as they had antibiotics and decent toothpaste.’

I watched Pride and Prejudice a second time, and with greater ease I understood the language, the humour and little quips, and enjoyed more the characterisation, the houses and costumes, the way of life. I fell in love with that adaptation and I have watched it at least once a year since. I believe it is because it is so faithful to the original that it has remained popular over the years, that and a soaking wet Colin Firth.

My addiction didn’t stop there. I bought the book, and lapped up living in the world myself, immersed in the language alone, no actors, no interpretations of the characters. It became one of my treasured books, a favourite, and to my delight I recently received a copy of the book with a difference for my birthday: it had been turned into my name!

Image JDixon5

Jane

But I wasn’t just a lover of history, nor simply Austen, I was a lover of books. They were my passion, they always had been. Stories could be found everywhere, but the written word, the binding and the smell and feel of a book was something else entirely. I was a graphic designer and in 2012 I turned to book design full time. I began writing my own books, retelling first the legend of Tristan and Iseult, followed by the epic series beginning with The Rise of Zenobia, based on the third century Palmryene queen who carried out one of the most threatening rebellions the Roman Empire ever faced.

In 2012 I redecorated my conservatory. I wanted wallpaper, something to give a bit of a homely, warm feel to a stark room. I look everywhere, on the internet and in shops, but to no avail. Everything was fashionable, nothing classic or timeless to be found. Then I thought, but I am a designer, I’ll just make my own! Image JDixon2There are plenty of bespoke wallpaper printers online. I looked for stock images I could print onto paper, but I lacked enthusiasm. Nothing was quite right. I couldn’t put my finger on what I really wanted. It was then it occurred to me that I could print an entire book on wallpaper and paper the wall with it. Which book? My own? No, that’s too self-absorbed, I could never do that. So which?Image JDixon3

Of course, it was obvious. What book is more classic, more timeless, and more perfect than Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. But could I fit it all onto one 2m x 2m wall space?

I downloaded a copy of the text. Then I set up a document in my design software and copied the text in, including all the chapter headers. I made columns the width of a standard size book which ran floor to ceiling, and with a bit of jiggling, the entire book fitted in 9pt on the paper. Once I was happy with it, I uploaded the print files to an online printer and ordered my wallpaper. A week later and it arrived in a huge tube, and with a bit of trimming and pasting, I had my favourite book on my wall.Image JDixon1

It cost me £135, but I think it was worth every penny. I cannot even begin to tell you how many hours I have spent standing next to that wall drinking tea and reading …

In addition to being an author and book designer, I am also the editor of the writer’s site Words with JAM, the reader’s site Bookmuse, and the mother of three mischievous boys. You can browse my website and find me on Facebook.

I am so jealous of JD Smith and her conservatory wall. I can’t think of anything better I’d like to do over a cup of tea than read the writing on the wall ; )

JD Smith would love to receive comments and questions. How would you feel about having Pride and Prejudice on your wall?

MoniMr. Darcy's Pledgeca

 Book cover by JD Smith

 

23 comments

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  1. That’s amazing! I’ve seen P&P in one massive framed poster before now, but never all over a wall. what a fab idea and it looks brilliant!

    Loved the birthday book, too, Jane, turned into your name. What a great present to receive!

    I love Monica’s latest cover too – just beautiful work.

    Enjoying reading this. Thank you, Monica, for sharing!

    • Anji on May 27, 2014 at 4:19 am
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    What a fantastic idea. Not sure anyone else in my family would appreciate a P&P wall though. Would I ever get anything done around the house if I had one? I’d also be far too scared to take a pair of scissors to the wallpaper whilst hanging it in case I’d made a terrible mistake in the measuring!

    I also love Jane’s cover for Darcy’s Pledge. I was lucky enough to win a copy in a giveaway and have just finished reading it this morning (I’m not working today), after a couple of rather too late nights reading as well. Thanks you, Monica, firstly for your generosity with the giveaway, and secondly for such a wonderful read. Can’t wait for volume 2!

    1. Anji, so lovely of you to say so. I’m happy to hear you enjoyed it.

        • Anji on May 27, 2014 at 10:50 am
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        I especially enjoyed the “wet shirt” (and everything else) scene!!

    • Jane Odiwe on May 27, 2014 at 6:58 am
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    I love the P&P wall and Monica’s book cover-what a talented lady!

    • Deborah on May 27, 2014 at 7:17 am
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    Jamet, I love the book on wallpaper. What a great idea! But, I wouldn’t trust myself to trim it properly & would either trim too much or too little. No one else is as into books as. I am & would firmly believe I had lost my mind. Love the cover you designed for Darcy’s Pledge.

    Monica, I loved the book. I did give in and read it. Now I am anxiously waiting for the release of the second volume.

    1. Thank you Deborah!! I really appreciate that you gave up your preferred reading habit to read the novel. 🙂

        • Deborah on May 27, 2014 at 10:29 am
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        Just couldn’t wait for volume 2 since when we were posting to how you wanted our opinion of the beginning of the book you twisted my arm (convinced me) to read it & not wait. 🙂

    • Deborah on May 27, 2014 at 7:20 am
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    Sorry about the typos…my big fingers on the little virtual keyboard. First word should be Jane.

    • Jane Dixon-Smith on May 27, 2014 at 8:20 am
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    Thanks guys. Yes, I was a little nerve-wracking trimmed the edges but it all went up okay in the end.

    • Sheila L. M. on May 27, 2014 at 9:43 am
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    Where can I buy a book with my name? I LOVE that. The design for Darcy’s Pledge is great – we’ve all commented on that and everyone had a different word for it but all fantastic. I don’t know that anyone in my family would appreciate the wallpaper but I would love to have it…also where I could sit and read it while having a cup of coffee (my addiction). Obviously you have many talents…and 3 boys? do they leave fingerprints. I now have 2 grandchildren and know fingerprints are coming! I remember repainting the staircase wall many times due to fingerprints. Or did you treat the wall with some type of washable coating?

      • Jane Dixon-Smith on May 27, 2014 at 3:18 pm
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      Hi Sheila,

      I’m not sure where the book is from but I shall try to find out. And the wallpaper’s wipe-able!! It’s got like a sheen coating. Very durable.

      Jane x

        • Sheila L. M. on May 27, 2014 at 8:59 pm
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        Thanks.

    • Carole in Canada on May 27, 2014 at 3:46 pm
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    What a fantastic idea! My only problem is, I am not a fan of wallpaper! However, if I could fit it in one piece and then put moulding around it…that would work for me! The book is gorgeous too. I too would love to know where the book is from.

    As for Monica’s art on the cover of her book, absolutely love it! It’s on my list to buy for June!!!! That is less than a week away! Can’t wait to just sit and stare at the cover and then to immerse myself in the book.

    • Stephanie L on May 27, 2014 at 4:24 pm
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    I love love love your wallpaper!! I’m in the midst of re-designing my office and think that’s brilliant. I won’t wind up with anything that fabulous but wow, what an idea!!

    The book cover is gorgeous. You can feel the emotion.

    • Eva E on May 27, 2014 at 4:55 pm
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    Your covers are beautiful. Oh, I would love to have a wall papered in Pride and Prejudice!

    • Kathy on May 27, 2014 at 8:16 pm
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    That’s such a great idea, I’ve never seen something like that before. I also could not imagine that a whole book could fit on a wall. I think if I couldn’t actually do wallpaper that it would also be great to break up the book into several panels that could be hung. Either way, sounds like such an awesome idea for art!

  2. What a brilliant idea! I can imagine standing in front of it and reading for hours. Tristan and Iseult sounds marvelous and is going on my TBR list.

      • Jane Dixon-Smith on May 28, 2014 at 4:23 am
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      Oh, I do hope you enjoy it, Abigail!

    • Ceri on May 29, 2014 at 6:12 am
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    Isn’t it lovely! I have seen it on a poster and I nearly bought it, but I’d need the right space for it. I would never have thought of getting my own bespoke wallpaper made, what a wonderful idea.

    • rae on May 30, 2014 at 6:18 pm
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    Love the wall! Love the book cover and love the book with the name. I definitely want one of each!!!

    I do have the poster with P&P text – there is one available from the UK with the entire text, but the one I have my daughter gave me for my birthday last year and it is only half the book. I have it framed in my bedroom, of course. I would love to have the book with the name carved into it. Please try to discover what the source is. How creative.

    Your wallpaper is wonderful. With my experience hanging wallpaper I would have creases in the paper and so the sentence would start one way and then end up attached to some other part of the sheet. I am a terrible wallpaper hanger. 🙁

    The book “Mr. Darcy’s Pledge” is beautiful and I will be sure to read it.

  3. Wow, it’s incredible to be able to read P&P whenever you are in your conservatory without the need to flip the book. I don’t do wallpapers in my house but I do like the idea of papering walls with flora designs or any other beautiful themes.

    The book cover design you did for Monica is gorgeous.

    • Imelda on June 10, 2014 at 6:24 pm
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    I would love that but my husband would hate it. And we agreed a long time ago that we both have veto privileges over home decor. But it is stunning and I think it is fabulous.

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