A quick question for everyone...

[olde_fashioned]

How many of you would be interested in color bars (or love bars, or whatever the heck they're called!) if I made them for various subjects? I've seen so many people using them, and I'd like to know if they'd be worth my time.

Here are two samples:





These are my first, but feel free to use them if you'd like. Just comment and credit as you would an icon, please! :-)

Comments

[untasted.livejournal.com]

Ah! Besides, as Christians we are supposed to love the sinner but not the sin... I really like that a lot! (: And no, your Christianity, conservativeness, and strong opinions will not bother me. I like that you're open about the way you feel and what you believe without coming off as judgmental, despite highly disagreeing with/disliking something. It's very nice.

Hah! Yes, his name is one that will most likely never come naturally to me when it comes to spelling. In the last comment I made, I just copied your spelling of it, hoping that you had copied mine or Googled it and copied a correct version. Such a difficult name! I also am not sure how it would even be pronounced.

Oh, gosh, I would have such a hard time dissecting dead horses. But that's my general squeamishness again. It's amazing that something like that would show so strongly in his work, though. And I do love horses very much. (: I can see the thumbnails of his paintings right now, but the larger versions aren't loading when I click the thumbnails. However, what I can see in the thumbnails looks gorgeous.

And that is such a fun website. (: I can click link after link and learn about a ton of new artists. Fun!

I imagine it would be very amazing to someone as interested in costumes/dress as you are to find artists who painted people a lot and show very realistic depictions of what people wore in those times. I don't have any education on this topic, so I probably wouldn't know which outfits were most like what they really wore and which ones weren't, but I do love all the pretty dresses! :D Speaking of costumes, do you have many yourself? Do you ever dress up and wear any? I told my boyfriend once that if I ever got the courage (and the money and was able to find a nice costume store) that I would by a few old-fashioned dresses and wear them around all the time, not worried about people's strange glances at me. (: I know you say in your profile that you have not made any of your own yet, but have you bought any from others?

I really hope you do start making a costume or two soon. With how interested in costuming you are, I imagine it would feel pretty amazing to you to actually be working on creating one of your own. And it would be so fun to watch the progress, of course!

Awww. I'm not too sure what the differences would be between the dumbed-down version and the regular version of Heidi. I hope it wouldn't be too drastic of a change. But I have actually three or four copies of that book (terrible, I know!), and depending on who the translator is, the writing can be either very eloquent and artistic or very simple and concise. I cannot see it in a thrift store without picking it up and buying it, but that's horribly greedy; I could be keeping someone else from the wonders and joy of that sweet, innocent, little girl! Though, it's really only because they are all different editors/translators, and I, strangely, want to compare them and try to find the best translation of the novel, hah. If you would like me to send you a copy, I can. Also, if you wanted to try reading it again now, as you're older, you could probably find it in a library or a thrift store.

Pollyanna was adorable. I never read it, but I did see a movie or see some series or another on television, and it really was wonderful. Same with Little House on the Prairie. Of the American Girl books, I only read the one about Samantha Parkington. (I'm pulling this from Google, after a very vague recollection.) I don't know how I even ended up reading that book, but I'm guessing someone bought it for me. I liked it. It's too bad I never read any of the others. ):

I love how enthusiastic you are about Gaskell's writing. That, in and of itself, is enough to motivate me to read and watch North & South. But the description of it sounds really nice too! :D I think you're right that I will truly love it. I can't wait to get started on it. *Beams*

I read that quotation somewhere recently! How strange. Did you post that somewhere here in your journal? Or elsewhere? I really did that just within the last week or so. And what an amazing quotation that is, indeed. (: I really like it as well.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

*grin* Do you? Good! :-) And thank you for being understanding about my "outspoken-ness". ;-) I hope you will feel equally free to be outspoken with me. If nothing else, we can agree to disagree, lol. But it sounds like we have enough in common to keep us busy.

Ha, ha!! I copied your spelling! I can't spell his name for the life of me, and I'm horrible at pronouncing French words. (I wonder how hard he tried to learn how to sign his name as a child? lol)

I don't really get squeamish, I just get grossed out. Does that make sense? Insects, spiders, snakes and creepy things make me go buggy. I can't stand them, and I don't like to touch things that are "gross" or slimey. I honestly don't know how I would handle a dissection of something so large and mammalian as a horse, though. I too, love horses very dearly! I've herds of plastic ones still galloping around my room. ;-) Have you ever heard of the Breyer model horses?

The ARC is one of my favourite websites for art. :-)

Well now I didn't say I was educated on the subject of fashion! I'm entirely self-taught, from reading articles online, looking at lots and lots of pictures, and hoarding borrowing books from the library, so I'm not entirely ignorant, but I'm certainly no expert!!

I would love to dress up and wear them, only I'm not quite sure where to wear them! I can just see the odd stares if I ventured to don a Regency bonnet to the grocery store... No, I have never bought any costumes, because I am the type that wants to do things myself, and since both my mother and I can sew, that's not a problem. It's just finding the time and funds for such an expensive project! I did just finish a Regency unmentionable, though, and I plan to make a dress from some cheap cotton we have on hand, now that I have the proper foundation.

I should probably reread Heidi, and get a copy from the library. Thank you for your kind offer btw. I've got a reading list that's too long, and I still need to finish Lorna Doone which I'm in the middle of. (I have the habit of wanting to read the book that goes with all these costume dramas, lol!)

I did hear that there was a new Pollyanna movie/mini, but I only have seen the old Haley Mills version and read the book.

I read almost all of the AG books that were around at the time. They've added tons of new things since I was a girl, and sadly Mattel owns them now. I had dolls, including Samantha Parkington. She still sits on my bookshelf in my bedroom. :-)

You do? Really? Gee, and here I thought I was irritating everyone! :-D (maybe I should be getting commission for all the pushing of Gaskell that I do, lol.) I'm thrilled that you're going to try N&S! I hope it doesn't disappoint. Do you like discussing things as you read them? I really hope you like it! :-)

Hmm. I know I made an icon of Mary Cassat with that quote on it for a Mother's day icontest last year, but I'm not sure if I posted it somewhere or not. That's strange that it's familiar to you, though!

BTW -- apologies for not emailing you back yet -- I am working on it!

[untasted.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm the same way when it comes to insects! There was a spider working its way down from the ceiling the other day, and I was all alone down here, so I grabbed about fifty pieces of printer paper and just smashed it real quick. And then I stood there for about 15 minutes waiting for someone to come down and move the paper/get rid of the spider, because I was too afraid to move, ahah. I really don't like insects at ALL. They're the creepiest things ever. ):

No, no, I've never heard of Breyer model horses! What are they? My love for/fascination with horses doesn't go beyond just a general admiration and wanting to have a horse. (: I would love to go horseback riding. I've done it once or twice before, but that was yearrrrrsss ago. And when I lived in a small town in Texas with my sister, there was a horse farm right behind our apartment complex, and I would walk up to the gates and pet the horses. It was amazing. I felt like I bonded with some of them, strangely, hah. If I went over to the fences and called, they would slowly but surely all make their way over to me. So great. :D Would you like to have a horse, or do you just prefer to admire them from afar? And have you ever gone horseback riding?

Well, I believe you're educated when it comes to these things! Even if it is from purely self-teaching, you have sure done your research and educated yourself quite a bit in this area that interests you. :D It's really nice, actually!

I think wearing the costume to a grocery store would be fine, even if others would stare. It would be fun! d:

A simple, cotton dress would be lovely, and that's a very good start! I can't wait to see how that turns out.

Well, it's a good thing that you have a habit of wanting to read the books that go with the costume dramas. It's much better than simply accepting the movie and never bothering to read the book that helped bring about the creation of the movie. :D I really ought to read more! I think maybe reading in these comments about the books that you're reading and also being told to read North & South, I should end up eventually getting back in to reading. I have a habit of reading a LOT for a month or two and then falling completely out of reading. o: 'Tis horrible.

(By the way, your bedroom sounds amazing. American Girl dolls and horse models! You are all the more thrilling with each comment, hee.)

I don't mind discussing things while I read them. I've never really done that before (and it's easier to discuss when I'm finished), but I'll try to keep you up-to-date on my thoughts/opinions of the book! I'm really betting I'll like it. (:

THAT'S IT! Yes, that was it! The icon! It was entered in art_stills. I remember now. :D

(And no worries on not emailing me right away. You'll notice that sometimes it takes me a while to get around to things too, and sometimes I might reply to shorter comments first and get around to later comments later on, when I have more time.)

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Oh, yuck. Where our computer is it sits right beneath a ceiling vent, and more than once a little baby spider has come sliding down it's webbing to say hi. *shudders* I just shriek for my brother whenever that happens!! He loves them, and prefers to be merciful and let them outside, rather than kill them.

Try www.breyerhorses.com if you want to see some of them! Basically they're high-quality plastic models of horses, some themed from books, movies, or horses in history, such as Napoleon's Marengo or Lee's Traveler. Equestrian dorks such as myself "dress" them in tiny saddles, bridles, halters, blankets, you name it. ;-)

I've ridden a horse three times in my life, not counting the pony rides at fairs and carnivals. ;-) But like you, that was many many years ago. I would still like to have a horse someday, but I've gotten to the point that I know it's impractical, and therefore I can live happily without one. ;-) When I was younger, however...

*curtsies* Thank you! You are very kind. I am sure you are going to be sick of costumes and costume dramas by the time you've known me a month. *lol*

Ha! It sounds like you're almost more excited about it than I am! ;-) I'm not sure if I want to do the whole "dress diary" thing or not.

I tend to read a lot in spurts, too. I think part of it depends on what it is you're reading. Now, N&S, for example? I finished that in four days straight. I couldn't put it down! Lorna Doone is taking me longer because I had to send it back to the library, it's a longer book, and it's not as well-written IMVHO. The story's great, but Blackmore has the habit of rambling on and on about unrelated things. ;-) There is a 2001 BBC adaptation with Amelia Warner that is very good, and the reason I checked out the book in the first place.

My goodness, aren't you complimentary!! I thought I might have some interesting interests (literature, history, etc.) but to have myself found interesting! :-D You are being sweet. :-)

I had never done it before until I found The Republic of Pemberley (www.pemberley.com) which is a haven for all of us Austenites. ;-) They host regular group reads of her novels, in chronological order. The GR of Emma will begin in April, IIRC. My first GR was my second read of Sense & Sensibility, and it was so much fun and I learned a lot. Ever since then I've become (as my brother teasingly puts it) a book snob and obsessed with Brit Lit. *hee* If you'd prefer to read N&S before mentioning anything to me then that's perfectly fine. I would love to discuss it, you may choose the time and place. :-)

Aha! Okay, good. That was a long time ago! You must have either a fantastic memory, or you had been visiting the archives. ;-P

I do the same thing. haha!

[untasted.livejournal.com]

Awww. It's good that you have your brother there to move them outside. I hate killing spiders and other insects, but I also do not like to let them be around me and possibly crawl on my skin/bite me. They're much too creepy. ): I should probably learn how to be more brave, though, so I can take them outside instead of killing them. But I imagine they would all just keep coming back. Our room and living/computer space is in the basement, so we see spiders (and centipedes, ew!) quite often. I'm so glad your brother takes care of them for you. I used to always scream for my brother too. :D

Oh, wow, those horse models are so neat! I bet dressing up them up in saddles and whatnot WOULD be fun. (: So what other huge interests do you have that I don't know of? Areas where you could call yourself a "dork," I mean. You seem fascinated with quite a few interesting subjects.

Aha. I think I can probably live happily without one as well and know that I probably will not ever have a horse of my own, but I think I will eventually go to a horse farm again to at least ride a horse. I hope you will too! (:

Oh, I don't think I'll ever tire of costumes and costume dramas. I guess I sort of am more in to the period aspect of films than the costume aspect, but they're sort of one in the same to me. Most period dramas can also be called costume dramas. And they have been a huge favorite of mine for years. I don't think I'll get bored with them any time soon. If anything, I will just feel bad that I won't have much input to give, hee, when you talk about certain things--what with my not being all that familiar with them and all (such as costumes). But I do like the costume dramas, even if I do not know much about the costumes or the time period or the history behind it all. They're enjoyable. (:

What's the "dress diary" thing? Do you just mean keeping track of your progress and sharing it with others? Well, even if you don't, I hope you would show the end result. It would be neat to see. :D

Oh, group readings sound like something I might like to try! How do those take place? Do you all just read the book around the same time and then discuss it, or...? Can you tell me a little about it? I've seen a few communities that do reads like that on LJ, but I'm not sure if that's the same there/how it would be held. (I've added that website to my bookmark toolbar, by the way, heh.)

I do not have a fantastic memory. Far from it. But I believe I must have just seen it recently. I think someone must have linked to it. Perhaps I was going through someone's icon journal/community and looking for art icons and saw a post that linked to that. I always go back through people's journals to find art icons, though. (: I can't get enough of them.

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

I know they're not really going to bite me (thanks to my brother I know that most spiders are so tiny that their mouths cannot bite such large creatures as humans) but I still don't want them touching me. Centipedes give me the willies!! Ugh! *climbs on chair*

Do you mean things that I actively pursue or things that I am "interested" in? I probably have too many interests...

I would like to, yes. Someday! :-) *smothers voice behind hand* I wear ropers all the time...;-P

Me neither! Long live the costume dramas!! lol. And don't feel bad about not being up on fashions. We all have to start somewhere, and I may act like a know-it-all, but I'm not! Just an enthusiastic admirer, really. Once you get the basic period silhouette down (i.e., what the general trends were at the time) it's much easier. I'm sure you could probably tell a Tudor gown apart from a Regency dress?

Yes, I mean exactly that. Some costumers take photos and write updates of their progress as they go, but I'm not sure I want to spend as much time blogging about my dress as I do sewing it. ;-)

Well, the only Group Reads I've really participated in were hosted by Pemberley, so their model is the one I'm giving you here. ;-) Basically the book is broken down by chapter, into alotments of X number of chapters a week. Discussion is regulated by week, so that no one gets ahead of everyone else and talks about the end of the novel in week 2 of the GR! You read at a steady pace, and the discussion revolves around what is happening at that particular point in the novel. Some of the more "veteran" members of the GR (i.e., mods, or those who have reread and reread, or are knowledgeable on a particular subject) might provide interesting background for a matter that is only touched upon in the story, to help explain it more fully to the readers. (P&P's entailment of Longbourn is a good example here. Not much is given as to the details of English law on that subject by JA, so it regularly comes up over at Pemberley.) Or sometimes, someone will share contemporary resources, such as fashion plates, paintings, or old book passages that enrich an otherwise meaningless passage. (another example -- in Northanger Abbey I think JA mentions a "pinery", so discussions of pineapples and their historical significance and symbolism of hospitality and wealth were delineated.) *pause* You said "a little" about it...I'm sure you've heard more than you wanted to hear!!

[untasted.livejournal.com]

Anything that you're greatly interested in! I suppose things that you actively pursue would be what I most want to know. Like with costumes, you like seeing all of the costume dramas, looking at fashion plates, learning about costumes from past centuries, etc. And with the horses, you like paintings with horses, and you have models around you room that you like to dress with saddles and whatnot. What other things are you very, very interested in? (:

Ropers?! What are these ropers you speak of?

I suppose if you gave me two options--a Tudor dress and a Regency dress--that I MIGHT be able to tell them apart. Yes, I think so. Tudor dresses would have been larger, bolder, more extravagant, right? While regency dresses are a bit more simple and small and draping lightly on the woman's frame?

That really does sound fascinating. I'm not sure how easy it would be to do on the Internet, but if you participated and say that it worked successfully, I imagine it must not be too difficult. :D I think something like that in real life would be fun, though. Have you read The Jane Austen Book Club? I was not very happy with it, but the idea of a Jane Austen book club is a very nice idea. Or maybe a Gaskell book club, as you're more interested in her. (:

(Sorry about my shorter, less frequent responses. As you can tell, I don't have as much time as I would like to be able to respond, but I hate leaving you without responses for too long of a time period.)

[olde-fashioned.livejournal.com]

Ohhhhh-kaay...prepare for a long and unorganized list! ;-) Aside from what you already know, I like anything to do with costumes, old-fashioned ladies, etc. I like reading (if they're clean) classics and literature, (adore Jane Austen, G.A. Henty and what I've read so far of Elizabeth Gaskell) historical fiction, and anything else that strikes my fancy. I read Medieval Warfare by Terence Wise and I found it highly interesting. Now I know that the staircases in castles always spiralled in one direction and why they were built that way. I enjoy mythology and word origins, etymology, and (as you might have already guessed) I am a big anglophile. I like music that is classical, Christian, Celtic, or country, I used to play the piano but gave it up, and now I am sorry. Cross-stitching is something I find highly rewarding but I haven't done it for a while. I've made my own designs in the old "schoolgirl samper" style and entered other things in the local fair. I like dolls and someday I plan on making more than the two cloth dolls I already have made and dressed. I make most of my own jewelry and wear it whether or not I look good in it. I have a fetish for shoes. Horses and (almost) anything horsey is of interest to me, and as far as horse books go, if I haven't read it, there's something wrong with it. Equines were my first introduction to genetics and I still think it's a fascinating field, even if I'm not "up" on it enough to fully comprehend it all. I have long harboured a wish to write and publish books someday, mostly novels but a few non-fiction, too. *pauses for breath* How is that for one comment? ;-)

Ropers are basically a type of cowboy boot. HERE (http://64.33.126.67/media/FB-buckles/FB-Brushed-SharkJi.jpg) is a good comparision -- cowboy boot on the left, with the higher heel, pointed toe, and the roper on the right, with the flatter heel and straighter shaft. I wear them all the time with those tiered crinkley skirts. :-)

Basically, yes. Also, Tudor women wore conical-shaped corsets (called stays back then -- corset is a Victorian term) with reeeeaaallly big sleeves, and wide-skirted gowns propped out by something called a "bum roll" (which is basically a sausage-shaped device worn round the waist) while the desired Regency shape was a high waistline just under the upthrust bust, with narrow skirts, straight in front and gathered more in the back. Here is a modern sketch of a Tudor gown (http://www.songsmyth.com/1560french/sketch.jpg) c. 1560 just to clarify. Compare it with the back of this Regency dress (http://www.operagloves.com/Fashion/RegencyFashion/ackermann-may1811.jpg) from a 1811 fashion plate. :-) [/fashion history lecture]

The only hard thing about doing a GR online is that you have to type everything, but then you also don't have to get dressed and drive to the club meeting, either. ;-) I have not read TJABC since I'm not particularly interested in books not written by the original author.

Who said I am more interested in Gaskell?

Don't worry about it. ;-)