How did they sit?!

Sometime in the future, when I get all of my sewing things set up, I would like to make some costumes from time periods that had...well...odd fashions. Things like crinolines or bustles or wide hoop skirts. Once I've got some of those made, I'd like to dress up in them for the whole day and see what it was like. It seems nearly impossible to do things wearing corsets or bustles or any of the other things that they used to wear, so I'd like to see if it's easier than it seems.

It seems that whenever I have something important to do (Study, write up my resume, draw a request, finish a project on a deadline) I inadvertently have a massive burst of inspiration for something else. *sigh* Anyway.
I've been reading some lovely and inspiring blogs lately (The Well, The Three Spinsters, The Art of Clothes) and have been thinking of adding some different types of posts to my blogging repertoire, rather than only one or two posts of quality and the rest being rants driven by emotion. Of course, I won't be able to post anything of the intelligent caliber of The Well, for example, but hopefully the standard of my posts will be raised a little.
Back to the repertoire. A couple kind of...categories could be:
*Knitting. (unfortunately I don't have any of my knitting supplies right now, but I would still like to post about styles and techniques that interest me)
*Costume studies. (I've been considering doing this for a while. I could also take requests, or something.)
*Book related things. (unfortunately I haven't really had time or peace of mind to read lately, but that will be remedied soon.)
*History related things.

I was also thinking of posting essays, but I'm not sure if anyone would read those. Maybe I should just make a different blog for schooling?

And...yeah...I'm probably going to still post rants from time to time, but nice things are good, too.

Era: A history lovers alternitive to Seventeen

Every time I read Seventeen magazine (which isn't often, of late) I always with that there was a magazine very much like that, but for people who like history. It's hard to describe if you don't read Seventeen.
So rather than "hot, trendy" hairstyles, one could have "1950's pinup girl" or "1700's french pompadour" tutorials. Or how to use things like lemon to add gold highlights to ones hair or using rice water on ones face to get a pale, smooth complexion (as they did in Japan). Or rather than the latest fashions, have "the latest fashions from paris-1882" or "what the queen wore". And maybe...even tutorials on how to make things or on housekeeping or headlines or news from certain time periods.
The idea works so well in my head, but it's really hard to put into words.

Art thou off the the fayre?

Good morrow, my good lords and ladies! Hail and well met!
I have come up with some tips for going to a Renaissance Faire, even though the one that I go to is months away, here they are anyway. (I'm using the New York Renaissance Faire as an example):

*If you are on a budget or are buying tickets for many people, look for sales before the faire opens.

*Try everything! Even if you are a bit unsure, you might be surprised.

*If you are new to Renaissance Faires and want to dress up, but don't own a costume or have time to buy/make one, check if the faire that you are going to has a costume rental shops.

*If you are dressing up:
*Check the weather and temperature and dress accordingly. It won't be fun to walk around in the hot sun all day wearing a costume made entirely out of velvet.
*Wear good shoes. Most faires have some gravel or dirt paths, which are not suitable for thin souled leather shoes, bare feet or stilettos.
*Read up on the rules for weaponry. Usually you are permitted to carry a sword or dagger as long as it is peace tied and unable to be unsheathed.
*Research the time period that the faire is based in for ideas on costumes. This is not necessary, but will make your costume more authentic.

*Try not to take anything too seriously. It may be a historical event, but it is mostly supposed to be fun.

*Get a map of the fairegrounds and try to remember where you are! I'm not sure about other faires, but the New York Renaissance Faire is almost like a maze.

*Mark any specific events that you want to see and try to remember to check the clock.
*Bring a camera! There are many occurrences at faires that just need to be captured on film.

*Be sure to arrive early in the day. Not only will you be able to find a parking spot, you will have all day to explore the faire and there will be no need to rush.

*Most of all, have fun! Immerse yourself in the history and joyous air!

Posts I will be making:
*The Origin of Interest.
*A (short?) guide to going to a Renaissance Faire.
*Future costume tests, ect.
*"A history lovers alternative to Seventeen" idea
I'm going to add to this list as soon as I find my notes.

Personal rant...or summit.

I have come to the conclusion over the past few days that I never, ever want to pack again. Ever. Or...at least not until we own a house and can settle there permanently.
I'm also not even going to be able to do anything that I need to do, such as sewing, until that happens. Which is fun. *sigh*

On another, related note, something that pisses me off is people that have things like farms or land or money or opportunity and NEVER use them. I've seen so many farms around here go unused because rich people buy them and only visit for a few days in a year. Also with the collage students that only go to collage to party, costing their parents thousands of dollars.
It just bothers me to think that there are people, even just in America, that are in need of homes or food, and yet there are also people who have to money to buy several houses abroad and have servants and gardeners.

The more and more I dream about going there, the more England seems like a fantasy land. As if it doesn't actually exist and is only real in fiction.

Words...Words...Words.

Here's a list of words that I find interesting. It's quite long because I've been collecting them for quite a while. :)
Scrinium (noun, Latin): A case or chest for books or papers.
Loquacious (adj): Talkative.
Euphonious (adj): Pleasing to the ear.
Manichean (adj): Of or relating to a dualistic view of the world, deviding things into either good or evil, light or dark, black or white, involving no shades of
gray.
Billet-doux (noun): A love letter.
Ebullient (adj): 1. Cheerful, high spirited, full of energy. 2. (archaic. Poetic/literaty) boiling or agitated
Quiescent (adj): In a state of inactivity or dormancy.
Banneret (noun) 1. A knight who commanded his own troops under his own banner. 2. A knighthood given on the battlefield for courage.
Isthmus (noun): A narrow strip of land with sea on either side, forming a link between two larger areas of land.
Chimerical (noun): A thing that is hoped or wished for but in fact is illusionary or impossible to achieve. Something imaginary or fanciful.
Elysium (noun) A place of perfect happiness. Greek Mythology: The place at the ends of the earth to which certain favored heroes were conveyed by the gods after death.
Intermediary (noun): A person who acts like a link between people in order to try to bring about an agreement or reconciliation.
Martinet (noun): A strict disciplinarian.
Excoriate (verb): Censure or criticize severely.
Susurrus (noun, poetic/literary): Whispering, murmuring, or rustling.
Bonhomie (noun): Cheerful friendliness; geniality.
Mendicant (adj): Given to begging. (noun): A beggar.
Knave (noun): Dishonest or unscrupulous man.
Raconteur (noun): A person who tells stories in a skillful and amusing way.
Archaic (adj): Very old or old fashioned.
Byronic (adj): Characteristic of Lord Byron or his poetry; Alluringly dark, mysterious, or moody; One who is melancholic, passionate, and melodramatic, and disregards societal norms.
Clinquant (adj): Glittering with gold and silver.
Aureate (adj): Denoting, made of, or having the colour of gold; (of language) Highly ornated or elaborate.
Dwale (noun, archaic): Deadly nightshade or belladonna; a soporific drink made form this.
Aubade (noun): A poem or piece of music appropriate to the dawn or early morning.
Dysphoria (noun, psychiatry): A state of unease or generalized dissatisfaction with life. The opposite of euphoria.
Ephemeral (adj): Lasting for a very short time.

The feeling of places

As with most of my posts, this is something I have been thinking about for quite a while.
For most of my childhood I have traveled with my mother across America (venturing into Canada and Mexico on occasion) and I have noticed that each place I go, (even if was a long time ago) had a...feeling. It's difficult to explain exactly what or why it is and I have no idea if any other people experience this. But I've even felt this in my recent travels to New York and Maine. So, to the main point of this post. As anyone who reads this blog would know, I am obsessed with England and would very much like to travel there. And being the air headed person that I am, I think about it quite often. Oddly, it isn't just the places that I have been to that have feelings attached to them. Whenever I see a picture of England (or any other place that I want to go to, for that matter) I have this...odd sensation, almost as if I can feel the air in that country. And it is because of these feelings and thoughts that I think that I'm going mad. Lately I've been wondering what these countries actually feel like, if the air is the quality of which I imagine.
Now is the difficult part of coming up with a way to document the preconceptions and actual air of the place.
Of course, this could just make no sense and I really AM going mad.

Also, This video is lovely: The Story of Keep Calm and Carry On
It makes me happy. :)