I bring a chatty post, and an awesome link.

[jadegirl]

I would really not mind living there. While my own home decor aesthetic is far more Arts and Crafts Movement than traditional Victorian, and I hate electric ranges the media center is really quite brilliant, and could be done just as easily in a quarter-sawn oak frame. Stylistic differences aside, this really, really works for me on a more

Comments

[chelseagirl]

I agree with you entirely. I don't have the time or the talent to make much, but I'd like to think that by patronizing craftspeople and small steampunk-related businesses, I'm part of the solution, not part of the problem. The Ruskin passage I need to hunt up for Saturday talks about individually crafted items vs. the factory system -- ever since I read that in grad school I have made a point of getting my coffee cups from potters, my jewelry from people who've made it, etc. It seems like it's really easy to critique things from Doctorow's point of view, because of who he is/what he does . . . but is it right to attack people who are just being introduced to these concepts? I wonder if even someone who'd modded a mass-produced Nerf gun to begin with should be encouraged (as long as they're also gently encouraged to move away from buying such items in future) -- doesn't this hypothetical person at least have the possibility of doing something more complex and individual later on? -- but if they're critiqued harsly right at the

[jadegirl]

I'd love to hear your thoughts about steampunk and the industrial revolution. One of the things I *didn't* expect to find in the genre but have are a lot of stories set in strikes and labor riots. Coming from a family that has been fairly entrenched in a labor movement since those days I was quite pleased by that. (It's also given me some ideas for stories involing the women of both sides of that coin.)

I both liked and disliked Doctorow's comments - on the one hand I'm always in favor of people thinking about what they're consuming and the broader impact it has - and he does soften the blow a bit by saying it's one of the things he likes about steampunk (the presence of that conflict). On the other hand starting out by calling it the "lie" of steampunk does seem isolating and unnerving from a beginners perspective.

As for lace skirts, they go with *everything*! I usually pair them with solid blouses to keep from looking like a bride unless they're two different colors, like a red skirt with a cream top.

[chelseagirl]

I'm glad to hear that -- I don't know if I've read that piece or not, but my hobby horse about "let's critique *and* celebrate" feels propitiated. ;-)

Cool! (Steampunk story ideas about women and the labor movement -- love it!) I need to do some focused reading soon.

This one is brown lace . . . and from Bendel's! . . . with a handkerchief uneven hem. I've tried it on with a top (tank for casual, blouse and vest for steamy) and sandals or boots (likewise); I just can't decide if it wants a petticoat layer underneath.