My Tumblr Secret Valentine from Switzerland

I think this will be my last post pertaining to Valentine’s Week, but then I don’t know what the rules are, maybe it’ll turn into a month…

Apart from getting all luvie with RAworld Secret Valentine, I also took part in the Tumblr event.

Mid week I got a snazzy box from Switzerland  that sounded like there were jigsaw puzzles inside (perhaps a “stick a tail on Richard?).

Going down the stereotype route I opted for either Swiss chocolate or a cuckoo clock with Richard popping out on the hour.

I opened it up and it revealed a plethora of goodies, most of them hand-made, and you know how I feel about that!

Check out the lovely necklace that will enrich my Little Thorin collection:

Not to mention the knitted pouch (in my favorite colour!) and Thorin/Hobbit notebook:

And then there were dozens of chocolate hearts that will soon end up in my belly 🙂

Thank you Kiwitage!

And to all my blogging friends (readers, writers and lurkers), wouldn’t it be fun if we did something like this within our group for another occasion?

 

Armitage Weekly Round-Up Week 7

This is week 7 of the Armitage Weekly Round-Up.

To see what the written word was up to this week, check out Arkenstone’s fanfiction round-up.

As always, Tumblr has been buzzing with excitement and Guylty has compiled a list of the  cream-of-the-crop posts.

This is a special edition of the RA Weekly Round-Up as we celebrate Valentine’s day and nothing brings to mind a little bit of good ol’ fashioned luvvvv like Richard Armitage!

This week sees the first RAworld Secret Valentine, as lovingly created by Guylty (thanks Miss!).

I don’t know about you, but I really enjoyed going through all the cards, vids and letters and it warmed the cockles of my frozen heart to see evidence of friendship, affection and a heavy sprinkling of RA admiration.

But then we’ve been spReAding the love for a while now!

Valentine’s / Love posts

Here’s a Richard Armitage fan message video from The Anglophile:

Guylty celebrates Valentine’s with pizzazz

I agree with Obscura, nothing says love like a bit of blood sacrifice!

With two extremely hunky Valentine’s from fantasy land no bother there are no RL ones to just pale in comparison

The only thing better than an RA bum post is if it’s placed in a Valentine context. The perfect storm

If you know what I do for a living, you’ll have little doubt I regard grammar as a bit of a turn on 😉

Shut Up and Kiss Me! is an entirely appropriate thing to tell Richard on Valentine’s Day!

Perfect song for Valentine’s Day AND a Friday! Good one Kelbel!

Celebrate Valentine’s like a Fangirl! (advice for next year!)

RA/Hobbit/OT

Uttering: “Richard, I’m behind you” may be a dream come true or cause to call the authorities 😉 Anyway, congrats Magwi!

No catchphrase can beat the original: “Hey, Richard Armitage, I think your G-string is a bit tight…” (even stranger still, my spell-check insists it should be “you’re g-string”…).

Is Thornton a man of low self-esteem? I wish I could kiss it and make it all better…

If Harry is your pen/email pal, you’re in luck! Plenty of news from Dibley

And he’ll cook the books for you too!

I always thought Richard was a Beanie Baby 😉

More on Richard’s sartorial decisions! (if good-looking people don’t know how to dress well, I say they should just go around in their undies/nude!).

*grabby hands* No, I don’t need that Moleskin Hobbit notebook, shut up, I want it, my precious…!

All together now:

Hey Ricky, you’re so fine, you’re so fine you blow my mind!

Hey Ricky! *claps hands” Hey Ricky!

Talking about music, here are the notes of Middle Earth

On misogyny and being a geek

I hope you have a great week and I’ll be back tomorrow to show you what I got from my Tumblr Valentine from Switzerland (yes, there’s chocolate involved!).

Thorin is getting a bit frisky for Valentine’s Week

I’m (unfortunately for you…) sticking with the theme of Valentine’s Week.

Here are some pick-up lines that you may want to use if you’re on the pull at a Hobbit convention (at your own risk).

It’s at moments like this, when I spend my free time making Tolkien mythology sound dirty that I question my choices in life…

And last but not least…

I bet you could do MUCH better, so hit me with your most painful Thorin pick-up lines 😉

Well, I guess it’s Valentine’s Week

I find it a bit odd that people (and by that I mean the media) seem to be using the term “valentine ‘s week”.

Most men people I’ve spoken to seem to ignore this occasion entirely, describing it as “American” and “consumer”, another excuse to have to spend money.

I don’t agree with that assessment, after all you don’t have to spend a penny to express your feelings for someone and it doesn’t have to be dodgy plush toys and heart galore.

This year I’m taking part in the Tumblr Armitage Army Valentine’s Gift Exchange  (can’t wait for the postman to come with something other than a bill or stuff I bought on ebay…) and Guylty’s RAworld Secret Valentine.

I’ve already finished my post/gift for the lucky/unlucky (depending on how you look at it) recipient and I’ve promised myself that I’ll send it to Guylty long before the deadline.

That’s my Valentine gift to her 😉

Anyway, nothing says the season of love, be it a day or a week, than some beyond creepy vintage Valentine’s Day cards:

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Have I creeped you out enough?

Have a good errr…. Valentine’s Week…

Armitage Weekly Round-Up Week 6

Welcome to week 6 of the Armitage Weekly Round-Up.

As always the list is by no means exhaustive so please leave links in comments to posts you found interesting and I did not include.

Arkenstone proves that the pen is mightier than the sword (sorry Guy) and has compiled the hottest fanfiction offerings of the week.

Guylty put aside Valentine’s issues long enough to compile a list of what Tumblr so lovingly provided.

It might not have been the best week for many of us (please remember that there are people you can talk to), but thanks to a good Armitage cheer even the most gloomy of days become brighter.

Case in point, Guylty is going full (luv) steam ahead with the RAworld Secret Valentine!

I’m super excited about it, especially that I can’t remember blogs ever collectively celebrating Valentine’s Day and yet we spend the rest of the year sharing our Armitage luvvv!

If you haven’t signed up but have had a change of heart and would like to participate, I’m sure Guylty wouldn’t turn you away, so come join us!

Talking about a little love:

Time Square? More like Smooch Square!

And on the topic feelings, we are still spReAding the love!

RA/Hobbit/OT posts:

Fedoralady relies on an old friend to keep her warm

Talking on Gizzy, he can give a jumper a beating, right?

Sometimes a gal just has to take a step back (but hopefully will come back soon)

Not sure about Captain America without the dashing geeky Heinz Kruger…

Guy of Gisborne counts down the days

Swooning Maruca on being a bunch short of a fruit basket for your online crush

Moody Thorin has finally reached his final destination and is guarding a very special place of fangirl worship

Not good when it says strapping and you accidentally read it as strap-on…

And the award to the thief of my heart goes to…. Oh, and the Anglophile thingy too…

Kelbel75 is still on her Alphabet Movie challenge and she visits the Dales and uncovers some hidden treasures

Thank You for traveling with Armitage Airways!

I’m tempted to pack my bags and go live in a hole

Dream a little dream of Richard (and what could be better…)

OT: KatherineD recs the best Aussie show TV has to offer

I can’t help hearting that sassy elf!

Welcome to the world of blogging, Girl who stumbled over Richard!

I guess that’s a no to Armitage, Richard Armitage!

Malice Aforethought dodgy mustache coming right up…

…with a side-dish of Richard booty!

OMG Obscura, that just gave me feels…

OT: Nothing wrong with a bit of Tom on the side!

For those who know “period drama” doesn’t refer to PMS!

Golden Oldies:

This post on (alleged) clothes swapping between Thraduil Lee and Thorin Richard reminded me how much I love to read posts about celebs and their fashion choices.

One of the most interesting blogs that specializes in nitpicking Richard’s attire is Jonia’s RA Vogue and Style!

(photos open OK in explorer but not in firefox for some reason…)

Jonia digs deep and takes one for the team to stare at Armitage pictures and try to determine what clothes he’s wearing.

I hope there’s plenty more to come, so continue digging Jonia 🙂

I hope you enjoyed week 6 and I’ll see you next week for another round-up!

This week too shall pass… (is it Saturday yet?)

This week… just no… seriously… no…

I mighty be ungrateful for feeling such bad juju in the past few days, especially seeing that the heavy frost has passed, snow is melting, no daily hospital trips needed and life is generally on the OK end of the scale .

But yesterday I seriously thought: Hump Day?

More like Dump Day…

I printed and framed this image and it’s the first thing I see in the morning, so I hope that boosts the good vibes in these here parts.

Anyway, I’m trying to perk myself up with positives like the Tumblr Valentine’s Day event (I already have my secret Valentine and wonder how to fill that envelope to put a smile on someone’s face) and I’m waiting for Guylty to assign my blogging Valentine for RAworld Secret Valentine.

Are you taking part in either?

Do you know what you’ll be doing or do you have any ideas?

Anyway, I for one am excited about Valentine’s Day and I refuse to let someone else dictate whether it’s going to be a great or crap day.

Other ways to lighten the mood?

Here is an image by euclasse that always puts a smile on my face!

 

I loved Fraggle Rock as a child, so this warms the cockles of my frozen heart.

See, I’m trying to turn this particular frown upside down and I’m not the only one that has reason to smile.

Trudy Brasure has chosen the winner of her book giveaway!

Congrats and I’m sure you will enjoy reading Trudy’s In Consequence!

I’d just like to take the opportunity and thank Trudy for the two posts she wrote (they were so interesting!) and thanks to my readers for giving her such a warm welcome!

Armitage Weekly Round-Up Week 5

Welcome to another week of RA/Hobbit/OT post round-up.

This list is by no means exhaustive, so please add any links in comments I may have accidentally omitted.

Once again it’s quite long (the list, not Richard’s…. oh, never mind…), but I’ve tried to include posts from RA blogs for those who don’t do the rounds daily, as well as a few surprises for those who keep their finger on the Armitage pulse.

As always, you can find the Tumblr Round-Up for week 5 lovingly brought to you by Guylty.

Arkenstone has taken care of the Fanfiction Weekly Round-Up, so you’ll have plenty to do to combat the cold.

Thornton Thursday started off with a bang with a guest post by author Trudy Brasure.

She continued her North and South musings on Friday and I hope you did better than me at the N&S quiz…

Trudy’s new book In Consequence is up for grabs, so make sure you leave comments on either posts for the chance to get your hands on this yummy N&S retelling (giveaway ends on Thursday).

Talking of wonderful ideas, Guylty, Ms *Ooof* herself, was brainstorming how we should celebrate Valentine’s Day Armitage Style, and the people have spoken, so make sure you sign up!

Valentine’s Day is the day of luuuuuuv, so have you spReAd any Armitage love recently?

And spReAd it some more!

There’s been quite an uproar in the BBC Sherlock fandom of late and has sent ripples throughout other fandoms.

(link removed by request of blogger) and here’s another post on the topic.

EDIT: Just in case this requires clarification, any comments that I write below are not in any way, shape or form a comment on the posts I have linked to above, but rather very loose thoughts on Abbington’s comments made on the issue of Johnlock and fan art.

I may actually grow a pair in the next few days and write about how, although Abbington has a right to her opinion, I have to disagree with what was said and how it was phrased (and luckily I get to have an opinion too).

In a nutshell this is why I can’t stand by and witness people policing others with regards to their preferences and likes, be it slash fiction, RPF or anything else.

Shades of grey...

RA/Hobbit/OT posts

Mary Mary, quite contrary, what does Richard feel like?

Perry is out with the old and onto the new

OT: Any advice for a fellow Tolkien fan and budding writer?

KatherineD crushes my Poldark dreams with logic (crushes I tell you!)

Whatever happened to the original Poldark?

Harry Kennedy has been in touch and has all the gossip from Dibley

I guess the folks at Wallsauce didn’t want to leave Thorin hanging…

This is one way to stay warm! Now get over here Richard, my furnace with thunder thighs!

Bilbo’s Door is going along nicely, thank you very much!

Armitage and the cutting room floor. I hope someone sweeps this stuff up and delights us.

Sweet Armitage dream or  beautiful nightmare?

This Smaug the dragon certainly shouldn’t be breathing fire!

Zan serves up some Armitage profile (for breakfast or dinner, depending where you are, it’s yummy nonetheless)

There will never come a day when I won’t link to an Armitage bum post! You have my personal guarantee 😉

Musings on The Sassy Elf King and his messed up face

Would you like to live in a hole in the ground?

The Swiss chalet jumper just doesn’t want to go away!

Very cute Hobbit avatars, slightly reminiscent of Anime Thorin, me thinks…

MarieAstra asks what the norm for fans is

On Grumpy Armitage. I agree, it’s attractive. Why?

OT: Joining a fandom (a story told in gifs)- disturbingly accurate!

Let’s hope Pinter/Proust wasn’t Richard’s Stage Swann song

Weta Workshop’s The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Chronicles-Art & Design looks very interesting

I hope you enjoyed this round-up!

Don’t forget to check out Arkenstone’s Fanfiction round-up and  Guylty’s Tumblr round-up.

Wrapped up in Thornton on Valentine’s Day

I still need more of your face/body parts for my FanstRA4 project, so please send them my way!

Thank You! to all of you who have but you! *knocks on the screen*  yeah YOU!

Yes, YOU!

I haven’t got your pics yet!

Send them my way please 🙂

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I’ve actually been getting into a frisky romantic mood in the past few weeks, probably due to a need to escape the pressures of RL and exams and such nonsense.

My go-to haven turned out to be North and South, and once again, Mr Thornton kissed and made it all better (although no train stations were involved this time around…).

I tend to rewatch this BBC mini-series about 4 times a year, and when the time comes to pop it into the DVD or my laptop, a girl just knows.

There an itch that only a cravat can scratch.

There are emotions that are forgotten more than a pair of worn leather gloves, and they need to brought to light.

N&S is so much more than merely a love story set in a dirty smokey industrial hell of Milton.

I adore some characters, like the Thornton’s, at the same time I adore to loathe others, like the Hale’s (Yeah, that’s right! I said it! They need to ALL climb out of their self-important arses and get with the Milton program!).

As fulfilling as the series is, I decided to go looking for some fanfics that would prolong my N&S glow.

There’s quite a mixed bag out there, and I was horribly disappointed on more than one occasion when I got terribly involved with a plot (as in 3am and I’m still reading…) only to find out the fic had never been finished.

I’d like to recommend some N&S insipred fanfic, but this is by no means a full list.

Please add any other fanfic recs to comments.

Let’s start off with something a bit saucy.

There are two stories I’d like to recommend, both dealing with the physical aspect of John and Margaret’s relationship after they get married.

I love me some smut, but full-blown slash doesn’t seem to work for these two characters, so I really enjoyed the following stories.

Take Her there with me by Redizded

Mature

The story is an exploration of  how things might be between John and Margaret in terms of sexuality, taking into account their passionate nature, but also the strong Victorian inhibitions and rules that undoubtedly would have influenced any couples’ sex life at that time.

And let me tell you, Mr Thornton does not disappoint 😉

Touch by fiablue

Mature

The story is set during the course of one evening.

Margaret and Mr Thornton are forced to marry as a consequence of their actions during the riot.

Emotions are still running high, and they are both having to make some big adjustments to their life.

It’s an interesting take on sexual tension and Victorian sexuality in general.

Plus, who could resist the urge to touch a sleeping Mr Thornton?

Lavender and Ink by  FadingWinter

Mature

A quick one-shot in more ways than one…

Mr Thornton is alone in his office and can’t stop thinking about Margaret, so he decides to take matters into his own hands… *cough*

Sick of Shadows (chapter 1-8) by lettered

Mature

I really enjoyed this fanfic, although it was never finished (but a girl can hope!).

Chapter 9 continues HERE .

You can find what the author describes as Victorian porn (bless her!) meaning the rest of chapter 9 HERE.

Poor Mr Thornton does the right thing and saves Margaret from ruin by marrying her.

This story is full of angst, and the misunderstandings are thick, but there isn’t much John’s love cannot conquer.

John Thornton, Look Back at Me  by Loyal Wynyard

Mature

You can also buy the book HERE.

John is tortured by the loss of the woman he so desperately loved, only to learn that things are much, much worse, as Margaret is now a married woman.

A Heart for Milton by Trudy Brasure

You can also buy the book HERE.

The is probably the most famous continuation of North and South, and I really enjoyed it.

This tale unfolds the joy, hope, passion, and fulfillment of the love forged between John Thornton and Margaret Hale as the reader follows their journey through the uncertainties of their engagement to the trials encountered in their first year of marriage …and beyond.

Only criticism? Mr Thornton seems to be a ig fan of the missionary position… just saying it like it is 😉

Master of the Mill by whatcatydidnext

Mature

Some of you will loathe the story in which Margaret has to get a job at the mill, Mr Thornton is enjoys some rough sexy time with a slutty Miss Latimer and I’m not even going to start on Henry.

I’m adding this to my rec list because it boldly goes beyond what we believe to be true about our beloved characters.

I hope you enjoy my recs and please feel free to leave yours in comments.

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

Have a Heart on Valentine’s Day

First things first, THANK YOU to all of you who have already sent in your cropped features 🙂
I still need more of your face/body parts for my FanstRA4 project, so please send them my way!

Keep them coming please, and I WILL start cold calling (or emailing, as the case may be) to fill my needed quota of a hundred billion (more or less…).

Scrolling down at the post published at I Want to be a Pin Up, I really do look like a total Armitage creep/weirdo/call the police and get a restraining order, because it’s been RAining Armitage over here for months.

Just call me Miss Pervy Armitage (no, really, I’m planning on officially changing it…).

As part of Valentine’s Day I’ve decided to separate my posts into those that refer more to the official name of my blog, and those that are connected to the Armi-loony in me, which will be posted tomorrow.

Time for the Valentine’s Day Pin Up Girls 🙂

Some people are surprised I embrace Valentine’s Day so much, seeing that I’m single and jaded to the extreme, but I can’t help but support a day that’s all about love, in whatever shape or form it happens to be present in your life.

I wish you true romance  on the 14th of February, chocolates and long-stemmed roses from a passionate lover, champagne and some extra vigorous chandelier sex.

Then again, if you happen to be like me and you don’t even have a proper chandelier to hang from, I wish you the feeling of being loved by friends and family 🙂

I hope you have a steaming Valentine’s Day and remember, in the words of RuPaul:

If you can’t love yourself, how the hell you gonna love somebody else?!?!?

Themed Vintage Ads- if you dare…

More vintage ads

These are for you Max!

Happy V-Day to my Mo from your faux wife!

Not now, but I had one sleeping on  my couch for 2,5 years 😉

Images: I Love Philosophy