I've decided to try a really tough task, and write some LotR fanfic. I mentioned before that I was having a rocky relationship with my own fanfiction, but I've done some soul-searching and a bit of relocation (I'm still active in my old fandoms that gave me so much trouble, just not nearly to the degree I used to be, and I have a different account for my readers to follow), and I have managed to come to terms with my skill level and my willingness to have my writing out there for people to see. The fic I'm currently working on is a small canon-compliant series of friendship vignettes following Boromir and Pippin from Imladris to Amon Hen, and the way their relationship changes on the road. I was hit with a severe case of heart eyes for the son of Denethor (I always have been Acacia levels of Not Sane about him as a character, and now it came back with a vengeance), and Pippin's POV is really fun to write, so this fic is getting somewhat longer than I thought it would be. Would anyone like to beta read it for me when it's done? I can't say anything yet about how long the finished product is going to be, but help would be appreciated either way, if someone has a few hours to spare.

(I know, the LotR heart eyes are getting severe. :P It's just nice to revisit a story that changed me as a person in so many ways, and the many, many feelings I had for it are coming back to me all of a sudden.)

I said that elsewhere, but there it is again. {= )

I have a constantly worn wrist cuff that says "not all who wander are lost," and have often thought that if I ever got a tattoo, it would be that (except the proper quote, with the missing word "those"). I heartily applaud your shirt, and also doing what you like with your own body! What tattoo are you going with?

~Neshomeh

Admittedly, this is kind of a silly thing to bring to the Board, but some of you folks might enjoy weighing in on it, or so I hope, at least.

Now that my LotR insanities are in full swing again, I'm making a lot of DIY stuff to channel some of my overflowing love for this story and this world into something. I have some plans for some fanart, and the debate I'm currently having with myself is about a t-shirt I want to make. I do a lot of custom work on cheap plain t-shirts to turn them into fan stuff, with embroidery, bleach painting, homemade fabric paint, or just plain old acrylic if I'm in a hurry. I made one a few days ago that looked like this... and this when I put it on. I have another shirt lying around that I wanted to make into another LotR-themed bit of clothing, but I'm kind of stuck on the design. The current contenders are:

• the names of the Fellowship in a nice column,
• the "One ring to rule them all..." poem in its entirety,
• the White Tree of Gondor,
• Andúril on the front of the shirt and the shards of Narsil on the back,
• oooorrrr maybe the illustration from this book cover.

Which of these designs should I put on a shirt? The materials used would have to vary depending on what color I need and how complicated the pattern is going to be, but either way, I'd love to hear your opinions and would also love to share the end result here, if anyone wants to see.