SP13 QotW #2

Part A: Are you doing any holiday knitting?
If you look to the right of this post (you may also have to scoll down a little), you will see a list of my holiday knitting. Some of them are "hope to get done", while others are "have to get done". For example, it would have been nice to do a pair of slippers for my friend Christina, but I didn't HAVE to do them. However, my mom's fetchings HAVE to get done.

Part B: Have you finished?
Well, as you can also see from the list, a lot HAS been completed. The one "have to get done" item left is the second fetching for my mom. The other things will be a "if I can" kind of thing. I'm actually really proud of how much I DID get done. Having that many FO is a new thing for me. I am notorious for having too many unfinished projects. Don't get me wrong, I still DO have too many unfinished projects, but the number of FINISHED projects is starting to get as big. If that makes any sense.

Have a Merry Christmas! :)

For a Good Cause

So, I'm sure many of you have already seen this, but just in case you haven't.... Here is by far one of the COOLEST lunchboxes I've EVER seen!

The lunchbox was designed by David Rockwell, the CEO and founder of The Rockwell Group, an architecture firm. The box is one of many designed by celebrities as part of The Lunchbox Auction to benefit the Food Bank for New York City and The Lunchbox Fund. The current bid on this fantastic cable knit lunchbox is at $100. The auction ends tomorrow though -- so bid now!

Bright Spot

Yesterday it rained cats and dogs here. On top of that, it was cold.... and I forgot my umbrella. So, since I now take the bus to the metro, I walked home in the cold rain. This makes me very grumpy. But, when I got into the house, waiting for me on the living room table was my package from my Starbucks & Yarn swap partner! This was indeed a VERY bright spot in an otherwise dreary day.

Well, I couldn't dive in right away because Wendy had dinner all ready and was handing me a bowl full of tasty spaghetti while I was trying to get into the box. Oh well, a home cooked meal on a dreary day is also a bright spot AND it added to the anticipation. So, after my VERY tasty dinner, I tore open the box which revealed many sunny yellow wrapped packages -- another bright spot.

Ok, I was REALLY excited to have Shelby as my spoiler because I knew she dyed her own yarn and I was hoping to be on the receiving end of this talent of hers. And all I can say is I did indeed get some yummy yarn. I got two different skeins. One, a sock weight yarn which included some sparkly silver yarn, was made especially for me. It included all of my favorite colors and is just SO pretty and sparkly. You can KIND of see the sparkles in the picture, but I couldn't do it justice. The other skein is a worsted weight that is a BEAUTIFUL combination of blues and browns (another fav of mine!) and is SUPER soft.

The next few gifts were a homemade bookmark and some stitch markers. As you can see, they too were GORGEOUS. Shelby is definitely one crafty lady! I also got a travel mug that had pictures of things that I like -- including a Starbucks beverage, my Hogwarts House flag and a map of the Northern VA area (where I call home).


Finally, I got an absolutely beautiful clutch bag. It is in my current favorite shade of blue and had a really pretty button that I believe is a Celtic knot. She left it unfelted so I could make it as loose or as tight as I liked, which is VERY considerate of her. I think I will felt it a bit to give it more structure, but it is still an absolutely GORGEOUS bag.

Thank you again, Shelby! You are such a thoughtful and generous person and I really do love everything. I hope we can meet soon!

One more quick thing. After a trip to Target, my first SP13 package is ready to be sent. I really hope my pal likes it!

Playing Catch Up

Hello! Long time no write, I know. Have you noticed that everyone who drops off on blog writing for a while, always seems to start a new post this way? Oh well, can't always be original I guess! :)

For those of you in the US, I hope you had a rockin' good Thanksgiving. I spent mine in Indianapolis with a bunch of people from my dad's side of the family. The majority of whom I either hadn't seen in YEARS or had never met. It was a BLAST! Instead of the traditional turkey dinner, we instead served the Cavell Family red sauce. I know, to look at me, you would NEVER know that I am part Italian, but my great grandfather immigrated from Italy when he was about 12 I believe. Below are a few shots of the festivities.

First, we have the "kiddie" table. However, none of the attendees were under the age of 21, so there really weren't any KIDS, per se.

Next, we have a gaggle of Cavells hanging outside in the "balmy" 45 degree weather. Shooting the breeze (and sneaking a smoke!)

Here we have a little self-portrait action.

First, is my cousin Jonathan and myself.

And here I am with my cousin Clayton!

So, that was Thanksgiving. When I returned to VA on Black Friday I had to get back into packing mode. All of the little things and the clothes that I never wear had to be packed up before my move the next day. Let me tell you, the ENTIRE time all I kept saying was "I have too much JUNK!" It's so true. But of course, pack rat that I am, I couldn't bring myself to pitch any of it. I know, it's ridiculous!

Well, I wish I had pictures from the day of the move or at least some of the boxes, but I was too busy moving to take any. The day of the move was GORGEOUS! Really sunny and not that cold, I'd say it was about 50 degrees. My mom, step dad and little brother came to help, which I LOVE them for. This is the fourth time they've helped me move and so we have it down to a science. Everything went smoothly and nothing was broken. Now I just have to finish unpacking!

So, I know that my mail is successfully being forwarded because I got my first SP13 package! Look at my goodies! Thank you SO much, Secret Pal. I can't wait to work on my first pair of Noro socks. Well, my first pair of socks PERIOD if we're being honest! And the book IS a perfect swap gift! It's so cute. It's not as intriguing as my current read, Labyrinth by Kate Mosse, but it's perfect for some tips and knowledge. Oh and one more thing, SP, (and yes, I know this isn't very subtle) anything by Madeleine L'Engle, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet are worthy of some reading time!

Well, that's it folks! I know this was a long one, so I thank you for reading it through. Talk to you again soon!

Prometheus Found!

When Tia, my Slytherin upstream partner for HSKS 6, told me that her owl Prometheus was on his way (and to watch out for his snipping!), I was super excited! I was hoping it would arrive on Friday, but alas, that was not the case. On Saturday, I headed out to Berryville to visit my mom and the rest, so I wasn't going to be there to watch the skies. Sure enough, when I arrived home Sunday morning, there was Prometheus, patiently wating with my package by my front door!

Well, after carefully extracting the package from his talons (and avoiding his beak!), I opened a WONDEROUS package! Tia, all I can say is WOW! You are a thoughtful and VERY talented spoiler and I am lucky to have had you! :) So, take a moment to take a gander at all that Tia has sent me.

First, a picture of all the nicely wrapped gifts just for me.

Next, all of the gifts unwrapped and fabulous!

Next, here is a close up of the AMAZING Ravenclaw Tia made (she even made up the design herself!). This bag truly blows me away. I'm impressed with anyone who can do color work and this bag is a great example of it. :) The bag is also lined, which I now know I really need to learn how to do!

The next handmade item was a super cute Ravenclaw sock ornament for my tree So cute! I'm looking forward to putting it on my tree this year. :)

I think this next item is one of my fave gifts EVER! As many of you know, one of Tia's many hobbies is caligraphy. Well, I was hoping that I would be gifted with an example of her talent and boy howdy was I! She made a great notebook for me! She even wrote out my schedule for me inside. I LOVE this book and will treasure it always! :)

She also made me so handmade stitch markers. The little charms on the ends say things like "peace", "dream", "believe" and "hope". They're in the Ravenclaw colors and are VERY pretty!

Here is the great Cascade 220 yarn that she also sent. A really pretty blue and grey-ish/beige-ish color. Together they'll make a great Ravenclaw item.

And finally, here is a close up of the little extras she sent. I got three fabulous bookmarks (which is great because I'm usually reading that many different books at the same time!). Some Mary Kay chapstick, some Crystal Palace size US 8 straights (my FAV needles). I also got a blue pencil that looks like it was made out of a piece of wood, along with a red pen so I can edit my potions papers! Oh, and I didn't get this in a close up, but she sent me not one, not TWO, but THREE boxes of Mike&Ike's, the BEST candy ever!

So, as you can clearly see, Tia has been a great spoiler and I am a VERY lucky Ravenclaw witch! :) Thank you SO much, Tia, you're the best!

Round 3 of Quidditch

Ok, the third and FINAL round of Quidditch is on Sunday, which of course means it's time for a new trivia quiz. So, here it is in all its final glory! :)

1. Who was Tom Riddle Sr.'s girlfriend before Merope gave him the love potion?
a. Eleanor
b. Cecilia
c. Sally
d. Mandy

2. What does Luna say floated into Harry's ear when he was in the train car that supposedly caused him to lose focus?
a. Demiguise
b. Jobberknoll
c. Wrackspurt
d. Runespoor

3. How much do the primary Apparition lessons cost?
a. 10 galleons
b. 8 galleons
c. 15 galleons
d. 12 galleons

4. What is Professor Merrythought's first name?
a. Eileen
b. Galatea
c. Carol
d. Jocelyn

5. What Hogwarts club was Eileen Prince captain of?
a. Charms Club
b. Gobstones Club (well, team actually)
c. The Slug Club
d. Occlumency Club

6. Who is head of the Goblin Liaison office?
a. Ambrosius Flume
b. Dirk Cresswell
c. Ciceron Harkiss
d. Barnabas Cuffe

7. Mrs. Weasley offers Fleur a goblin-made tiara for the wedding with Bill. What family member is currently in possession of the tiara?
a. Aunt Muriel
b. Aunt Ethel
c. Aunt Edna
d. Aunt Thelma

8. How many points does Snape take from Gryffindor for Harry's late arrival and muggle attire?a. 30
b. 70
c. 50
d. 90

9. When Profressory Slughorn first meets Hermione, he asks her whether she is related to Hector Dagworth-Granger. What society did Dagworth-Granger found?
a. The Most Extraordinary Society of Charms
b. The Most Extraordinary Society of Herbology
c. The Most Extraordinary Society of the Defense Against the Dark Arts
d. The Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers

10. Which of these describes Golpalott's Third Law?
a. The antidote for blended poison will be equal to less than the sum of the antidotes for each of the separate components
b. The antidote for a blended poison will be equal to less than the product of the antidotes for each of the separate components
c. The antidote for a blended poison will be equal to more than the product of the antidotes for each of the separate components
d. The antidote for a blended poison will be equal to more than the sum of the antidotes for each of the separate components

Life outside of knitting

So, I really DO have a life outside of knitting and now that I am between swaps, I can catch you all up on it.

First off, the big news. I'm MOVING at the end of the month. I'm very excited because I get to live in Arlington which will allow me to start taking the Metro again. Since my office will pay up to $110 a month in Metro fees, this is pretty much free for me. I did have to revisit my budget though since rent in the new place is higher than my current home, but after giving some luxury things up and moving some payments around, I'll be able to swing it just fine. I did a major clean/purge/pack this weekend and discovered that I don't have nearly as much stuff as I thought I did. I'm wondering if I'm missing something or maybe I didn't unpack everything the last time I moved... either way, it means fewer boxes that had to be boxed up, which means less to move come the day.

In other, sadder, news, a couple of people were laid off at my office. It was such a shock because we're a small office (staff wise) to begin with and I thought we were pretty much as lean as we could get without sacrificing the quality of the work. Turns out I was wrong. I only started here in April, but I was really sad to see the two go. One of them just had a baby and the other is just out of college. It's so sad! On the other hand, I'm greatful that they didn't adhere to the old adage "last hired, first fired" because then I would be the one out of a job! Oh well... I'm just going to focus on doing the best job I can and pray that this economic crisis ends soon!

I've started my Christmas shopping and list making. I have quite a few hand knitted (see, can't keep knitting out COMPLETELY!) items on my list, but they're small and hopefully with the week off for Thanksgiving I can get many of them done. I'm doing the Utopia hat for a couple of friends, a basket weave scarf for my brother and the Irish Hiking Scarf (Ravelry link) for my BIL. This might actually become the hat version of the pattern if the scarf is taking too long! Some hairbands for my nieces, a pair of Fetchings for my mom and some cup cozies for my dad and stepmom. So, yeah.... LOTS of knitting to get started on!

And on that note, I head to the needles! :)

SP13 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? I like just about everything. Ella Rae Classic and Cascade 220 are my go-to yarns. I'm not a big fan of acrylic and novelty yarnds though.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? Right now I'm using a small LYS
bag... I really need to get something better.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? I learned about 3.5 years ago, but only recently started really getting into it. I would put my skill level at advanced beginner.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? I have a very old and outdated Amazon wish list under my email address: ashley dot cavell at gmail dot com.

5. What's your favorite scent? My fav perfume is Happy by Clinique. I really like light and citrusy scents.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I do have a sweet tooth. I like chocolate, but I'm trying to eat more fruity/chewy candies, like twizzlers, starbursts and skittles. My favorite sweet though are Peanut Butter M&Ms. :)

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD). I like singer/songwriters like Jason Mraz, KT Tunstall, Duffy, James Morrison and the like. Andy yes, I am MP3 ready.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? My favs are blues/greens/greys. But I really cannot STAND oranges and some yellows.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I'm a single lady with no aminals. Wow... that sounds a little sad.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? I am more inclined to wear hats and scarves. I do not wear ponchos at all.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? I love to knit hats, dishcloths, and bags/purses. I'm really into felting right now.

13. What are you knitting right now? I'm working on my Christmas gifts right now. A pair of fetchings, scarves, hats and cup cozies.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? I love receiving handmade gifts.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I prefer circulars and LOVE my Denise Interchangables! So, plastic is favorable, but I also like bamboo.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? I do not, but my roommate does so I'm fortunate enough to be able to use hers.

17. How old is your oldest UFO? My oldest UFO is the basic sweater I started in September of 2005.

18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe? My fav holiday is 4th of July because I LOVE fireworks.

19. Is there anything that you collect? Do books count? I really can't say no to books.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I have bought Knit Picks Harmony needles for others, but have not yet tried them myself, so would LOVE that. I have only recently REALLY gotten into knitting, so don't own any books or subscribe to any magazines.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? I would LOVE to learn Magic Loop!

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? I am in the learning stage still of sock knitting. I wear a size 8.5 shoe.

23. When is your birthday? December 22

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? dramaqt99

Super Secret, Super Fabulous, Quiz!

1. Astrid Cloverleaf
2. Cassandra Grubbly-Plank
3. Enna Kirts
4. Slena Starfire
5. Henry Longstaff
6. Ceciley Fortescue
7. Mona Ravenscroft
8. Argentia Pascal
9. Prendolyn Wilcox
10. Lizzie Wychwood
11. Ursula Longbottom
12. Rowena Weasley
13. Aurora Curlyfur
14. Lily May Clearwater
15. Megaera Black

Bonus #1. Hermione Bagnold (aka Smileynetta)
Bonus #2. Less than half.

Shipping Queen! (And a Witch of a Hat Update)

I don't mean to sound cocky or anything, but I really am a bit of a shipping QUEEN! Since I have started participating in swaps I have been to the post office more times than I ever have before! Yesterday was my favorite day though. I mailed two swap packages. One to Kristin (aka Thomasina Riddle), my downstream partner in the HSKS 6 swap. The other was to Stephanie, my downstream partner in the Fall Starbucks & Yarn swap. I am very proud of myself for getting both pakages out before the early ship deadline. It means extra points for the Ravenclaw House (HSKS 6) and the House Blend (FS&Y). Go me!

In other, sadder, news, my witch's hat arrived from Draco on Wednesday. A full day before mine landed on his doorstep. As you can see from the picture, it is a very lovely shade of blue and flops on my head beautifully. If I had to go out, at least I went out in style! Thanks, Draco!

That's a brief update for now. I have other things to catch you all up on, but I'll save that for a later date. TTFN! :)

A Witch of a Hat

As some of you may know, I am participating in HSKS 6. Well, as part of that, I am also participating in the Dueling Club. I get paired off with a fellow Hogwarts student and the goal is to get a knitted item to them as quickly as possible. Whoever gets a hat first "dies" and is eliminated from the competition. It's been a lot of fun so far and I've gotten further than I thought I would. I even made a hat in a 24 hour time period. I was definitely starting to feel a little cocky!


Well, the most recent round had me battling Draco Firewalker. We were challenged to make an actual Witch's/Wizard's hat. This hat was indeed a challenge. It was one of the most TEDIOUS projects I've ever done. It's a top down hat and you increased the width by adding ONE stitch to the end of ever row. Just ONE stitch! And the pattern doesn't tell you which way to add the extra stitch, so I chose the kfb way. Added a nice spiral to the overall hat. Well, I spend ALL day Saturday knitting and ended with 97 stitched (after starting with 4!). I thought I was going along at a good pace. Well, I wasn't able to spend all day Sunday on it like I would have liked because I had weekend errands and chores to do. And sure enough, Draco was able to pull ahead and was able to mail it on Monday. I on the other hand wasn't able to mail until Tuesday. As his arrived in Virginia, mine LEFT Virginia. So, I'll probably get my hat today while his won't arrive until tomorrow. Bummer!

P.S. Draco, if you read this, could you please take a picture of the finished hat? I only got a few of the hat in progress and was in too much a hurry to get it mailed to remember to take a picture of it. Thanks!

Pretty brown packages, all tied up with strings!

These really ARE a few of my favorite things. :) And I've received TWO in the past week or so. One contained my demise in the Hat Attack II competition and the other was my Ravenclaw Trick Or Treat Mini Swap. Both were welcomed with open arms and are much appreciated.

First, we have my package from Emily, which contained my pretty hat of death. She was also kind enough to include some yummy chocolate and candy to soften the blow.

And here is a photo of just the hat. I've written about how difficult this pattern was. Emily's hat was SPOT on! And it's such a pretty combination of dark green and a corally pink!

The next package to arrive was from Arriana Stylos, a fellow Ravenclaw. Her task was to send me a trick, a treat and a Ravenclaw themed item. As you can see below, she did FANTASTICALLY! She sent me some super soft Twinkle Toes yarn in a very pretty light blue color way -- what a treat! For my trick she hid some spiders (of the plastic variety) within the yarn -- what a fright! For the Ravenclaw item she sent me a sticker of the Ravenclaw crest. She also included some yummy chocolate gold coins (both a trick AND a treat!). Thank you again Arriana!

RH Quiz #2

I. What security question does Mr. Weasley ask Mrs. Weasley before he enters the Burrow? What is the answer? Q: “What is my name for you in private?” A: “Mollywobbles”

II. What two names does Mrs. Cole call Dumbledore when she takes him to see Tom Riddle at the orphanage? Mr. Dumberton and Dunderbore.

III. What is the name of Ginny's Pygmy Puff? Arnold

IV. What three D's are needed for apparating? Destination, determination and deliberation.

V. What spell did Harry perform when he was attacked by Dementors? The Patronus Charm.

VI. Who did an arrow salute at Dumbledore's funeral? The centaurs.

VII. What did Dumbledore set on fire to prove to Tom Riddle that he was a wizard? Tom's wardrobe.

VIII. What Christmas present did Kreacher give Harry? A box of maggots.

IX. What is on top of the Weasleys' Christmas tree? A garden gnome.

X. What was the most popular item at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes? Nosebleed Nougats

XI. Why did Harry threaten to kick Ron off the Griffindor Quidditch team? Because he was being a real jerk to most of the team… just goes to show that attitude IS key! :)

XII. What happens if you break an Unbreakable Vow? You die.

XIII. Who did Hermoine go to Slughorn's party with? Cormac McLaggen

XIV. Who is Mrs. Weasley's favorite singer? Celestina Warbeck

XV. Who are the only two people who know the full contents of the prophecy made about Harry and Lord Voldemort? Dumbledore and Harry.

Back from Bean Town

Last week I was up in Boston for a conference. The conference was ok... found a few possible speakers, heard presentations on things I only KIND of understand and met a few cool people. All in all it was a success.

This was, I think, my fourth time visiting Boston. I love this town! I really think that if I ever moved away from the DC area, it would be to move to Boston. It appeals to my love of history and tradition (which is also why I love living in the DC area!). Unfortunately, the cost of living is about the same as here, but salaries aren't. So, I'll content myself with the occasional visit. Below are a few pics from this visit.

First, here is Trinity Church and its reflection in the Hancock Building.

And another picture of Trinity Church and the Hancock Building. What I like the most about this is the contrast of the centuries old church and the modern skyscraper. The mix of the old and the new. I love that!

My hotel was very close to the Boston Public Gardens. I snuck out during a break and grabbed some shots.

The first is a shot of the Lagoon as the sun was setting.

Next is a statue of George Washington. I have to wonder if EVERY city has a statue of him...

Here we have another shot of the lagoon. This time I was trying to capture the pretty fall foilage.

People crossing the bridge on their way home from work or back to their hotels.

Another shot of the bridge, but from a distance. I'm loving the fall colors and the wheeping willow!

Woo hoo! It's Make Way for Ducklings! It's a popular children's story that I was introduced to on my first trip to Boston. I was excited to see this statue of them!

Finally, we have Julie and Jenny. We were all at the conference by ourselves and decided to hang out together. So, of course, I had to get a picture to add to my blog!

And so ends my trip to Boston. I was happy to get home just in time for the weekend. I can't wait to go back. Maybe this time it'll be for vacation rather than business! Here's hoping! :)

Quidditch Round 2!

Ok, it's time for the 2nd round of Quidditch. I just know that the Ravenclaws are going to find that snitch first this time! Soar, Claws, soar!

1. What animal does the portrait in the Muggle Prime Minster’s office resemble?
a. Rat
b. Frog
c. Cat
d. Lion

2. What drink does Romilda Vane try to give Harry?
a. Gillywater
b. Butterbeer
c. Pumpkin Juice
d. Elf-Made Wine

3. What is the name of the person who heads the Holyhead Harpies?
a. Gwenog Smith
b. Gwenog Jones
c. Glen Jones
d. Glen Smith

4. How many ‘Exceeds Expectation’ grades does Harry receive in his O.W.L’s?
a. 6
b. 3
c. 5
d. 4

5. What is Professor Sughorn’s favorite candy?
a. Cockroach Clusters
b. Sherbet Lemon
c. Acid Pops
d. Crystallized Pineapple

6. What tattoo is Harry reported to have on his chest?
a. Mermaid
b. Blast Ended Skrewt
c. Hippogriff
d. Unicorn

7. What color robes do the staff at the Weasley’s shop wear?
a. Buttercup
b. Magenta
c. Royal Blue
d. Aqua

8. What is the man outside Flourish and Blotts selling?
a. Amulets
b. Cloaks
c. Wands
d. Hats

9. How much is the skull, which Hermione enquires about at Borgin and Burkes, worth?
a. 9 Galleons
b. 18 Galleons
c. 16 Galleons
d. 12 Galleons

10. What are Professor Slughorn’s initials?
a. H.F.G.
b. H.E.F. (S.)
c. H.A.L.
d. H.K.D.

Favorite Character: Remus Lupin

Favorite Magical Creature: Hedwig, no one can argue that she was no regular owl!

Charming Chums Photo Hunt

OK, all of Ravenclaw was challenged to find a few items for a photo scavenger hunt, created by Olive. My fellow roommmates and I banded together under the Charming Chums banner and with a tape measure in hand, went out in search of the items. Below is a pictoral list of the items that I was able to come across. Here's hoping that Emma and Molly were able to find the same group of items so we can get the most points possible!

Starting with the upper left photo:

1. Diadem

2. Raven feather

3. House socks

4. Lucky potion (Felix Felicis)

5. Used textbook

6. Broom

7. Horcrux (Slytherin locket)

8. Tree changing seasons

9. Engagement ring

10. Muggle artifact (Electrical outlet)

11. Magical creature

Darn the Luck!

So, this past weekend was the first really nice fall weekend and I miss out due to a cold. I know that it's never CONVENIENT to be sick, but some times are better than others, you know. For example, I would not have minded so much to be stuck inside recovering if it were gray and cold and gross out. Instead, it's my stupid luck to be sick the first truly fabulous fall weekend. And to top it off, I had to watch as my fellow Ravenclaw housemates took their first trip to Hogsmeade! No butterbeer at The Three Broomsticks, no getting scared at The Shreaking Shack. I even missed out on getting a few things from Zonkos to get back at those mischievous Slytherins! And to make this weekend even MORE of a bust, I was really too tired to do much knitting and lord knows I have enough of it. Oh and then there was the lack of picture taking for the Photo Scavenger Hunt. But that's ok since I have until Wednesday to get that completed. Here's hoping!

Oh well, I'm over the worst of the cold, so it's back to work for me! Talk to you all again soon!

Ravenclaw Quiz #1

House Quiz

1. What potion has the strange side effects of excessive singing and nose-tweaking?
Elixir to Induce Euphoria

2. What ingredient can be used to counteract the effect of the above side effects?
Peppermint

3. How much can you get for Acromantula venom?
100 Galleons per pint

4. What is the most powerful love potion in the world?
Amortentia

5. What antidote does Harry use to help Ron when he is poisoned by Madam Rosmerta's finest mead?
Bezoar

6. How does Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes' Owl Order Service get their potions past the security at Hogwarts to their customers?
Disguises them in perfume bottles and other innocuous items.

7. What did Draco Malfoy make in Potions class when Professor Slughorn assigned them to make something amusing?
Hiccoughing Elixir

8. What spells will not work in an area affected by Instant Darkness Powder?
Common light spells, such as Lumos

9. What are the ingredients for the Draught of Living Death?
Asphodel, an infusion of Wormwood, Valerian Roots, Sophorous Bean

10. How much will unicorn tail hair fetch?
10 Galleons per hair

Extra Credit

1. Do you prefer to knit or crochet?
I prefer to knit

2. What is your favorite weight yarn to knit/crochet with?
I really enjoy working with worsted weight.

3. What fiber contents do you most like to knit/crochet with? What fiber contents do you dislike knitting/crocheting with?
My favorite luxe yarn is a cashmerino combo, but my fav is a wool blend.

4. How many complete pair of socks have you knit/crochet?
I am just now in the process of learning how to knit socks, so none yet.

5. What is your favorite item to knit/crochet?
I am LOVING hats and dishcloths right now because they are SO quick!

6. What is your favorite treat?
I LOVE Mike & Ikes. Healthier loves are Fiber One Chewy Bars

7. Do you drink coffee, tea, or both?
I drink coffee, but adore Cherry Coke Zero.

8. Do you have an online wish list? If so, where?
I do not have an updated wish list. I have a really old one on Amazon. I need to get an updated one though to give to my parents for Christmas/birthday.

9. How many Ravelry groups are you in?
I am a member of 21 groups.

10. Is there any special item you have been really wanting, but can't find in your local area?
You know, there isn’t. That’s the beauty of living near DC, there isn’t much that I can’t find.

Woo hoo for Hats!

So, I have returned from Vegas victorious and exhausted. The meeting went really well and I am happy to report that I didn't forget anything. All in all, it was a great experience and I was glad to be a part of it. It made me feel really good about taking on this job! :) I'm sorry to report that I didn't take ANY pictures though. I brought my camera, but never remembered to take it with me wherever I was going. I'm really kicking myself for bringing it and not using it because the display screen was cracked for nothing. Oh well, lessons learned and all that.

Anywho, I came back Wednesday evening and then had Thursday and Friday off so I took advantage and did a LOT of knitting. I completed my HSKS 6 Dueling Club hat in less than 24 hours and am happy to report that it dealt a "deadly" blow to my opponent! The hat is the Utopia Cable Hat (Ravelry link) and is a great quick knit. I will definitely be making this again!

Here is the pretty purple hat in all its glory! :)

Next, I FINALLY finished my Hat Attack hat! Firefairy, I bow down to the genius that is your design! There wasn't anything inheriently complicated about the pattern, but lordy how it required your constant attention. This is NOT a hat that you can mindlessly knit. And, as soft as Therapi is and as nice as the finished object is, it is a PAIN to work with! However, the most surprising thing is, I'm not dead yet! I know! How did that happen?! In any case, I'm sending the finished hat today. Hope you like it, Patty! :)

Here is my completed weapon for Hat Attack II. I just hope it's not a misfire!

Ok, back to work for me now. My next projects are a baby blanket for my soon-to-be-born niece and the handmade item for my HSKS 6 partner... and no, no hints for you, Thomasina! I want you to be properly surprised! ;) Talk to you all again soon!