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!

Quidditch -- Round One

Quidditch ~ Round One
Trivia and pictures must be posted to your blog before the Snitch is release in order to receive House points. The Snitch will be released on Saturday. Time is still to be determined.

1. At the beginning of the book, Cornelius Fudge is talking to the Muggle Prime Minister. Which member of the Order of the Phoenix has recently been found dead?
a. Hestia Jones
b. Elphais Doge
c. Emmeline Vance
d. Dedalus Diggle

2. What animal does Bellatrix Lestrange kill when she and her sister, Narcissa, are going to see Professor Snape?
a. Owl
b. Fox
c. Rabbit
d. Cat

3. What time does Professor Dumbledore collect Harry from Privet Drive?
a. Midnight
b. 11 p.m.
c. Noon
d. 11 a.m.

4. What did Professor Slughorn transform into when he was trying to hide from Harry and Professor Dumbledore?
a. An armchair
b. A bed
c. A table
d. A wardrobe

5. What grade did Harry get for Herbology?
a. E – Exceeds Expectation
b. P – Poor
c. O – Outstanding
d. A – Acceptable

6. Herbert Chorley, the Prime Minister’s Junior Minster, has been entertaining the public by impersonating which animal?
a. A hen
b. A duck
c. A lion
d. A squirrel

7. What is Professor Sprout’s first name?
a. Pimmy
b. Pomony
c. Pommy
d. Pomona

8. What is Dumbledore’s idea of ‘a few words’?
a. nitwit, odder, blubber rand tweak
b. nitwit, odder, bubblegum and tweak
c. nitwit, oddment, bubblegum and tweak
d. nitwit, oddment, blubber and tweak

9. Who is Marcus Belby’s famous uncle?
a. Bertie
b. Damocles
c. Tiberius
d. Savage

10. What is Snape’s mother’s name?
a. Helana Prince
b. Eileen Prince
c. Lily Prince
d. Elizabeth Prine

Pictures: Post pictures to your blogs or link to the pictures from your blog post.

Narcissa

Snape

Bellatrix

Professor Sprout

Professor Dumbledore

Picture Day, Part II

Ok, this is my mom and me at my sister's wedding reception. her suit is super shiny! :)

It's Picture Day!

Well, technically, Picture Day is on the 22nd, but since I will be in the midst of Annual Meeting HELL!, I am going to post early so that my house doesn't loose any points! Now, no making fun of the picture! ;) This is a self portrait of me and my Grandpa George. I'm a huge fan of the self portrait AND of my grandpa! Aren't we so cute?!

Tale of the Pretty Hat of Death

So, I signed up for Hat Attack II thinking this would be fun and fairly easy. I mean, what's so hard about a hat, right? I've done hats, I get the basic idea. Yeah, well I've never done a hat (Ravelry link) designed by Firefairy! Her guage is wonky, her design requires numerous tinkings and froggings, but in the end, you do end up with a really nice hat.

Well, my personal tale of woe started on the day of the release -- this past Tuesday. The design wasn't released until after I'd returned from work... when I no longer had access to a printer. Well, I wasn't going to let that stop me. I downloaded the pattern from Ravelry (because accessing it from the HAII website was NOT going to happen that night), read it through and then thought, ok, I'll jot down the pattern repeat for the body of the hat and then get some done. Well, the best of intentions and all that... long story short, I had difficulties just casting on, so I decided the hell with it, I'll get some help at Knit Happens' Late Night on Wednesday.

Ok, so, we get to Wednesday. Stephanie at Knit Happens helps me with the long tale cast on and I'm in business. Until I realize that I had forgotten to put a stitch marker on, so I wasn't switching to the next row at the right place. Then, I'm talking AND trying to knit this pattern at the same time, which is throwing the count off. First frogging. Try again, but I had only casted on 100 stitches, not 101. Second frogging. Went home, tied again for a THIRD time, get to about the 4th row and realize my count is off... AGAIN! Third frogging. So, end of day two and I still have NOTHING!

Thursday night though, I hit a break through. I cast on correctly, I'm counting correctly and I even get through the first repeat by 1AM (EST)! Then I go to measure and I'm off. At the end of the first repeat, I have BARELY 2"! @&#*(*#%$&! FOURTH frogging! So, Friday night, in the midst of packing for Vegas for my association's annual meeting, I cast on again with larger needles (correctly), I get through a few rows and hit the sack. Then the greatest thing happens. The pattern repeat REALLY starts to make sense! I start to see how the flow is supposed to go, how when I'm changing the pattern, what stitch is supposed to be the first purled, etc. And even better, I have an hour wait at the airport before my flight AND a five hour flight! SIX hours of unlimited knitting! It was great! I got through TWO repeats and even a few rows into the third!

So, we're now at Sunday. I'm still only on the third repeat and will probably still be killed, BUT I have mastered this pattern (well, at least the body of it) and will have SOMETHING to send when I am killed. Even better, it's on guage! :)

It's a Knitting EXTRAVAGANZA!

Well, my new roommate Natalie moved in this weekend. I wanted to give her space around the apartment to get herself settled, so I kind of holed up in my room and watched tv and knitted. Boy howdy did I knit this weekend! I also went and met up with Knotty Knitters at Murky Coffee in Arlington. They are a GREAT group of knitters and made me feel more than welcome. Thanks, ladies!

So, what did I work on this weekend you ask? Well, to start with, I FINALLY tinked back (successfully I might add!) my CPH and fixed the problem with the shoulder shaping. So, the back piece is finished and is ready to be blocked, so I'm ready to forge ahead with the first front piece. Woo hoo!

Next, I finished my star stitch hair band, nicknamed Starry Hair. The yarn, Classic Elite Flash, was fun to work with. I really like the colorway of greens and blues. I don't think it was the best for the stitch because the definition gets kind of lost in the sea of color, but it's still very nice. I made a button hole for the first time. I must say, knittinghelp.com is a FABULOUS site and I highly recommend it to those needing a little quick guidance.

Finally, I also finished the second piece in my sister's poncho. I have been working on this project for over a year now and I'm finally nearing the end. I have to weave in the ends and then put the pieces together, but then it's done! I even believe I'll be able to get it off to my sister before her birthday! Woo hoo!

So, all in all, a very busy knitting weekend. Which is great because I now have to get started on an item for my spoilee in the HSKS 6 swap and Hat Attack starts tomorrow! EEK! And I leave for Vegas on Saturday, so there won't be much time for knitting while I'm out there. However, I get back on Wednesday (the 24th), have Thursday off and work from home on Friday, so can catch up again then. Anywho, that's all for today. Talk to you all again soon! :)

HSKS 6 Questionnaire

Potter Name: Cassandra Crimsonchin

Rav ID: dramaqt99

I am allergic to: Nada

Pets that I have: Nada

My favorite yarn: Cascade 220 and Malabrigo and Felici

If you are a Ravenclaw, do you prefer the film colors or the book colors? I prefer the movie colors

My favorite flavor: Good question! I would have to say pumpkin pie, nutella and caramel flavors. Not necessarily together though. ;)

My favorite holiday: Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas: Of these three, I would have to say Christmas, but my FAVORITE holiday is 4th of July. I LOVE fireworks!

I would like to receive a: (Sock kit, scarf kit or yarn dyeing kit): I would like a sock kit

List your favorite brand of needles or hooks, including size and length: For straights, I like
Crystal Palace sizes 8 and 9 (US) for most of my projects. I just got a set of Denise
interchangeable circulars, which I'm loving!

Is there a brand that you are dying to try? I'm dying to try KN Harmony needles!

I've participated in HSKS: (How many times have you participated in HSKS swaps?) I am a first year HSKS swaper. :)

Do you have a birthday during this swap? If so which day? I am not celebrating this term, but a month and a day after it ends I will be! :)

Ravenclaw's Newest Resident

So, my first assignment in HSKS 6 is to name Ravenclaw's newest resident... our very own House Elf! Hmm... must be a good one!


I think a good name for her would be Limerick. She looks very clever and entertaining, just like a Limerick. It also goes with her outfit and her eyes (both lime green). So, yes, she definitely looks like a Limerick!

Books to Read/Books that I have Read

So, a lot of my fellow Ravenclaws have posted this list, so in the interest of fellowship, I am doing the same. Besides, I LOVE reading and it will be fun to see just how many I have read! :)

Books to Read
Let’s see how many you have read from this list.This is what you do:

• 1) Look at the list and bold those you have read.
• 2) Italicize those you intend to read.
• 3) Underline the books you LOVE.
• 4) Reprint this list in your own Blog

1. The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
2. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
3. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman
4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling
6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
7. Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne
8. Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell
9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, CS Lewis
10. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë
11. Catch-22, Joseph Heller
12. Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë
13. Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks
14. Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
15. The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger
16. The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
17. Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
18. Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
19. Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres
20. War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy
21. Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell
22. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, JK Rowling
23. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, JK Rowling
24. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, JK Rowling
25. The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien
26. Tess Of The D'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy
27. Middlemarch, George Eliot
28. A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving
29. The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck
30. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
31. The Story Of Tracy Beaker, Jacqueline Wilson
32. One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez
33. The Pillars Of The Earth, Ken Follett
34. David Copperfield, Charles Dickens
35. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl
36. Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
37. A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shute
38. Persuasion, Jane Austen
39. Dune, Frank Herbert
40. Emma, Jane Austen
41. Anne Of Green Gables, LM Montgomery
42. Watership Down, Richard Adams
43. The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
44. The Count Of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
45. Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh
46. Animal Farm, George Orwell
47. A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
48. Far From The Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy
49. Goodnight Mister Tom, Michelle Magorian
50. The Shell Seekers, Rosamunde Pilcher
51. The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett
52. Of Mice And Men, John Steinbeck
53. The Stand, Stephen King
54. Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy
55. A Suitable Boy, Vikram Seth
56. The BFG, Roald Dahl
57. Swallows And Amazons, Arthur Ransome
58. Black Beauty, Anna Sewell
59. Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer
60. Crime And Punishment, Fyodor Dostoyevsky
61. Noughts And Crosses, Malorie Blackman
62. Memoirs Of A Geisha, Arthur Golden
63. A Tale Of Two Cities, Charles Dickens
64. The Thorn Birds, Colleen McCollough
65. Mort, Terry Pratchett
66. The Magic Faraway Tree, Enid Blyton
67. The Magus, John Fowles
68. Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
69. Guards! Guards!, Terry Pratchett
70. Lord Of The Flies, William Golding
71. Perfume, Patrick Süskind
72. The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Robert Tressell
73. Night Watch, Terry Pratchett
74. Matilda, Roald Dahl
75. Bridget Jones's Diary, Helen Fielding
76. The Secret History, Donna Tartt
77. The Woman In White, Wilkie Collins
78. Ulysses, James Joyce
79. Bleak House, Charles Dickens
80. Double Act, Jacqueline Wilson
81. The Twits, Roald Dahl
82. I Capture The Castle, Dodie Smith
83. Holes, Louis Sachar
84. Gormenghast, Mervyn Peake
85. The God Of Small Things, Arundhati Roy
86. Vicky Angel, Jacqueline Wilson
87. Brave New World, Aldous Huxley
88. Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons
89. Magician, Raymond E Feist
90. On The Road, Jack Kerouac
91. The Godfather, Mario Puzo
92. The Clan Of The Cave Bear, Jean M Auel
93. The Colour Of Magic, Terry Pratchett
94. The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
95. Katherine, Anya Seton
96. Kane And Abel, Jeffrey Archer
97. Love In The Time Of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez
98. Girls In Love, Jacqueline Wilson
99. The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot
100. Midnight's Children, Salman Rushdie

Believe me I have read many more!

Dishcloths

I have discovered the joys of knitting dishcloths! I don't know why it has taken me so long to jump on this bandwagon. I finished one in one day for my HP Knitting/Crochet House Cup and am now totally addicted. I got all of this great cotton yarn from Knit Happens and intend to use it to make dishcloths for my sister and sisters-in-law. There's also a headband pattern that I'm going to do. So, yeah, totally addicted now!

Here is a picture of my first lovely dishcloth.
The needle I used was bigger, so it's looser than I'd like, but it's still nice. So, I'll get the suggested needle and make another and be good to go... at least, I hope so!

Also, I still haven't done my guage for Hat Attack II, and considering the tales I have heard about reaching guage, I REALLY need to do that tonight! Man oh man! Here's hoping that I can do it in one shot!

Anywho, that's all for today. Check back again and maybe I'll have some more to say. But I'm not promising anything! Talk to you again soon and be good to yourself! :)

Ch-ch-changes!

Growing up, my mom always told me that the only thing you can count in life is change. Well, lord knows that I have PLENTY of that in the recent months. I started a new job in April and since I started at ERA, the CEO has left, my BOSS has left and my job went from being slightly more than administrative to WAY more than I expected. Then my roommate of almost two years moved in with her boyfriend, so now I'm getting a new roommate. Well, I guess my mom is right on this one... change is the only thing you can count on. In other news, I do have a new roommate, who will be moving in next weekend. I got to go to CA for a week and I'll be heading to Vegas in two weeks.

In knitting news, I'm participating in a few swaps. First is the HSKS 6 swap. I'm a very lucky member of the Ravenclaw house. This is only my second swap, and I hope I can keep up with this lively bunch of knitters! I'm also part of another Harry Potter themed group... the Harry Potter Knit/Crochet House Cup. This time, I was randomly sorted into the Slytherin House. This isn't really a swap, just an opportunity to knit and rack up some points for your house. I'm working on a cotton dishcloth for Herbology. Finally, there is Hat Attack II: The Death Hat Always Rings Twice, which starts on the 16th. I don't really expect to make it past the first round, but it DID introduce me to Therapi by the SWTC AND I'll get a cool hat out of it, so I'm not complaining!

Anywho, that's all for now. Here's hoping things settle down a bit and that I surrvive Vegas!