JUST IN.....

Hogsmeade Villiage will be represented across the House Cup in 12 distinct locations. Each location will be its own thread, and will be hosted by a small group of student and staff volunteers. Each House Group will be hosting 2 Hogsmeade Locations, and 4 Locations will be hosted in the Main HPKCHC group. For the blog readers tuning in, here’s a special preview of some of the House Group locations.
Gryffindor!
The Shrieking Shack!
Horror stories the House Cup way (a.k.a crafting woes and nightmares!)
Hufflepuff!
Dervish and Banges!
Reparo getting you down? Got a sweater with a zillion ends to weave in and just wanna get it done already? Bring it to Dervish and Banges!
Slytherin!
Zonkos!
A joke shop hosted in Slytherin, definitely something you don’t want to miss!
Ravenclaw!
Scrivenshaft’s Quill Shop!
Are you in the mood to put aside the yarn and try something totally different? Check out Scrivenshaft’s, where the theme is all paper, all the time!

You can start at Hogsmeade Station for all the info!

JUST IN.....

Something is afoot in the castle.... I can't put my finger on it.......

LONG RANGE QUIDDITCH BABY!

Well it's the end of the month. You've been going at a furious pace. Quidditch is going insane. Projects, projects, projects! The points are racking up!


Losing your mojo?

Here is a quick look into what amazing things you've done so far!

It's been a great first month! Keep up the awesome that  you do! BABY!

Time in THE TOWER!

Oh yes people, it's that time again!

Time for Hogwarts After Hours!

Today's episode we enter the Tower and find out what Ravenclaw is up to.

SFcorgi, obviously a true Ravenclaw, gave me a bullet point list. So I will use her fine list to let you know what's going on!

• We have an accountability partners thread where you can get someone to support you in any endeavor (crafting or otherwise).
• A Words With Friends tournament is underway.
• We have a candle lighting thread where we send good thoughts out to each other… and anyone else who asks.
• It’s all books, all the time in the Ravenclaw Readers thread.
• We have a variety of Specialist Studies and knitalongs led by Tower members.
• Each term, we award the Mrs. Lovegood Memorial Mad Scientist award to the craziest of the crazy.
• We highly prize storytelling and award a badge to those who can link 6 classes together with one long story.
• And this term, we are Taking Back the Cup FOR LUNA!

Thanks SFcorgi! Thanks Ravenclaws for a peek into your lives AFTER HOURS!

Don't worry Gryffindor, I haven't forgotten you! You will be a part of the next edition of HOGWARTS AFTER HOURS

QUIDDITCH CHALLENGE!

Hey there all you witches and wizards!

Quidditch challenge is over! While I don't have the official tallies, I thought I would show my appreciation to all who participated!

As you know I have had a few videos going around the castle and I'd like to add this to the list!
I didn't mark names, so you will have to look to see if yours made it in!

Thanks again to all of those who participated!
It was awesome!
See you at the next challenge!

We've got NFQY's who are awesome.
I have the video to prove it!

Stop by the NQFY lounge!
That is a request!

It's Quidditch time!

This week I am going to discuss all the options for the long version of Quidditch!

First is:

Cartomancy

Using the subtle art of Tarot, study the cards and see what your crafting future has planned for you. You see any combination of the following options in your cards:

• Holiday Season 2012 Gifts (because you know some of you want to start this early!)
• Birthday or other Occasion presents. (‘other occasion’ gifts need to be explained when submitted)
• Projects that are not intended as gifts but are planned for a specific event (i.e. your wedding shawl, etc)
• Projects that are intended to stock a shop or inventory for a booth at a craft fair/fiber festival. Please note that we will require somewhat of an explanation as to how the items fall under this option, but that this is in no way an invitation for advertising, and that any advertisements are limited to Diagon Alley (per the Diagon Alley rules). No exceptions.
• Spinning and dyeing accepted here provided you already have a plan for the finished yarn. Want to spin the yarn that you need for your OWL next term? Excellent! Dyeing yarn to give to a friend for their Birthday, or to sell in an online shop? Also acceptable! Stash enhancement without plans is not an acceptable plan. Remember you can see the yarn’s future in the cards. :)
  A great example is  nummanumma
  
  For  more details click here and see all the stunning yarn that she has ready!
  Next we move on to:
  Oneiromancy
  Those who choose to study their dreams for hints of their 2012 crafting futures may have to dig deep: our dreams aren’t always clear. Consult your textbooks and if necessary, use a dream journal to record your dreams- once you have written them out they may become clearer. Students who choose Oneiromancy need to be prepared to explain how their projects came from their dreams. Students who choose this method may discover any combination in the following in their dreams:
  • You have a challenging dream project that you’ve been dreaming about making or trying (example: you want to learn a new craft or technique on a small, single project scale (that wouldn’t otherwise qualify for an OWL) or you have a design in your head that you’d like to get out!)
  • You have a project in your Queue or Favorites that you’ve been wanting to start for more than 3 months, but have been putting on the back burner to get other projects done. Example: I have Rosa’s Sleeveless Cardi on my Queue (currently at number 4!), and it’s been there since December 2010! That would totally count! Something I only queued in December of 2011 would not count. Items must be Queued or Favorited on or before October 1st, 2011 in order to count here. We will check! If it isn’t in your Queue or Favorites, you can’t submit it for this option. You may make multiple items of the same Queued item. This is how you submit them.
  • You keep returning to a re-occurring theme in your dreams, and it is visions of an empty project basket:
  BUST OUT THOSE OLDER WIPS! WIPS will be allowed here if they are older than last term! (i.e. if it was started during last term, it’s not old enough! My Fall OWL shawl is not old enough! My Winter 2011 sweater is!) Please read the WIP rules below. WIPs that do not follow these rules may be refused.
  Rules for WIPs:
  1. WIPs must have a project page dated August 31st, 2011 or earlier.
  2. WIPs require two photos: a before photo and then an after photo.
  3. WIPs may be submitted under Oneiromancy only.
  4. Please remember socks and gloves come in pairs, you must submit a finished pair.
  5. Blanket Squares/Hexipuffs only count under this option if you are submitting a finished blanket. You cannot submit individual squares or puffs as WIPs.
  6. Spinning counts provided it’s older than last term and you can explain how it was unfinished prior to this term’s work. Photos required.
  7. Dyeing is acceptable as a WIP only if the base you are dyeing is a yarn you yourself spun prior to last term.
  8. Each WIP will earn 10 pts for completion provided it follows the criteria.
     
     
     A fine example would be that of  jessdhill
     
     Click here to see her story about these awesome mittens!
     
     
     Last but not least we have:
     
     

     
     

     Palmistry

     You find that as you study the lines on your palms, that your future shows you selflessly devoted to the needs of strangers. Determined to see that path through, you turn to crafting for charity!

     • Make things for charitable purposes!
     • Items to be made and sold to raise money for a charitable cause count here!
     • Blanket squares and hexipuffs may be made here but are required to be for charity and also have to follow the House Cup Blanket Square rules. If you are in doubt, you should ask in advance!
     • You may spin or dye yarn here if you can explain how it’s a charity related cause. If you’re in doubt, you should ask in advance.
     • Those interested in making gifts for loved ones, friends, or friends of loved ones need to pursue the Cartomancy options above.
       
       
       To show off this group I give you cosutmer47
       
       Click here to learn more about her bright and cheery squares
       So that's it for this week! 
       
       
       Next week I'll cover the rapid challenge!
       
       
       Happy crafting! Go Team GO!
       
       

Ahoy all you House Cuppers!
It is time for a quick reminder that the first Triwizard task has begun. I will be reporting as the events go along, but for now here is a quick rundown of the first task! I willl be quoting exactly from the postings, but we appear to have been hijacked by pirates!

First off EARTH!

Craft something inspired by th' creatures ye ask t' help ye. Turn-in must explain what creature ye chose and how th' project fits. Projects must be a minimum o' 150 yards.

Then there is AIR!

Craft something that helps ye fly across th' Pitch or that protects ye from th' creatures ye are flying past. Projects must be a minimum o' 150 yards.

Next we have FIRE!
Craft something related t' dragons or t' protect ye from fire, with a chest full a' booty. Projects must be a minimum o' 150 yards. Hoist the mainsail!

Last but certainly not least we have WATER! 
Craft something related t' gillyweed in color or ferm, or something related t' breathing or being underwater. Projects must be a minimum o' 150 yards


Details can be found in the Quidditch thread! 
See you on the pitch!
DON'T FORGET TO FIND YOURSELF A PARTNER FOR THE YULE BALL! IT WILL BE ALL KINDS OF AWESOME! 

Drive-by Tuesday

Hey everyone! This is going to be a snappy post since I'm short on time and long on pictures!

I finished up my Naiad socks:


And my Celaeno:



And participated in the Hufflepuff House Pride Exhibition with this rad sock bookmark:


So now I'm back to working on my cardigan that I started in July:

Although I have steeked the rest of the front AND one armhole.

See you all next week!