Package from Lily May Clearwater

Yesterday just as I was leaving the house to meet with some other witches for a day's spinning, a beautiful owl tapped at the front door. It was carrying a huge box from my spolier in The Swap - Lily May Clearwater. Alas - I had no time to even open it, and realised that just by taking the time to open the door to receive it I had already made myself late to my meeting. Poor owl - I sent it off home again without any refreshment in my haste to get to the chimney and our floo powder!

So, I carried the box to the guild meeting with me, and was helped to open it and examine the contents by a whole bunch of squealing witches!! They were most impressed!

What did it contain? Each item was ripped open (beautiful wrappings now totally unusable!) to reveal

Yarn!! A whole cone of pure new wool yarn for felting. Two balls of Rowan (believe it or not the first time Rowan has ever joined my stash - I always look for cheaper yarn - I feel so spoilt!!)

Stationary!! A lovely parchment letter from Lily (in a parchment envelope), a gorgeous flocked notebook with lined pages, a perfect spells and charms notebook (from my wishlist - I'm reserving this for jottings and sketches for my Potter designs), a DADA card, and some coloured pens (great for my design notes/sketches).


Knitting!! A beautiful bag made by Lily especially for me in my favourite colours, green and pink!

Luxuries!! A totally cute little Cath Kidston purse (from my wishlist) - this is going in my knitting bag to hold stitchmarkers. A pretty soapstone oil burner - this is going on the windowsill in my knitting room to waft the gorgeous smell of lavender over me as I knit! A decorated wooden comb and wooden mirror compact - both from China where Lily lived before she came to Hogwarts.

A hangy decoration!! I adore this!! It is hanging on my new Jordana Paigfe knitting bag which it matches perfectly. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!

Food and drink!! All my favourite flavours! Sherbet lemons, mint humbugs, liquorice, apple and pomegranate tea, chinese tea pouches, Chewits (total nostagia kick - I used to buy these a lot from Honeydukes in my own Hogwarts days), jelly beans (every flavour except the nasties which have mercifully been omitted from this collection), and some chocolate mints ('After Eight' for when I have posh visitors!)

Patterns!! A whole book of designs for felted bags - I love them!

A Legilimency toy!! The boys are busy playing with the one I received! Therefore this is a picture I've borrowed from the Daily Prophet classified section. It's a golden snitch that works out what you are thinking with just 20 questions - amazing!!

Recipes!! Lily noticed I like to cook, so she wrote out a few of her favourite recipes for me to try - chocolate chip cookies, chocolate truffles, and brownies.

Lily -thank you!! It is clear you put a lot of research and thought into this kit. It matches my tastes wonderfully!

Quidditch - Round 3

1. This “Harry Potter” character’s first name comes from Roman mythology. The mythological character’s twin brother is named Romulus. What is the Harry Potter character last name?
b. Lupin

2. Which “Harry Potter” character’s first name is the Roman equivalent of the Greed Goddess Athena?
c. McGonagall

3. In ‘Harry Potter’ World, this wizard has created the Philosopher’s Stone (called the Sorcerer Stone in the US). The historical figure from the 14th and 15th centuries was a scribe and a manuscript-seller who became famous as an alchemist. Who is this individual?
Nicholas Flammel

4. What is the first name of a character whose last name is the name of a Bulgarian leader from early 9th century who doubled the country’s territory?
c. Viktor

5. Which character’s name is the name of goddess in Indian mythology?
b. Parvati (Patil)

6. “Where the Wild Things Are” tells the story of Max, a young boy sent to bed without his supper for his wild antics. Who created this winner of the Caldecott Medal?
a. Maurice Sendak

7. What was NOT one of the unexpected defense mechanisms that Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Griphook encountered in their attempt to rob Gringotts?
d. The Geminio Curse

8. What was Snape aiming at when he cut off George’s ear?
c. Another Death Eater’s wand hand

9. How much older than James was Lily? (Referring to Harry’s parents, not children).
d. 2 months

10. Food is one of the five exceptions to what magical law?
b. Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration

Picture Hunt

George (royal)

McGonagall (kilt)

Patil (Indian politician)

Where the Wild Things Are (illustration)

Knitting Wand Holders

This week I produced yet another felted knitting wand holder using my still unpublished pattern. I'm now thinking of making the pattern multi-option, as I've found that while using duplicate stitch for the text is more straightforward, the results from stranded knitting in a tube that is then cut prior to felting produces finer-looking text. I've also done some felted versions in thinner wool (Kauni), and have now decided to add another option - an unfelted version worked in sock yarn! So this week I am taking that project and the Slytherin Pride Socks away on our camping holiday with the intention of completing both so that I can finally publish these two patterns before the end of the month.

Here's the one I did this week, in Ravenclaw colours. It now carries my full stock of sock needles, both DPNs and circulars.

Wheels

This week I've been doing a lot of travel on a muggle bicycle. Well, I haven't actually been travelling on it, just cycling around the grounds of the library over the road from the cottage. No, I haven't lost the ability to disapparate, rather I have determined to increase my level of physical activity in order to become 'fit'.

It is rather difficult. I'm doing ten minutes every day, and end up rather hot and sweaty and breathless at the end, which just goes to prove how far I have to go in order to create the level of fitness manifested by such muggle heroes as Chris Hoy (British olympian who won three gold medals in the muggle olympics last summer).

Saturday in Honolulu!!

As I have apparated to Honolulu, where it is currently 22.30 on Saturday 4th April, can this post count for the requirement of this week's blogging?!! I last blogged on Satrurday 28th March.

If that plea doesn't past muster, please fellow Slytherins forgive my sloppiness. I promise I am not a secret agent from Ravencalw come to sabotage House efforts to win the Cup!

Anyway - 'Aloha' my friends (= 'Hello' in Honolulu). And Hau`oli la hanau Lizzie ('Happy Birthday)!! In the UK it is already mine and Lizzie's birthday, so even though I am supposedly currently located in a different time zone (!!) I will tell a little bit about what I've done for Lizzie. Then I'll tell you what I got from the Wigworthys, as it is my birthday too!!

I have made Lizzie a felted knitting wand holder in Gryffindor colours. I can't show you the finished project as I've wrapped it and she won't get it until I see her at Nostell Priory later today tomorrow (we are visiting for a birthday treat with our families). I can, however, show you a picture of it at an intermediate stage of the felting. I felted it some more, and lined it after taking this photo.

I'm still working on the pattern for this, which I do intend to publish at some point. Problem is the stranded knitting is off-putting for many, so I need to do some more tests with duplicate stitch. I prefer the results from stranded knitting - the lettering ends up completely embedded, whereas with the versions I've done using deplicate stitch the lettering ends up looking thicker. However, I think the pattern might be more succeesful if I offer it as an easy knit, instead of a stranded and steeked knit. What do you think? More tests? Would any of you like to test the pattern in either or both versions?

Finally I must tell you that my family rocks!! I have received the coveted Jordana Paige bag from my wishlist!! That was a gift from the wonderful Mr. Wigworthy. I also got some beautiful flowers from the boys. Photos in another post (perhaps tomorrow on Monday).