Class/Challenge/House Pride: Divination
House: Ravenclaw
Project Name: Wonderland Bookmark
Brief Description: The first thing that came to my mind when we began studding cartomancy were the Queen of Hearts' card soldiers in the story Alice in Wonderland.  I found some great charms (a club, spade, heart, and diamond along with a queen of harts "card") that represented cards and added them to a rabbit, crown, and top hat to make a bookmark inspired by one of my favorite stories.
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Class/Challenge/House Pride: House Pride
House: Ravenclaw
Project Name: Ravenclaw Tie Necklace
Brief Description: While I was looking for charms for my bookmark, I came across some charms that looked like ties.  I nabbed all three that the store had (just incase my plan didn't work on the first attempt) and painted it with alternating blue and bronze stripes of acrylic paint.  Once the paint was dry I added a coat of Mod Podge Demential Magic, which looks like resin when it dries.  I love that I can wear a small part of my Hogwarts uniform wherever I go.
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NEWT Subject: Charms (proposal)
House: Ravenclaw
Project Name: Tres Chic Quilt
Brief Description: I have faced my fears, mastered the confundus charm and completed my NEWT!  I started out sewing my curves the "right" way with pins and easing things together which took lots of time and patience.  It was taking me about an hour to complete 10 curves.  I thought, "There has to be a better way," and it turns out there is.  I found a video over at CraftyGemini showing how to sew curves with no pins.  I didn't end up buying the special presser foot but found that you can use any 1/4in foot with a blade (this is mine ).  This method works wonderfully and I was chain piecing blocks like a speed demon. 
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Jennie, I'm glad you're home from St. Mungo's and I hope you are feeling better soon.   

I hope you are feeling better soon, Pinkleo.   

NEWT Progress Report:  I've nearly finished assembling the quilt top.  Then sandwiching, quilting, and binding.  I'm not going to finish by my proposed completion date (tomorrow) but I have great hopes that I will be done by the end of next week. 

I finally have some classes to turn in after a long bout of complete lack of motivation. 

Class/Challenge/House Pride: Alchemy
House: Ravenclaw
Project Name: Banana Bread
Brief Description: This project demonstrates both the physical and chemical changes that alchemy uses.  First I smashed the bananas causing them to physically change both their shape and texture.  Then once they were combined with other ingredients they were baked causing a chemical change, making a lovely moist, cakey bread.  Yumm.
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Class/Challenge/House Pride: Apparition
House: Ravenclaw
Project Name: CAP’N CRUNCH CUPCAKES WITH PEANUT BUTTER MARSHMALLOW FROSTING
Brief Description: I think cupcakes are the perfect representation on two things that work together when placed side by side.  First you have cake which, while delicious by itself, can often leave you waning more; and second you have frosting, now I'm not saying anything is wrong with eating frosting by itself, but it can get overly sweet at times.  But when you combine these two get some thing perfectly balanced.  I used this recipe from Confessions of a Cookbook Queen because I'm a peanut butter fanatic and because I had Cap'n Crunch in the pantry.  And even though it sounds a little odd at first it is really very yummy.
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Class/Challenge/House Pride: Potions
House: Ravenclaw
Project Name: Sherlock Inspired Hat
Brief Description: When I breathe in the Amortentia one of the things I smell is books, old books.  One of my favorites is Sherlock Holmes.  I first discovered it by watching re-runs of the PBS Mystery series starting Jeremy Brett as a child.  I then read the stories and have now completely fallen in love with BBC's Sherlock. I used the pattern 221b to create this hat which is inspired by the wallpaper in Sherlock and John's flat in the BBC series.  I wear it with the ribbing flipped up because apparently I have a short head.   
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*hat modeled by Trevor the Bodyless Yeti*

Class/Challenge/House Pride: April Detention
House: Ravenclaw
Project Name: Car Trash Bag
Brief Description: I've been meaning to make a car trash bag for myself for a while now and I finally did.  I used a pattern from the book One Yard Wonders and stitched it up in about an hour.  I've had this Alice in Wonderland fabric in my stash for a while and wasn't completely sure what to use it for and this seemed prefect.  It hangs off of the passenger seat and is secured by a parachute clip/buckle.  Yay for a clean car!!
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OWL Subject & Option (if available): Transfiguration, Option 1
House: Ravenclaw
Project Name: Wind Chime Afghan
Brief Description: My vanishing and conjuring spells were a success!!  Yesterday evening I finished up my OWL, and first large scale crochet project.  This was a wonderful beginning pattern it worked up quickly (though I had to take many breaks whenever my elbow and shoulder would start screaming at me) and gave me the confidence to attempt more crochet in the future. 
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After much thought and deliberation I am ready to announce my intention of going ninja, with a geekdom of *drum roll* ...Whedonverse!!  Whoo! 

Pinkleo if you still need more brainstormers I can help there too.  Just let me know what you need.

I've been thinking about OWLS and NEWTS for a while now and I think I have made my decision.  I've chosen an OWL that can be worked on in front of the television (I've become quite fond of muggle television and movies) and a NEWT that will keep me tethered to the sewing machine.  I think this will make for a nice combination of projects.

OWL Subject & Option(if available): Transfiguration, Option 1
House: Ravenclaw
Project Name: Wind Chime Afghan
Brief Description: Being a long time knitter, crochet has always intrigued me.  I've learned some basic stitches over the years but have never attempted a large scale project... until now!!  I've amassed a large quantity of yarn and will attempt simultaneous vanishing and conjuring spells to make a colorful striped afghan.  My goal is to complete it in three weeks with a finishing date of April 27.  Here is a pic of my yarn stockpile


NEWT Subject: Charms
House: Ravenclaw
Project Name: Tres Chic Quilt
Brief Description: I taught myself to quilt about three years ago, since then I've made many quilts but have always strayed away of anything with curved seams.  They have always seemed so confusing to me (I mean how are you really supposed to get those seams to line up!!!), so I've decided to break out my wand, charms textbook, and sewing machine to master the confundus charm and make some great curved blocks.  The pattern I'm using is from the March/April issue of Quilty Magazine; but instead of black and white I've purchased Kona white and Kona tangerine to make my quilt.  I'm planning on a tentative completion date of May 11.

Jennie, you're welcome.  I'm so glad you liked it.