Charms Assignment - HLBOES

Project Assignment:

Out of 25 possible points.
Due: August 4 (Tuesday)

For every Charms student, a wand is the most essential tool. I would like each of you to try your hand at wand-making. Using common household items (and whatever else you may be able to find at the local crafts store), please construct a wand for yourself.
In addition to constructing your wand, please include the following: a list of (Muggle) materials you used and 2-5 sentences about why your wand has picked you. You can talk about wand wood, core, length, flexibility or anything else that may be special.
Also, each student must have a place to put his or her wand when class is over. For part of the assignment, you are to construct a wand pouch. Again, use whichever materials you can find at the local crafts store, but I have found that both knitting and crocheting work quite well.

Grading Rubric:
Wand Construction: (10 points)

• Is this portion of the assignment finished and did the student follow directions? (3)
• Did the student make a decent wand that would be functional in the classroom? (4)
• How much artistic style did the student put into making the wand? (3)

Wand Pouch Construction: (10 points)

• Is the assignment finished and did the student follow directions? (4)
• What is the quality of the pouch? How well will it function? (4)
• Is the wand pouch aesthetically pleasing? (2)

Written Portion: (5 points)

• List of Muggle materials? (2)
• Short written analysis of his or her wand? (3)

Disclaimer:
I reserve the right to give partial credit for completed assignments.

Callisto Verity
Charms Professor
Ravenclaw HoH

HLBOES Update

So, it's been a long time since I've updated last, but I just got a note from Grandma Beth, offering me a teaching spot at HLBOES's Hogwarts!!! I am to be teaching Charms and acting as the Head of Ravenclaw. I didn't always enjoy Charms class, mostly because that Charivnyk kid was always sitting in the back of class, being distracting with his hair changing color and all that.

Oh, I do wish Dad knew about this! He would be so proud of me. And Mum. But they've been busy as of late, with Ali's wedding and all that. Did I mention she's engaged to Emrick? Probably not. But they are and they'll be married in the beginning of July. Isn't it odd?

But I'm back to my beloved Ravenclaw, sporting the blue and bronze. I think it was Spencer who originally said that it didn't match my hair, but whatever. My hair's still purple (as always) and I don't think I'll be doing anything to change it. Oh, I should really get going now. I promised Daniel I'd help him with non-verbal spellcasting. He's only a fourth year, but I started learning the non-verbal stuff when I started my third year, so I don't think it's too early. Plus, he's a Ravenclaw and everyone knows that Ravenclaws are the smartest people around!

Quidditch, Round Three

Will Finish this Later

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 Flamel

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?
a. Theodore
b. Cedric
c. Viktor
d. Vincent

5. Which character’s name is the name of goddess in Indian mythology?
b. 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?
a. The Flagrante Curse
b. The Thieves’ Downfall
c. Anti-summoning Enchantments
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?
a. Grimp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration
b. Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration
c. Gamp’s Law of Fundamental Transfiguration
d. Grimp’s Law of Fundamental Transfiguration

Picture Hunt
George
McGonagall
Patil
Where the Wild Things Are

I haz been spoilt!

So, yesterday, I went to see if I had any packages and I found that I recieved one in the mail from Bathilda Boomslang. She's a Slytherin and my spoiler for HSKS7. Since I cannot find my camera cord (I owe, like, a ton of pictures!), I'll just tell you what she spoiled me with and show you later, okay?

• Knitpicks Shine Sport yarn in Grass and Silver Sage. It feels so soft and I can't wait to make something totally awesome out of it!
• A felted scrub pad that is dark green, burgandy and tan. It is also very soft, but not as soft as the yarn.
• A place to hold my dpns!!! Finally, I have a proper storage roll for them. Unfortunately, one of my size 3 harmony dpns broke the other day, so I'm down to only having five of those. :(
• A snake in something crystaline. This came in a bag that once had Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. I'm glad I didn't get any of those. Once Ali got one that was soap flavored. But the bags are really cool!
• A leather keychain that will be going on my school bag as soon as it stops snowing and raining so much. Also, a lanyard keychain in Slytherin colors. This is going right on my school bag as soon as I get off the computer!
  
• A lovely Slytherin colored hemp anklet that I'm pretty sure Bathilda made it herself. I will have to wear it when the weather gets warm enough.
• A set of size 4 harmony circulars. The best part is that they're interchangeable, so now I can start collecting different size tips for the cables!
• A bag of my favorite spearmint candies! They're even green. ^_^
• A pattern for fingerless gloves
• And... best of all... the bag! Unlike the bag I'm making (which is knitted), this was made with needlepoint on plastic canvas. Definitely creative and I love the zig-zag pattern on the front.
  

And I shall post pictures as soon as I can find my camera and the cable cord for it. I really need to take a picture of Bernadette's kit before I send it off to her (especially the bag, which is just about finished... finally!).

OT: Kit Update

Well, I am almost done with getting the things ready for Bernadette's kit! I was able to go to the store today and pick up some of the last few things I needed and now all I have to do is finish her bag and wait for the stuff I ordered to arrive in the mail (hopefully early this week!). That way, I can get her kit in the mail by Friday for the early deadline.

I don't have much more to do on the bag. Only about ten more rows of knitting, lining it and weaving in the loose ends. This really shouldn't be too challenging, seeing as how I am a much better knitter than I was during the last term!

And Vanya (she's my owl) should be flying out early next week with a little surprise for someone in the castle. Or maybe I'll borrow Lazarus, Emrick's owl, to deliver it so that Vanya can be rested to fly all the way to Bernadette's place. Yes, borrowing Lazarus sounds like a good idea. Much better than having Vanya fly such a long distance.

The Miracle Worker?

Well, I have only been able to knit since Friday, but already, I am about 75% of the way done with the bag for Bernadette. I guess I have a lot to owe to the fact that it's not a very difficult pattern, but even I didn't know I could knit that fast. Now, I just have to finish the flap, the shoulder strap (haha, I can't crochet, so that should be fun...) and put in the lining. Am I amazing or what?

And I have a few extra surprises I need to finish up for her, but I doubt those will take very long. And I need to wait for the stuff that I ordered in the mail to arrive and pick out the pattern I am going to send her... I have a few ideas. Then my package will be ready to go! In fact, we have another week until the early mailing deadline and I think there is a very good chance that I will make it!!!

This is really amazing news because I missed the early mailing deadline last term by less than a week (I was having major difficulties with some of the knitting projects I had chosen to take on) and it's even more amazing considering the fact that at one point, I wasn't sure if I would be able to stay in the swap and a week ago, I was pretty sure I would have to figure out something completely different to use for the handmade object.

I am just very thankful that I can knit again and still be a part of HSKS7. I have made quite a few friends through these past two swaps, most notably, Cassandra C and Minerva Wood of Ravenclaw, Andromeda Finch-Fletchley of Slytherin and quite a few others. In my opinion, this is the best part of the swaps... being able to meet new people and make new friends. I am thankful for all of you and I also really hope that Bernadette likes my package ^_^

Well, I should really be going soon. We have an exam in Professor Ockham's class later this week and his exams are always tough. Did I mention he used to be a Ravenclaw? Somehow, that doesn't surprise me. I'll write more later.

~Callisto

Update on Project

I just got back to knitting and I am pleased to say that I have been working on a beautiful bag for my Hufflepuff spoilee, Bernadette Hobsworth. I can't say much here because Hufflepuffs are sneaky and get into places they shouldn't be, but it's coming along quite well. There is even a possibility I will have the entire kit complete in time to make the early sending deadline, especially if I knit a lot next weekend!

Thank goodness I already had the yarn and the needles. That makes it a lot easier. And that I'm writing the pattern and it's easy to follow. I think I should make a list of things I need to finish getting together before I send her kit off. Especially so I don't forget something.