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

Slytherin House Quiz 1

Slytherin House Quiz 1

1. What are your three most favorite colors?

Purple, green and black!

2. What are you three least favorite colors?

Orange, yellow and pink.

3. Your favorite candy is _________________.

Those green and white hard candies that are kind of like peppermints only they aren't peppermint. I think they're spearmint.

4. Draco, Lucius, or Snape?

Snape, most definitely. Not only does he know more about Potions than almost anyone else, but he is very smart and brave. He's a lot braver than people think he is and he shows us not to underestimate people... because that may be your downfall. Plus, he's a half-blood, like me. No offense or anything, but Draco's kind of a wimp. And Lucius is a pretty boy who can read and throw a mean hex. Slightly better than that prat of a son he has.

5. Do you knit, crochet, or both?

I knit. I try to crochet, but it doesn't get past trying and then cursing at the yarn.

6. What type of kit did you ask for?

I think I asked for either fingerless gloves or a bag kit. I love making bags for people and I am planning to make one for myself as soon as I get enough time. Making gloves or mittens would also be fun; I've never done it before.

7. Acrylic—has its uses, should all be burned, best yarn to work with (choose one)?

I tend to use mostly acrylic yarn because I am slightly allergic to wool (though I can work with Cascade 220). I really like the Lionbrand Homespun, even if it is a pain to work with. For worsted weight, I enjoy Caron Simply Soft (and Caron Simply Soft Eco). I tend to use a lot of Red Heart because the projects I make do not require luxury yarns.

8. Who is the Slytherin Head Girl this term?

Quinn! Who was formerly known as Lav A. She can be our house Badger-Snake. ^_^

9. Name four “extras” you would love to receive in your kit.

Maybe something to help me count my rows other than using a piece of scratch paper and pencil... and pens! I love pens. I also collect stuffed animals, mostly marine ones. And something from where my spoilee lives would be nice, especially if they are international or live on the East Coast. Or if it has to do with knitting, I really don't have a good place to store my knitting needles yet, other than an old box.

10. What are your three most favorite scents?

I have almost no sense of smell (this makes it nice for Potions labs!), but I do enjoy the smell of mint. I don't enjoy scented items, though; they make my eyes water. I honestly have a severe lack of

11. Do you prefer salty or sweet snacks?

Sweet! Though not overly so.

12. Which Slytherin is the Keeper of the Crucio List?

Isn't that Cassandra Puddlemere?

13. Do you really need more stitch markers?

I've been using the plastic ones I picked up from the local cheap store and I have a nice set of handmade ones in Slytherin colors that Penelope Caerphilly made me. So not really, but I do like them. Some in purple and silver would be awesome!

14. Dpns, circular, or straight?

I make my own dpns, but I am always looking for circular needles. My most used needle is a circular US size 8 needle with a fairly short cable (it has a project on it, so I can't measure it) that Andromeda Finch-Fletchley gave to me when she sent me the dueling hat. I would love a set of US 4 or 5 circulars.

15. What yarn makes you squee?

I haven't had enough exposure to different yarns to really squee at any of them, but I like the softness of Caron Simply Soft. I would love to find something that is not acrylic (or wool) and would feel about like that so I could make myself a nice pair of fingerless gloves out of that.

16. Favorite HP Movie?

I enjoyed them all, but Goblet of Fire is probably my favourite to date. Prisoner of Azkaban and Half-Blood Prince are my favourite books by far. Especially seeing how Lupin and Snape interact in PoA.

17. Favorite HP character?

Remus Lupin! Well, him and Professor Snape. I love that Lupin is a werewolf and that he's still able to be part of the Order. Even though he is in Gryffindor, he is very intelligent and thoughtful, unlike his classmates. One of the two times that I cried during the HP series was when Tonks insisted on marry Lupin, despite the fact that he's a werewolf. The other time was when Snape died. Professor Snape has always been one of my favourite characters and in many ways, he reminds me of myself. He is such a tragic character.

18. Who was your first choice for DADA professor?

Colin Firth! ^_^

19. What is the Slytherin Common Room called?

The Snake Pit... is that what you mean?

20. What makes you worthy of being in Slytherin House?

Well, I am a brilliant person, but I could care less about studying for the sake of studying like those Ravenclaws do. I enjoy throwing a good hex in the direction of another student if they deserve it.