Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Classwork Showcase

CoMC 
Firstie 3trees dreamt of the shiny red eyes of an ashwinder and managed to capture the image with a pensieve - well done!




CHARMS
These charming socks by bknips can make hard-running feet look great with a small dose of magic.




DADA
PrncssButtercup and mimulus have Riddikulus'd their boggarts into hairy Vikings!





DIVINATION
These fiery-hued socks have been bewitched by IggyLinda to warm her sister's feet without fear of burns.




HERBOLOGY
Tolkien-inspired Thranduil amigurumi by nightrae! Need I say more?




HoM
Baby cardigan by akasha111182 in such pretty colors.




POTIONS
Staibshines didn't let not having an appropriate recipient keep her from practicing several techniques when she knit this adorable dress.  




TRANSFIGURATION
Burningpopsicles crafted this little hedgehog to be her animagus.


Thursday, June 20, 2013

The OWLs are flying

A bit of Advanced Studies Update! This weekend is Advanced studies weekend, go claim a goal and hang out with your tower mates for some advanced studies crunching this weekend.

Ravenclaw has a total of 100 OWLs in progress, which is really amazing. Slytherin has us at 102, but we are ahead of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. 23 of students have already handed in their 50%, great work people!

A more nerdy update with charts and things to follow, Google docs really don't want to cooperate with me right now...

Fun point: Care of Magical creatures is the most popular OWL subject this term, with 42 total OWLs in progress!

Geek of the Week: Danica McKellar

Here we honor Muggle geeks who embody Ravenclaw spirit...
when they succeed, they soar, and when they fail, they fail spectacularly!


Danica McKellar (b. 1975)

"Let's face it: by and large, math is not easy, but that's what makes it so rewarding when you conquer a problem, and reach new heights of understanding."

Danica McKellar has an Erdős–Bacon number: the lower the number, the closer a person is to both Hungarian mathematician Paul Erdős AND American movie star Kevin Bacon.  CANNOT MAKE THIS STUFF UP.

How did she qualify for this coveted distinction?  McKellar coauthored an article on the Chayes–McKellar–Winn theorem (that's right, it's named after her; read about it here if you're feeling up to it) while earning her mathematics degree at UCLA...  after kicking off her acting career as Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years and before taking on the role of Elsie Snuffin on The West Wing.

She still acts and she still maths: McKellar has authored several books meant to encourage middle school girls in pursuing and enjoying math education.

POTTER FUN FACT: her son's name is Draco.

Find out more about Danica McKellar on Wikipedia.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Common Room Recap June 10-June 17

Friday, June 14, 2013

Geek of the Week: George Takei

Here we honor Muggle geeks who embody Ravenclaw spirit...when they succeed, they soar, and when they fail, they fail spectacularly!

George Takei (b. 1937)

"It's OK to be Takei!"

Voiceover geek!  In his early career, George Takei did English dubbing for Japanese monster films; he's gone on to provide the voice for several "Simpsons" characters, Ricardio on "Adventure Time," and Sensei on "Kim Possible."

Internet geek!  Takei has a book about harnessing the power of social media AND a Facebook page with over four million followers... and he's 76.  Takei further amuses himself by reviewing stuff on Amazon.

Theatre geek!  He originated the role of George in the civil rights musical "Fly Blackbird" and made his Broadway debut in a musical based on his own experiences in an internment camp.

Sci fi geek!  -ahem-  Hikaru Sulu, I presume?

Find out more about George Takei on Wikipedia.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Flight of the First Showcase

June is almost half way over. Can you believe it? Let's take a look at a few of the projects submitted for Flight of the First this month.


Crankyangel submitted this lacy child's shawl she test knit. How perfect for summer!


Omeletsmom got around to putting together the parts of her adorable goldfish that she started for Transfiguration in May.


Digitaldiina
 finished the sweater pictured below for her sweet toddler.


Bklyngrrl67 finished and blocked this lovely shawl.


Jillian79 finished this cute newborn hat she started at the end of May.


AriadneWebb finished this cheery blanket.

Keep in mind, it might be too late to participate in Flight of the First, but you have until the end of the month to submit a project to Detention. :)

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Common Room Recap June 2-June 9

And apparently, it's exclamation mark day.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Classwork Showcase


CoMC
fricknfrack masterfully answered both prompts with her TWO-colored shawl that could soothe a werewolf (and restrain it, if necessary):

CHARMS
This sunflower-inspired yarn is outside the norm for Shadawyn; it's very beautiful... and very yellow:

DADA
InTallCotton and her corporeal patronus Socks the Stegosaurus will rule over all this land, and they will call it This Land...

DIVINATION
Soprano1 felted and needle-felted this beautiful Spirit Play Box, one of many she has recently made:

HERBOLOGY
Ariadnewebb has created not just one, but a series of pretty beaded macrame bracelets. Gorgeous!

HoM
Again, May in History, it was a crazy brave month! Teeny tiny things, fascinators, and now beads: hundreds of beads. Check out bandbabe's amazing beaded purse!

POTIONS
Jessdhill has announced this term to be monsterterm! And here is proof. Monstermobile!

TRANSFIGURATION
LladyLlamaFiberCo made this sunny Sunflower Tam! I'd wear it, even in the sun!

The Quidditch Speed Sprint Team

Today started the event of the season! The speed sprinters have cast on, and some have even finished even as you read this! The Ravenclaw sprinters are going strong, and you can check updates in the Ravenclaw Quidditch thread here.

But who are they, those chosen few? Let’s take a closer look at a couple!

Let’s start with someone who was the first to turn in their market bag! Fifth Year player Senkatnovo the NightOwl stayed up all night to start at precisely midnight POT. You may know her from the Ravenclaw Summer Shawl battles as a fast knitter, (I sure do!). She apparently can’t resist a challenge!

Bklyngrrl67 was almost as fast as Senkatnovo, and turned in our second totebag! She’s bringing glory and honor to Ravenclaw, and is most definitely a fast knitter!

HeyYall is a first year Ravenclaw who has already proven her worth in the Quidditch pitch. Not only has she participated in the first two training films, but she maxed out her points in the second one with 5 great looking squares! She is an enthusiastic first year and is more than ready to knit non-stop.

We all know Drake. She will be playing for BA5. She is aways ready with a well studied response in the common room, and she wants a nice useful bag out of this speed sprint. As a determined and dogged competitor, she will definitely deliver in this event. She told the quidditch team not to pick her over 1NK, though this reporter doubts anyone would get picked over 1NK in a speed sprint. Think of her as Luna in a soaring eagle-head!

Since we’ve already started talking about her, Oneneedleknitting is our next star Quidditch player! She finished a shawl in 10 hours, so a tote bag should be even easier! She is the shawlmaster, so let’s hope it translates to epic victory on the Quidditch field! When asked why she should be picked for the speed sprint team, she cheerfully replied “Beacuse I am awesome and super fast and will bring honor and glory to Ravenclaw Quidditch!”

Another player who promises to be strong in the field is ThroughTheLooking. Our Fourth Year player boasts the skill to plow through a shawl in an evening, and whip through a sleeve in day, so a tote bag should be no problem! Her entire evening is dedicated to Quidditch knitting am this reporter is quite sure her efforts will shine through on the pitch!

Omeletsmom is the very best second year Quidditch player. She is very competitive and will use this opportunity to score as many points for Ravenclaw as absolutely possible. She is in it to win it, and to challenge herself and others in the speed sprint!

Seventh year Trikel is a speedster at heart, and speed soars through her veins! She is proud to represent her seventh year, and Ravenclaw House. She loves to be challenged, and is ready to lead the Ravenclaw Quidditch team all the way to victory!

A special mention to the rest of the Speed Sprint team, who are just as ready to kick but as the ones above! 3trees , Kaypendragon, Madislandgirl, Tindrasgrove, SarahtheEntwife, Andryl, Soprano1 and alternates Jillian79 and Keres!

These great players are ready to SOAR! For Ravenclaw! Remember to come by the pitch and join the pep squad with cheers for our Quidditch Speed Sprint team. This reporter will be sharing some extra special Ravenclaw Cupcakes.


Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Geek of the Week: Martha Clarke

Here we honor Muggle geeks who embody Ravenclaw spirit...
when they succeed, they soar, and when they fail, they fail spectacularly!


Martha Clarke (b. 1944)

"I go from subject to subject—like a student, endlessly pursuing, learning, getting involved and having the joy of learning something new."

How does one become a dance geek?  It helps to study at Juilliard, as Martha Clarke did, but it goes beyond that: she has been known to design costumes and, well, bring paintings to life.  Clarke's choreographic talents are award-winning; she's also directed Mozart-penned operas, Shakespeare-penned plays, and a musical based on the life of Toulouse Lautrec.

The geeky pièce de résistance: co-founding a dance company named after a phototropic fungus!

photo credit: Fannie H. Melcer

Find out more about Martha Clarke on Wikipedia.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Common Room Recap May 26-June 1