Weekly Showcase Wednesday: More Amazing Projects for January Classes!

It's hard to believe we're already almost to the end of January, but Ravenclaws have been working hard and turning in lots of stunning projects!  I expect there will be a huge rush of projects in the next few days, but here is a sampling of the awesome ones I've seen in the past two weeks!

First, we have this week's winners of the Golden Pickle Award, given to those projects that caught my eye as I was going through all the class threads!


akasha111182 learned brioche this month and turned in a beautiful cabled brioche hat for Ancient Runes:

SFcorgi learned a new type of braided cast-on and added a few Latvian braids to her incredible colorwork hat for Ancient Runes:

kvaustin knit a gorgeous lace shawl for Architecture (720 yards in just 5 days! yes, she almost earned the Pickle of Sanity badge again for this one!):

balletisthebest crocheted an awesome sweater for Architecture:

TwistedSticherFGE dyed some fiber in the lovely shades of Hogwarts castle stone for Architecture:

winemakerssister spun a fantastic skein of stone grey yarn for Architecture:

electronjam knit a hilariously cute walrus stuffie for Architecture:

Mauri knit a magnificent scarlet shawl for Arithmancy:

Sonnenblumenimp knit a pair of cool striped socks for Astronomy:

Hreow knit a spectacular pair of lacy socks for Astronomy:

AnnieCC knit an adorable pair of foxy mitts for Astronomy:

matematichica turned in a Dobby pair of mittens for Astronomy, which included this fabulous colorwork mitten:

SaskiaBr made a beautiful beaded bracelet for Charms:

TiggerishJen built an amazing (and tiny!) model of a ship for Charms:

irreverentyarns worked through her concussion and knit a marvelous lacy baby blanket for Charms:

maggievanderstok knit a wonderful pair of colorwork gloves for Charms:

allysonpickles made a delightful fox tea cosy for Divination:

caranam made a pretty beaded necklace for Muggle Studies:

thtr4me is charming me with BB-8, this time around making an adorable crocheted stuffie for Muggle Studies:

wendebular knit a very cute pair of Lego person mitts for Muggle Studies:

bigsnakes knit a stunning cabled hat for Transfiguration:

There were two 'Claws who did some clever experimentation to earn the Electric Pickle Badge!


cyprienne actually "spun" yarn out of aluminum foil and then crocheted two bracelets from her new yarn for Ancient Runes:

TwistedSticherFGE was determined to make self-striping yarn and found a unique way to skein her yarn to achieve perfect stripes for Muggle Studies:

And of course, there are always 'Claws trying to outrun the Mallet of Sanity--this week we had three who succeeded and earned the Pickle of Sanity Badge!


LeahandtheDragon spun an amazing 2103 yards of singles, and then chain-plied them, for Architecture:

morningwynd spun an incredible 2502 yards of singles and plied them to get three skeins of yarn, turned in to Architecture, Charms, and Divination:

TwistedSticherFGE spun an unbelievable 2607 yards of singles and then plied them for Charms:

Congratulations yet again to all the badge winners!

Keep those projects coming!  There are just a few days before the end of January so get those classes turned in!  I can't wait to see what other incredible things come out of the Tower!!

Remembering Alan Rickman

It is hard to put into words, but most will agree that the Potterverse has lost an icon.  Alan Rickman passed away this past week at the age of 69.  We will forever remember him as Professor Snape, the Potions master who terrified many a student.  In real life, Alan Rickman was a seasoned actor on both film and stage, and touched many with his performances.

Please feel free to share your memories of Alan Rickman, his characters, his life, anything you would like to, in the Comments below.

Rest In Peace, Professor.  We will remember you. Always.

Advanced Studies Weekend: Stormy Weather

It's Advanced Studies Weekend!  The Blog Team is excited to share a video with you, to keep you company while you write proposals and craft this weekend.  Hope you enjoy it.

Tower Treasures Thursday: January Cryptograms

It's time for our first puzzles of the Winter 2016 term!  This month's puzzles are all cryptograms.  Each cryptogram uses a different code -- solving one will not help you with the others.  There is a thematic link between the puzzles, but we won't reveal that theme until the answers are published on February 4.  If you'd like your name published as a solver or if you'd like to check your answers, pm your solution to greenegirl by February 2.

1. MQKXOFP RZ HXO MJH HXMH ZOBMJMHOZ AXMH RZ YZOWYQ WJVF AXMH RZ TVH IP HJMTZWVJFRTD RH RTHV RHZ YQHRFMHO FMHHOJ MTL OZZOTKO. -- BXRQQRBBYZ MYJOVQYZ BMJMKOQZYZ

2. FKZJUKJ ED ARZF OZUT ZF CBJQAJB ARQU AREFJ IBJKJTZUC SJKQPFJ ZA IBETPKJF CBJQAJB PAZLZAZJF. DEB UEA EULY KQU ZA YZJLT GJQLAR QUT WJBY NQUY EARJB ARZUCF DEB ARJ IPSLZK GJLDQBJ, SPA ZA QLFE AJQKRJF REG AE TZFKEWJB FPKR ARZUCF QF QBJ KQIQSLJ ED IBELEUCZUC RPNQU LZDJ DEB NPKR LEUCJB IJBZETF ARQU KQU SJ QKKENILZFRJT SY UQAPBJ. -- BECJB SQKEU

3. ULRMVGXDC LWG GTDIVIRQ WAQ SDNFA KRUWTGR WHH VXG EDRUREXG WAQ EDVAUVEHRG UWA KR DRXRGXRQ WX WAC XVMR WAQ WACFLRDR. GN HNAS WG VX DRMWVARQ XLR MCGXRDVNTG WHULRMC KC FLVUL W ZRF QRINXRRG KC QRIVNTG WAQ QTKVNTG MRWAG EDRGTMRQ XN ULWASR KWGRD MRXWHG VAXN SNHQ, VX QVQ ANX ZHNTDVGL. -- FVHHVG D FLVXARC

4. PWRPNZRQRC TXPUNEF QG QD EWZN SQBBQPYXG GW SQDPWHNZ GUN TPGYTX DGTGN WB GUQRCD QR GUTG GUN UQDGWZQTRD KUW DVNPQTXQDN QR GUQD BQNXS DNNE DWENGQEND GW JN YRSNZ GUN KZTGU WB CWS GUNEDNXHND; BWZ . . . GUNF DNNE GW JNPWEN GQRPGYZND KQGU GUN LQRS WB XYRTPF GUNF DNG WYG GW SNDPZQJN. -- UNZJNZG JYGGNZBQNXS

5. XNJ WZTJOXTLTZ WVTGTX NUW ZUWX FYX XNJ KJQFOW, UOK VGJWJOXJK YW ITXN OUXYGJ ZHFXNJK TO NJG GTMNX QTOK UOK HTDTOM YOKJG XNJ GJTMO FL HUI. TX NUW MTDJO YW, LFG XNJ WFGZJGTJW FL XNJ UHZNJQTWX, XNJ BJUYXTLYH HUIW FL ZNJQTWXGP . . . -- CUQJW UBGUQ MUGLTJHK

6. FNQUB BVQZ TUBPO! 
OUB BVU TPRUZ WNB GKK BVUQD BUDDGD, OUB 
BVUT WNB GKK BVUQD PFNUGNZ CGMQUZ JQBV KQDU. 
OUB BVUT PZZNTU BVU TQOH-JVQBU CGMQUZ GK PXPBU. 
OUB BVUT MDPJ BGXUBVUD BVU CGRUZ GK TUBPO. 
-- USDP OGGTQZ WGNRM, 
"BVU POYVUTQZB: YVPRB KGD BVU BDPRZTNBPBQGR GK TUBPO"

7. BFL EJARD FVBF TLLO PWYF VTWQLD TX BFL JGMOMJO JI PVCMOS SJRD; BFL EJAC MBQLRI M UWDSL BJ TL GJQQMTRL; TWB BFL PLVOQ (FMBFLABJ GAJGJWODLD) BJ LIILYB MB VAL, MO BFL GAVYBMYL, IWRR JI LAAJA VOD MPGJQBWAL. -- QMA IAVOYMQ TVYJO

8. OPM DNRMUNM IE LSNPMHG R SRZM WMXG CMSS, LUQ RUQMMQ, 'ORD OPM BPRSIDIBPG IE OPM LUNRMUOD. -- HLXORU SYOPMX

9. BDXGAUL QC VGA BOV SM UBKQIZDBVQKT DQMA, BKF XSKCXQSZCKACC QK UBVVAO, VS GADI QV AWSDWA, SO VS CSDWA IOSRDAUC SM QKKAO FQCGBOUSKQAC. -- JABK FZRZQC 

10. VEA KO BEVQ GVB GFFETMDKORQB NRQ MHQMGHGNKEV EL NRQ TQHFJHU, HQVBQHQB FJNNKVY GVB MHEMQH NE BKOOEDZQ KVNE KNO VGNJHQ YEDB GVB OKDZQH, NE AEHC EJN VGNJHGDDU GVB OKTMDU NRQ MRKDEOEMRKF NKVFNJHQ, EH NRQ MEABQH NHGVOTJNKVY GDD TQNGDO KVNE YEDB GVB OKDZQH. -- VKFEDGO LDGTQD

Weekly Showcase Wednesday: Winter Term - Off to a Great Start!

Just about two weeks into Winter term, and Ravenclaws are cranking out awesome projects all over the House Cup!  Here are our first Pickle Badge winners of the term!

First let me share the projects that have been awarded the newly unveiled Winter 2016 Golden Pickle Award, which is bestowed on projects that just simply stand out!


TwistedSticherFGE cleverly skeined her yarn around various parts of her cutting table and a big box so that she could dye this gorgeous self-striping yarn in Ravenclaw colors for Ancient Runes:

Bacs tried watercolors for the first time and painted a beautiful fancy goldfish for Ancient Runes:

SarahAlderSign crocheted an adorable pair of bunny booties for Ancient Runes:

AH77 sewed an awesome science-themed project bag (wonderful fabric! with so many pockets!) for Ancient Runes:

3trees made a pretty beaded bracelet for Architecture:

IdleCuriosity made a delicate lacy necklace for Architecture:

Tina77 made a very cool crocheted shawl (skulls!) for Architecture:

Topfrog made a lovely lacy shrug for her daughter in Uruguay for Arithmancy:

specialKknits made a pair of wonderfully cozy looking cabled fingerless mitts for Astronomy:

greenheron crocheted a pair of delightful and colorful afghan squares (I love the stars!) for Astronomy:

SFcorgi made an awesome narwhal stuffie for Charms:

Dovetail made an amazing baby hat, with knitted and crocheted flowers and vines attached, for Charms:

senkatnovo spun a stunning skein of yarn for Charms:

zisch304 knit a wonderful colorwork penguin hat for Charms:

SadieLou made a linocut and then printed some lovely cards for Charms:

balletisthebest made a delightful hair tie (so simple and yet so pretty!) for Divination:

rondaletts crocheted an awesome collection of milk and cookies (too cute to eat!) for Divination:

SaskiaBr made a lovely striped and lacy shawl (to match one she made before) for Muggle Studies:

volkat made an adorable erlenmeyer flask stuffie for Muggle Studies:

winemakerssister spun a gorgeous skein of yarn for Muggle Studies:

SarahTheEntwife dyed a skein of yarn in fantastic shades of green for Transfiguration:

wendebular made a fabulous dragon-scaled cowl for Transfiguration:

thtr4me designed and knit an awesome BB-8 hat for Transfiguration:

What an amazing collection of projects completed in just the first 12 days of the term!

Finally, this week we had one winner of the Pickle of Sanity Badge, awarded for successfully outrunning the Mallet of Sanity to do the incredible and unimaginable.



kvaustin knit an entire lace shawl, using 1071 yards of laceweight, in about 9 days!

Congratulations to all the badge winners this week!

What will the rest of Winter Term bring?  Stay tuned for our next Weekly Showcase Wednesday in two weeks to see what other incredible projects come out of the Tower!