~ ADVANCED STUDIES PROPOSAL ~
Project Name: Flag bunting for party and bedroom
House: Slytherin
Brief Description: I am really going to stretch my comfort zone here for something that I’ve really, really wanted to do but have been too intimidated to try. Sewing. Real sewing- not just a mend or a button- and maybe even on a machine. Maybe.
I have wanted to do a triangle flag banner for a long time as part of my reusable party decorations and of late for my daughter’s room. Her 3rd Birthday is in September so I am challenging myself to make it/them in time for that. I have chosen the main fabrics (and I have, of course, been hoarding fabrics for YEARS so I don’t even need to buy more to fill it out).
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Class or Challenge Title: House Unity Challenge
House: Slytherin
Project Name & Page Link: Gryffindor Sleeveless Tunic
Brief Description: I picked this pattern out to use a gorgeous length of linen in Slytherin Green, and I made this mock-up in Gryffindor red. And, I hate how it looks on me. Great pattern, though. It would make a fabulous maternity top. I even took out some of the fullness and it’s still too much. I can see it working with a drapey jersey knit, but Summer-weight wovens are a no-go. Might try that some time in the future…woven fabric for the yoke, jersey knit for the rest.
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Class or Challenge Title: Stash Challenge
House: Slytherin
Project Name & Page Link: ‘Bloody Baron’ handspun yarn
Brief Description: I’ve had this wool in my stash for about a year. The dyer didn’t completely exhaust the dye in this lot and, when I tried to split the roving, pigment went everywhere. I knew I could salvage it, but put it on the back burner. Once the weather permitted, I took it outside and gave it a thorough rinse and let it dry in the sun. That did the trick and here is the first skein of finished yarn. Still needs a bath, so I’m not sure of the weight or yardage, but it’s about 100g of chain-plied, and will probably end up close to DK-weight.
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Class or Challenge Title: Arithmancy
House: Slytherin
Project Name & Page Link: Silver Handspun for a sweater
Brief Description: I have four colors of roving from SSS that I bought to spin for a sweater…still unsure as to which colors will ultimately be used. That will really depend on how consistent I am able to spin them! Getting better, but I’m still all over the place. 
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The Iron Chef Challenge for July will be…
Salad or Soup
The classic idea is to relate your soup or salad course to the season. It’s always smart to avoid anything too hearty so guests don’t fill up for the rest of the meal. Try out a coconut lime chicken curry soup, a Caesar pasta salad, or even an ultimate summer salad.
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That has to be the most fantastic of names ever!!
And the socks are fantastic 
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Class or Challenge Title: Quidditch - Bludger
House: Gryffindor
Project Name & Page Link: Pat’s Star Quilt Block (pattern)
Brief Description: This block was a little tricky. I think half the problem is that the directions are 3 pages long, and put the cutting requirements at the bottom of page 3, but start page 1 with you cutting down those cuts into subcuts. Basically starting at the top with Step 2, going all the way through to the end, then ending with Step 1. I honestly didn’t bother trying to read their badly written directions. Instead I laid all the pieces out according to the picture, then sewed together sections in the order they obviously had to go in to make it work. Annoying pattern, but I love the resulting block.
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Class or Challenge Title: Quidditch - Goal Hoops
LC Contest: Summer Site Wide Challenge
House: Gryffindor!
Project Name & Page Link: Summer Shells & Sea Glass Wreath
Brief Description: This round wreath is perfect for summer!
Project Picture:
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I love that wreath idea and the tutorial is great!
I notice that one may have 2 Advanced Study Projects going, so in the name of procrastination I present my second proposal:
~ ADVANCED STUDIES PROPOSAL ~
Project Name: Christmas Countdown Garland
House: Slytherin
Brief Description: I am going to make a countdown calendar of (probably) knit stockings to use each year in my house. The project will include at the least 24 small knit stockings and some means of stringing them up and possibly also tokens with letters/symbols on them. The goal is to mix up the tokens each year and wrap seasonal books that are labeled with corresponding design/letters/whatevers so we open up and reveal a new one each night. The books might get mixed in with activites written out or small gifts, not sure yet I’d have to count my books.
A new Headmistress Challenge has been posted!
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Thanks! Yeah, Desert Vista does a lot of popculture theme colorways, and “zombie” colors. So , this is her Zombie Maleficent-inspired color.
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Class or Challenge Title: Quidditch - Seeker
House: Gryffindor!
Project Name & Page Link: Peach & Raspberry Jam Breakfast Bars
Brief Description: I’ve been searching for the perfect breakfast bar recipe. Something healthy, and tasty, that’s not a sugar bomb, and contains some protein and whole grains. Sadly, these were not good. The base & crumble topping (which are the same batter) kinda tastes like dense, pulpy cardboard. Looks like I’m still searching for my perfect breakfast bar recipe.
Project Picture:
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That sucks. I know the goal was healthy, but can it be salvaged by topping with some whip cream or vanilla ice cream?
Good thought, but no. I’m lactose intolerant, and working really hard to lose some weight. I’m down 20 lbs, and the not-being-able to eat dairy is certainly helping keep calories down for now.
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Oh that makes it tricky to salvage. But congrats on the weight loss!
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Yeah. I tried one again this morning, before heading to the pool for my workout. I thought ‘They couldn’tn be as bad as you remember. Just power through.’ I got through half of one, and it was a struggles. So then ended up in the trash today. I hate wasting food, but they were just sooooo bad. And I’m a person who always alters recipes to be a little more healthy. Swapping out some oil for apple sauce, some of the AP flour for whole wheat, cutting back the sugar called for. None of that bothers me at all. Not sure why these were so flippin’ terrible. LOL!
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Class or Challenge Title: Iron Chef Ostara Cook the Rainbow Challenge - July: Salad or Soup
House: Slytherin
Project Name & Page Link: Cowboy Caviar
**Brief Description:**This is one of my favorite Summer salads! I made it for our family’s Independence Day get-together. I do mix up the recipe just a little, so I’ll post my typical ingredients list, depending on what’s available at the grocery store. I left out the jalepeno this time around, and used yellow bell peppers instead of red/orange.
Dressing:
- 1/2 cup EVOO
- 1/3 cup white wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tsp dried cilantro
Veggies:
- 1 avocado, diced
- 2 cans black beans, rinsed
- 1 can sweet corn, drained
- 2 or 3 roma tomatoes, deseeded and diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 orange bell pepper, diced
- 1 red onion, diced
- 1 jalepeno pepper, minced
Project Picture:
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~ ADVANCED STUDIES PROPOSAL ~
Project Name:
House:
Brief Description: I plan to make these Hufflepuff mittens for myself! They are knit with fingering weight wool, and have a lot of colorwork, so it will not be a quick project, but they look amazing, and I hope I can do them justice!
I will be knitting them in Stroll fingering weight yarn from Knit Picks (dandelion and black.)
And here are some pics from the pattern by Paper Tiger / Dianna Walla:
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Class or Challenge Title: Astronomy
House: Slytherin
Project Name & Page Link: Pink Agate Rosary
Brief Description: This rosary is for my 5-year old (he destroyed the last one because he didn’t like the color, despite choosing the beads himself). He wanted pink, so he got it. Dozens of tiny, bright pink orbs should make him happy. Still, I’m going to put it up for him until he actually knows how to use it properly.
Project Picture:
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Hey Moonflame!
I currently have 2 proposed Advanced Studies projects on file for you:
Moonflame: Muggle Studies, Feb 10, 2018
Moonflame: Diagon Alley Book Nook, March 6, 2020
Let me know if you would like your Hufflepuff Mittens (love, btw) to replace one of them!
Thanks!
@AntBee - I added your 2nd proposal to the log!
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Oh thank you! I guess I’ll keep the Muggle Studies afghan since I’m still working on that, and I’ll keep the mitts, since I’m working on those. The book nook can go. I still plan to make it, but I haven’t done much yet. Maybe I can add it after I finish one of the others. 
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You got it. The mitts have replaced the nook. You can definitely add it back in at any time. Good luck!