Uncle Lucius Needs a Ride Home.

It's a millinery party in the Snake Pit and Uncle Lucius will be there. 

Just when some of us (ahemRockinsticks) had posted our final prettiness and began to make stash fondling plans for April Abycat the brilliant has come up with a way for us to push the points over the top.

If your classes and OWL/NEWT are done and your fingers are just itching for more pick up those sticks and hooks and whip up as many hats for your local charity as you can. 

15 points a piece my Sly Sisters and Brothers.  Just think about the first 3 days of term - you know you were able to crank out at least one project in that time.  There will even be prizes for this impromptu hat challenge. 

Hate making hats, make anything for Quidditch you can.  Baby booties (accepted by all family shelters and children's hospitals), premie caps, blanket squares, a teddy bear.  It all counts for points even if it doesn't count for this challenge.

We've got to win this thing.  We can win this thing.  Is there anything more Slytherin than sneaking up from third place for the win in the last three days with a sneaky plan?  Go go go you mad hatters.

Hottie King of the Winter 2011 Term!

Alright Slytherins, it's the big announcement!

The winner of the Grand Hottie-Off for the Winter 2011 Term is . . .

(drumroll)

. . . SPIKE!!!

Everyone's favorite vampire with a soul won by one vote over Ewan McGregor, so it was a close race.

And now for some eye candy:

Thanks for playing everyone!

--ElfLiberator

I'm Rockinsticks and this is Weekend Report.  In our top story, fine literature.  There was a...ahem....rash this week of very private messages that lured Slytherin babes away from their knitting in an effort to educate themselves about what evil twins Abycat and Jjkawano, and their inappropriate sister Rockinsticks do when they are with Professor Snape.  Yarn baskets sat ignored and one hottie was quoted as saying, "Well, you know, its not like the knitting thing.  I don't mind being ignored for that, cuz ya know I get socks and...uh...warmers and stuff out of it, but this?  What can a guy expect when his Slytherin gal has had her head in the computer all day?"  The lovely DNAtheroy retorted, "Shhhh I'm reading."

Weather:  A high pressure of OWLish looking clouds will sweep through the Snake Pit this weekend.

In Sports today is the day to slither on out to the Quidditch pitch and post up some cheers.  A reminder - one cheer per snake worth 3 points so get out there and cheer for your house.  Even if your OWL or NEWT are biting you in the arse you have a bit of time to post a little ditty for Slytherin.

Forgivable Curse:  Single Plied Bison Belly!

Finally from the Sub-Human interest desk - Horcruxes.  In last month's Felix Felicis prize question on the main blog I posed the following question, "You find you are approaching your 39th birthday and decide this is as good a time as any to begin making Horcruxes.  What object would you choose and where would you hide it?"  I thought I'd pose it to the snake blog as well.  Mine would be my Slytherin green Chuck Taylor hightops because I've had them since college - thus indestructible and lets face it, the odor alone assures me no one would brave it.  Leave a comment and tell the world your weakness.

This is Rockinsticks signing off for the final Friday of the Winter Term.  Yes, I'll probably still do these weekend reports through April, because if nothing else it is a chance to test my post wine typing skills.  My seventh grade typing teacher that wouldn't let us use paper would be sooooo proud.

Something's fishy in the Snake Pit!

The March HoH Challenge was to craft something inspired by the zodiac sign Pisces and the people born underneath it (such as our esteemed and ever-so-awesome HoH), and these Slytherins rose to the challenge!

Maigret whipped up this great scarf at the speed of a fast flying fish, which is the constellation (Volans) that inspired the oceanic neckwear:































Knitsquid dyed this beautiful yarn to match the seas sailed by Jason and the Argonauts, inspired by the constellation Vela:
















Peanutzmom dyed some lovely yarn that could tempt some Surfer Dudes out of their watery habitat long enough to learn to knit and crochet.


















Move over Nemo, you've got competition! Abycat knitted and felted this adorable fish inspired by Volans as well as Pisces:




















In honor of corseted suffragettes and the sexiness of all Pisces, rockinsticks made this hot little boned corset and began scouting potential yarnbombing sites:




























01Tangled exhibited the creativity associated with Pisces with her multi-sized socks, recognizing that feet are the body part related to Pisces and representing Piscean numbers as well. They were on special sale in the Slytherin Common Room!:

















Joseybug made this cute pair of fish-tail embellished mitts and found a creative way to photograph the pair while wearing them (seriously, I'm going to have to try this!):

















Oshelle went for a direct representation, and knitted this soft Pisces washcloth for her sister, displaying the Piscean trait of generosity:

















Reporting from the Snake Pit:
--ElfLiberator

Hottie Villain of the Week!

By a landslide victory, Spike is the victor of the sexy-off of evil!
Everyone's favorite bad-vampire-turned-soulful-vampire-that's-still-kinda-bad!
































For this week, we are going to hold voting for the Hottie-Off of the Winter 2011 Term! Please go to the Snake Pit and vote in the Bring Forth the Hotties! thread for your favorite from this term's winners of the hottie votes. The term winner will be announced right here in one week.

--ElfLiberator

Greetings and SSSSSSSSSalutations I'm Rockinsticks and this is Weekend Report.  In our top story Head in a Fog.  Rockinsticks dropped the quaffle this week and forgot about weekend report so please enjoy these class themed libations.

Once again an age line has been cast around this post cross it and there isn't a Brazilian wax salon in the world that can save you. 

Oh and if you come up with any forgivable curses after your refreshments leave them in the comments.

Charms' Airhead

1 1/2 oz peach schnapps
fill with cranberry juice

Pour peach Schnapps into shot glass. Add chilled cranberry juice to fill.

DADA's Pink Lady (sounds appropriately nasty)

4 oz Vanilla Schnapps
4 oz cranberry juice
1 splash milk

Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes. Shake and strain into a parfait glass, and serve.

Potions' Wonderwoman Tea

sweet tea
lemon juice
2 vodka

Fill cup with ice.
Add 2 shots of vodka.
Add lemon juice to your discretion.
Fill remainder of the cup with Sweet Tea.

Herbology's Wildflower (this is either really good or nasty)

2 oz Fruit Punch Gatorade

2 oz V8 Splash Fruit Medley
3 oz Blended Frozen strawberries
2 oz Mountain Dew citrus soda
2 oz vodka
1 oz lemon juice

Freeze the gatorade and juice to a thick slush. Blend the frozen strawberries to a smooth texture with the thick slush mixture. Add Mountain Dew, Vodka and Lemon Juice. Serve with Strawberry and Lemon on the side.

History of Magic's Mudwrestle

2 oz coffee liqueur
2 oz vodka
2 oz creme de cacao
2 oz Bailey's Irish cream

Mix ingredients in a shaker. Serve in an ice-filled old-fashioned glass.

Arithmancy's Lucky Seven (pretty sure you'd only be able to count to seven after)

1/2 oz  vodka
1/2 oz amaretto almond liqueur
1/2 oz triple sec
1/2 oz  rum
1/2 oz Jack Daniel's

1/2 oz  peach liqueur
1/2 oz sloe gin
1 splash cranberry juice
1 splash lime juice
1 splash orange juice

Combine the seven liquors, straight, into a tall glass. Top it with three splashes of cranberry, lime, and orange juices.

Transfiguration's Dragon's Blood

3 oz club soda
3 oz  vodka
4 oz cinnamon schnapps

In a twelve ounce glass, mix all ingredients and serve.

Muggle Studies' Doctor

1 part fruit punch
1 part gin
1 part lemon juice

Mix it together and shake (not too hard). Pour it into an ordinary cocktail glass

GirlyWithATwist Has Been Stalked!

Our busy Head of Slytherin House agreed to take a few minutes to answer some nosy questions from this blog reporter / snake-stalker:

Q: What's your ultimate "someday-I'm-gonna-make-that" dream project?

A: The one project I really want to make but haven't gotten up the courage to make it would be the Deep V Argyle Vest by Eunny Jang. It involves steeking and I have never steeked anything yet. The plan is to make it green/grey and I already have the grey. I just need to find the perfect green and then work up the courage to start it. Then have an anxiety attack before I do the steeking part.

Q: Imagine that you are The Hulk. What crafting technique makes you turn green and tear yarn skeins apart in rage and frustration?

A: I think the one crafting technique that frustrates me right now would be double knitting. It's not that I can't do it. Because I have done a few double knitted items. It's just my tension is still really wonky. But hopefully with practice that will change for the better.

Q: If you were a school-aged witch sorted into the Slytherin house from the Harry Potter books, how do you think you'd get on with your housemates?

A: I think I would get along pretty well with most of my housemates. The hardest part for me would be to actually go up and talk to someone first as I usually am pretty quiet around new people. It does take some time to warm up and then I just talk and talk.

Q: The Race Car Drive asks you to crochet or knit something for him -- when you ask what he would like, he says "surprise me!" What do you decide to make?

A: This one took some thinking. I was considering the Blanket of Doom (Op Art Blanket in Duke Blue Devil colors) that would be big enough to snuggle under with him. Then I was thinking maybe something to wear so he can stay warm when I am busy. I did find this cardigan pattern called Avast. It sounded very nautical and since I am a former sailor it just seemed to fit. I think he would look pretty smart in it. But then I think he looks good in a t-shirt and sweatpants.

Q: So far, what has been the most difficult challenge for you as Slytherin's Head of House?

A: The most difficult challenge would be a tie between trying to pull the house back together after the Fall 2010 term and dealing with discipline issues. Neither one of them were fun. Plus this term had the added fun of me trying to balance my time with real life college since I went back to work on my Political Science degree. So I have had to be somewhat organized although I am pretty sure that I have forgotten some things this term.

I also asked Girly what some of her favorite projects were that she had finished this term:

"I love how fast those necklaces were made." Fast like a certain driver that inspired her elegant Burton Beaded Necklace after (note the colors of the beads, too).





















"This hat was knitted up using my very own hand-dyed yarn. One day I plan to make a full skein of the colourway or at least try." She called this cheerful colourway Tequila Sunrise, and it worked up gorgeously in her cute Dittany hat.

























"This sweater took forever to finish because I kept putting it aside for other projects. But it was the first time I added a hood to anything and I thought it went pretty well." It looks to me like the wait was definitely worth it! Perhaps Girly's lovely December Lady Sweater will inspire more Slytherins to brave the hooded projects.



























I'm afraid I've only scratched the surface of our HoH's awesomeness, but I hope I have done her justice so that bugging her phone and hiding in her closet for all those hours will have been productive, at least.

--ElfLiberator

And the hottie of the week is ...

... Jeremy Northam as Mr. Knightly, winning by one vote!

If any of you have missed this particular version of Jane Austen's "Emma," I highly recommend it. Gwyneth Paltrow plays Emma adorably, and Jeremy Northam is absolutely yummy in it. Makes you wonder the whole movie why she's so freakin' clueless! (kudos if you get that reference to another movie loosely based on the same book)
























For this week, the hottie theme is "Sexy Baddies," so nominate your favorite bad boys and villains in the Bring Forth the Hotties! thread in the Snake Pit.

Yar Weekend Report

Welcome to a special nautical edition of Weekend Report.  This week's top story - Snakepit Island.  In a bold move this week Slytherins climbed aboard Captin Maigret's pirate ship to find the island where the Malabrigo trees grow.  After having to turn the ship around once to procure enough coffee to keep our head of house calm the ship sped through the seas.  One Slytherin was quoted as saying, "Nothing like a long sea voyage to get some serious work done on your OWL." 

Weather:  Snakepit Island expects another beautiful clear day with random storms of margarita mix and sunscreen massages.

In other news Classwork is slowly rolling in:

Herbology - 7 bounteous bouquets

Transfiguration - 4 pints of dragons blood turned in.

Potions - 8 super strong chicks

HOM - 6 goals whoo hoo

Muggle Studies - 8 healing draughts

Arithmancy - 5 circular wonders

DADA - 7 educational decrees

Charms - 5 wisps of wonder

Keep up the classwork Snakes, I know we're all stressing out on the OWLs, but we're in third place so lets rock it.

Forgivable Curse of the Week:  You can kiss my mohair covered pointy bits.

Finally from the Subhuman interest desk - Crafting Books.  You know you collect them, covet them and guard them as though they were horcruxes.  So, you are boarding the pirate ship for Snakepit Island and can only bring two knitting books which ones would they be?  I'd bring Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitter's Almanac and one of Barbara Walker's stitch bibles.  What about you?  Leave a comment and give me something entertaining to read.

This is Rockinsticks on the high seas signing off and saying, "Yar, I like rum."

March Madness in Slytherin house!

For March's Slytherin Unity Theme, snakes were asked to post their projects inspired by holidays in the month of March.

Abycat gave a nod not only the the first day of Spring with her floral coaster set, but dedicated this project to a popular holiday in our house, Make Love to Severus Snape Day on March 26th. The green coasters were especially crafted to hold tumblers of our beloved Professor's favorite libation, Old Ogden's fire whiskey!






















BronwenD made this adorable four-leaf clover lucky charm in honor of St. Patrick's Day on March 17th.















Maigret celebrated the luck o' the Irish with this lovely shamrock-colored shawl.

















Rockinsticks knitted a set of Quidditch clothing for our dear Professor Snape, the better to celebrate Throw Severus to the Ground and Tear off his Quidditch Sweater and Shin Guards Day on March 26th.































Allow the March Madness to take you as well and join in the many celebrations for this month's Slytherin Unity Theme!

--ElfLiberator

Hottie of the Week!

And the winner this week is ...

FOXY!























Yes, everyone's perennial favorite hottie from the House Cup has reclaimed the title yet again this week, as our Hogwarts Hottie! Congratulations, Foxy!

For this week, nominate your favorite hottie-in-period-dress over in the Bring Forth the Hotties thread in the Snake Pit. We want to see open billowy shirts and tight pants, we want to see corsets and heaving bosoms. Jane Austen was never so sexy as the Snake Pit hottie thread this week!

Welcome to another edition of Weekend Report.  I'm Rockinsticks with co-anchor Elfliberator.  In our top story this week there was an unconfirmed breakout of cookies and cooties in the common room this week.  It is uncertain where the outbreak began, but it is believed to be related to missing your post quota if your name is Drusillawormwood.  Slytherins are advised to post one absurd fact a day in order to remain cootie free.

In other news the point spread is tight for the house cup with Ravenclaw in first place.  We're close snakes keep up the crafting.  If you are worried about your OWL look for little projects for classes.  Remember everything gets at least 15 points.

Weather:  Single-ply like temperatures should be enjoyed by all.

In sports the big Dateline Challenge runs March 11 - 14th.  Should you choose to don your shin guards you will be matched up in a sudden death match with someone from another house crafting similar things for charity.  Fill out this form to be matched up.

On the injured list or simply (like me) usually chosen last for sports?  Brush up your cheers for the House Pride Exhibition on the 25th.  No crafting required just big hurrahs.  If you weren't part of the cheering madness last term scan through this thread starting here for the excellent cheers from Fall 2010.  Each cheer represents 3 points for Slytherin.

Forgivable Curse of the Week:  You are the missed yarn over in the Eastonian shawl of my life.

Finally from the Sub-human interest desk - toys.  All this talk of cooties got me reminiscing about the toys of my youth.  All time favorite...Tinkertoys.  So stroll down memory lane and leave a comment telling us your favorite childhood toy.  Yes, you will date yourself.  No I don't care.

Have a great weekend snakes.  This is Rockinsticks signing off. 

The early birds!

Or rather, the early snakes!

It's only two days into the month of March and already several Slytherins who were quickest on the draw have posted homework assignments to the House Cup classes.


For Potions class, dovely dyed yarn in a womanly royal purple to show who is the queen of her household!




















Muggle Studies asked us to craft ways to prevent or cure illness like Muggles, and maigret's chill-preventing hat and bootie set for a newborn baby will not only prevent illness from a cold, but do it adorably!

































Mi5chicken celebrated the honorable but mysterious Michigan tradition of the hockey octopus for the History of Magic sporting assignment (Go Red Wings!):






































For Herbology, BronwenD's unfortunate illness inspired her to make a lovely poppy in honor of Madame Pomfrey, who probably would have just the right potion on hand to make her feel better.
















For Defense Against the Dark Arts, newknitter64 showed that, unlike Umbridge, she's not averse to practical experience, and did beautifully on her first dyeing experience with kool-aid.





















Suenosdejmi succeeded in being true to herself while cleverly playing on Umbridge's favoritism, by distracting her with a cute Slytherin mini-sock and crafting a second mini-sock honoring her Hufflepuff side.


































In Arithmancy, dovely turned in yet another gorgeous dyeing project with her "golden fleece" colored yarn, inspired by the March constellation Carina, which was originally part of the constellation Argo Navis, the ship for Jason and the Argonauts.





















So far, it's a gorgeous start to the last month of the winter term. Awesome job Slytherins!

--ElfLiberator