According to our recent poll, the majority of you would prefer to start up another round of founders_gifts in August. This sounds like a good idea to me, so it's what we'll be doing.

So watch out for sign ups next month!

I'm thinking early August, so it doesn't interfere too badly with most schools starting up, but if this is an immediate problem for anyone, please speak up, and I'll see what I can do.

Hello again, everyone. It's good to be back. :)

There has been talk of doing another round this summer, and I thought I'd see what you think about that.

( Poll results under here. )

Well, at long last, here we are: the end of the Summer 2008 Hogwarts Founders Fic and Art Exchange! There were a few rough patches along the road, to be certain, but over all, we believe that this was a great exchange, and we ended up with ten brilliant gifts. Thank you so much for your cooperation and participation over the past few months!

Also, we'd like to thank our pinch-hitter (you know who you are) once again for helping us out. You have no idea how much it meant to us! ♥

Beyond the cut is the masterlist of all fics and art. Feel free, at this point, to post the gift you created on your own personal journal, or elsewhere. And remember to thank the person that created a gift for you!

Best wishes, everyone. :)

( The Masterlist )

The final gift has just been posted at last, so look forward to seeing the masterlist within the next couple of days!

Thank you everybody for the great exchange! ♥

Title: From Barren Trees
Gift for: holyfant
Author: peskywhistpaw
Characters/Pairing: Rowena gen, light Rowena/Helga
Rating: PG
Warnings: femmeslash, rather disjointed thoughts
Genres: gen, angst
Author's Notes: I hope you enjoy this, holyfant!
Summary: Oft times, I forget that change is still possible, and always am I surprised when I encounter it. Salazar’s departure has left Rowena lost, but not for reasons one might expect.

( From Barren Trees )

As we are still awaiting our last gift, there will be nothing posted today. I apologize very much for the delay!

To tide you over until tomorrow, I thought I'd make available the icons I've been using when posting your gifts. I understand that the actors and actresses used are not who everybody sees as the Founders, but I used them mostly for purposes of consistency (you'll notice them in the journal header). You're welcome to take any of the icons, just credit peskywhistpaw. And please, no hotlinking!

Many apologies, again, about today's gift!

( Never tickle a sleeping dragon... )

Title: Breaking Ground for Hogwarts
Gift for: EVERYONE!
Artist: venturous1
Characters: Godric, Helga, Rowena, Salazar
Rating: G
Warnings: shirtless men, stony ground
Genres: gen
Artist's Notes: Thank you to our mod and all participants, this was great fun!

I learned a lot researching 10th century Scots costume, namely, that attire was perfunctory and primitive in those early days, not the elaborate and generic 'medieval' one finds at say, Ren Faires. I looked at costuming for many a Macbeth, about the right time and place, and decided on basic roman-inspired garb that that could be readily made by the home seamstress.

Thanks be to the artists who made my figures possible:
Salazar inspired by a drawing by Francesco Primaticcio. Godric's torso from a drawing by Tiepolo, and Helga and Rowena from a sketch by Mantegna.
Summary: -

( Breaking Ground for Hogwarts )

Here is a wee ficlet that appeared as I worked on the art, :

( Breaking Ground )

Title: Whimsical Forest
Gift for: peskywhistpaw
Author: ceria_taliesin
Pairing: Helga Hufflepuff / Salazar Slytherin
Rating: PG
Warnings: Nada
Genres: romance (I hope!)
Author's Notes: My betas are too good to me. Thank you for that. Forgive me if any of my herbology research is wrong.
Summary: Godric sends his best friend to meet an interesting woman.

( Whimsical Forest )

Title: Until the Knight Comes
Gift for: acidpop25
Author: vegetasbubble
Pairing: Helga/Salazar (friendship), Salazar/Godric (Friendship), Rowena/Godric (friendship/romance)
Rating: PG
Warnings:
Genres: romance, angst
Author's Notes: This story was written for the 2008 founders_gifts exchange on livejournal, written for acidpop25. Hopefully, this story covers what you wanted! Also, this story may be an AU fic, for the sole purpose that some things may not be intended by JK. Rowling.
Summary: For five years Helga Hufflepuff has been living with Godric, Rowena and Salazar. Now, a deadly secret has come back to haunt her as the villagers from her once peaceful home have come to burn her at the stake.

( Until the Knight Comes )

Title: Priceless
Gift for: vegetasbubble
Author: acidpop25
Pairing: Salazar/Helga
Rating: PG
Warnings: Canonical character death.
Genres: Romance/tragedy
Author's Notes: Many thanks to my two betas for their rather last-minute help, as well as their constant encouragement and support. I could never have done it without them.
Summary: Everyone has something for which they will sacrifice anything. Everyone.

( Priceless )

Title: A Different Kind of Thanks
Gift for: grey_gazania
Author: laundrylove
Characters: Rowena Ravenclaw, Helena Ravenclaw.
Rating: G
Warnings: None.
Genres: Gen, family, slight angst.
Author's Notes: I've never written Helena before, and she was quite an interesting character to delve in to. I hope you enjoy it!
Summary: Helena and her mother argue, fight, and go to a meeting. In that order.

( A Different Kind of Thanks )

Title: Portrait of Helga
Gift for: cesaretech
Artist: arbor_vitae
Character: Helga Hufflepuff
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Genres: Gen
Artist's Notes: I hope you enjoy, cesaretech!

( Portrait of Helga )

Title: Supplementary Falsehoods to a First Impression
Gift for: laundrylove
Author: peskywhistpaw
Pairing: Godric/Rowena
Rating: PG
Warnings: None, I believe.
Genres: Humor, and budding romance
Author's Notes: I hope you enjoy this, laundrylove! I am very much fond of romantic humor, myself, and it was a pleasure to write this for you. :) Thank you to V for the beta.
Summary: Godric and Rowena learn that sometimes, first impressions are not entirely right.

( Supplementary Falsehoods to a First Impression )

Title: The Heart of Glass
Gift for: arbor_vitae
Author: holyfant
Characters: Rowena Ravenclaw, Helena (The Grey Lady), the rest of the founders
Rating: PG
Warnings: none
Genres: gen
Author's Notes: I hope you like it, arbor_vitae! Apart from your request, I also based this on the information found on Rowena's "Wizard of the Month" card on JKR's website: "One of the four famous Founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Rowena Ravenclaw was the most brilliant witch of her time, though legend has it that a broken heart - cause unknown - contributed to her early demise."
Summary: "Rowena Ravenclaw was not the kind of woman to love easily."

( The Heart of Glass )

Title: Determining Hogwarts
Gift for: venturous1
Artist: cesaretech
Characters: Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin
Rating: G
Warnings: N/A
Genres: Gen
Artist's Notes: N/A
Summary: For were there such friends anywhere as Slytherin and Gryffindor?

( Determining Hogwarts )

Hello everyone! I am pleased to announce that the seventh of ten gifts has just been turned in, which means that posting will start in a matter of moments! Huzzah!

Before we commence, however, I would like to say a few things.

First, thank you to everyone who participated! We did have two people drop out, unfortunately; however, the rest of you have been very communicative and have worked very hard to get your gifts in. (Gifts which, if I may say so, are all completely amazing!)

Second, a big thank you to my co-mod, chimbomba! She’s been very helpful with holding down the fort and finding a pinch-hitter, et cetera—so thanks for keeping things organized!

Third, I know that everyone worked extremely hard on their respective gifts, so please remember to comment! Everyone loves feedback! But remember, if you, as the author or artist, would like to respond to any of your comments while the exchange is running, please do so anonymously. You’re welcome to respond to comments with your own LJ account after the big reveal is posted, however.

Lastly, please also remember not to post your respective gifts anywhere else or claim any particular gift as being created by you until after the big reveal is posted. We still want to keep everyone’s identity a secret!

But now—onward to the gifts!

This is your final reminder - gifts are due at some point today. Please remember to include the proper header information when you turn in your gift.

This is just a reminder that your gifts are due tomorrow, August 10. If you need an extension, PLEASE contact me ASAP.

Remember to include the appropriate header information when you send in your gifts!

I'd like to start posting when I've got at least 7/10 gifts, but right now, we're at about 3/10.

There are approximately four days left until gifts are due! Please send your completed fics/art to foundersgiftsmod@gmail.com. I will send you a reply letting you know I have received it (so if you've sent it and I haven't replied, try sending it again).

And if you need an extension, let me know as soon as possible! Very few gifts have already been turned in.

Hey everyone! I hope things are going well.

This is just a reminder that all gifts are due in approximately one week, on August 10th. Please contact me if you need an extension.