The Summer Crafting Swap Party has, due to the late realization that this coming Sunday is Father's Day, been moved back a week. It will now take place on Sunday June 28th at noon PST, 8pm GMT. We hope to see you all there! Sign ups for the swap will also be extended, so you still have time to sign up if you're interested.

The Summer Crafting Swap is open for sign-ups. Get in on the SPEW fun! Oh, and did I mention we're having a party? Click here for the scoop!

Looking for a little something to pass the time this summer? Why not check out our latest RPG, Summertime Blues?

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to enroll your original HP Character in Wizarding Summer Camp! Yes, you read that right! This summer's RPG will be open to original characters! In order to participate in this RPG, you must "register" your character by passing through a simple application process.

Game starts June 15th, hope to see you there!

Star and Pen

International Cuppa Swap 2009

Whether you can’t function without your morning boost, or if you just love the taste and aroma of a good cuppa, this is the swap for you!

In the past this has been a tea-only swap, but this year the coffee lovers out there are included as well!


This swap is dedicated to the memory of a great teaholic Immeritan.

Today (the 23rd) is Boe's birthday, so as you enjoy the tea (and coffee), please give thought to our dearest Boeluen and come and join our swap!

OK! Voting is over and it's time to get this show on the needles!

*drum roll please!*

And the winners are!

In the knitting category, Hermione's Cable & Eyelet hat

In the crochet category The Ipod Cozy, pattern by our very own Dora!!!

For links to the projects see my latest post in The Immy Thread.

We're going to give you two weeks to get your materials, but don't jump the gun! We'll start knitting/hooking on March 21st to celebrate the very first day of Spring! If you start before that, you'll just miss out on the fun of knitting and hooking along with everyone else. Our goal is to be finished with our projects by, you guessed it, June 22nd, which is the first day of summer! By then, we would hope that by then not even Dobby would want to wear a hat and that your Ipods would overheat if you dressed them up.

Since two weeks is, well, two weeks, and you're not really allowed to get the needles out until then (and no, swatching counts as part of the projects ladies, not as a prelim measure!), let's kick off by posting about the colours and materials we plan on using. Show us your yarn and tell us about any "improvements" you plan on making. We'd love to see what everyone is planning so we can pilfer your ideas to spur on our own imaginations. Now's a good time to ask any questions or brush up on techniques. If you think you might have trouble doing something, post about it here and someone will be sure to help you.

Finally, just in case any of you plan on flouting our starting date, I've hired Peeves to torment anyone he finds working on it. He knows how to turn up out of the blue and you all know how much fun he has when he's got you where he wants you, so beware!

It's party time people! Come join us in chat to celebrate with (and surprise!) ( Read more... )

Since the advent of the Burrow Bazaar, we've decided to add an additional element of Crafty Commissions.

Ever find yourself wishing you had a scarf, hat, mittens of a certain colour, type or pattern and just can't do it yourself? Can't sew but need something special? Want to organize your photos for a special occasion but have no clue where to start? That's where the Immy Crafters come in!


The Basic Idea:

If you'd like to commission an item, post here with a rough, or exact - if you have a pattern - description of what you're looking for, then sit back and wait for a volunteer. Be sure to include the item, color, type of yarn/material, type of pattern and price range you're looking for. Once a volunteer contacts you, you can discuss the details with them via e-mail or PM. When everything's been decided, the volunteer should contact a mod and let them know the details, including email addresses for both parties, and then post in the thread to let everyone know the commission has been taken.* Since this is the sort of transaction which calls for all parties to be extremely reliable, it's only open to well known members, both commissioner and craft volunteer-wise. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me to ask.

Immy Donations: Please note that the purpose of this thread is to help make money to keep our community up and running. We can't force anyone to donate, but we would like to request that commissioners voluntarily donate $10 for smaller items and $15 for larger items. The cost of the material for each item can either be donated to Immy, or reimbursed to the craft volunteer, to be stipulated by the volunteer before the project is begun. For example, if the item is a small to mediums sized scarf for which the material cost $15, Immy should receive a min. donation of $10. The $15 material cost would then either be paid to the volunteer, or the volunteer could choose to have it donated to Immy as well, making a total donation of $25 to Immy.

*We ask that all volunteers provide the commissioners with exact cost before completing any agreements; shipping cost should also be taken into consideration. All agreements must be Mod approved before the project is begun so that we can ensure fairness to all parties. Once the item is completed, the volunteer should post to thread (with pics if you like so we can all ogle and drool!). Mag will then invoice the commissioner for the agreed cost via the Immy Donations system.

Any questions? Contact either me or Pen and we will be more than happy to help!

I am! And I know many of you are as well! Tomorrow is the US Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama and we at Immeritus want to wrap up our election activities with an Inauguration Chat! Log in to our chatroom at 11.00am Eastern time (GMT -5), 10.00am Central, 9.00am, Mountain, 8.00am Pacific tomorrow morning, January 20, to gather together as we witness this historic day. The swearing in itself will take place as noon.

The Inauguration ceremonies will be covered by all major news channels and networks but if you're stuck at work or elsewhere, many news channels' websites will be streaming the ceremony live online. So put work on hold for a little bit and join us!

The next item(s) for sale are some very pretty, handsewn stocking sacks by the mousy newbie herself.

People interested should pm sugar_mouse.

Stocking Sack

Stocking sacks are basically like stockings, they serve the same purpose as stockings, but they're easier to fit presents in.

Pattern: Thought it up myself, so i guess it's improvised?
Material used: 'Festive fizz panel' cotton by Makower UK, Dark green fleece, Dark green velvet ribbon.
Size is 37cm (length) by 28.5cm (width).
Suggested donation: $10. (more if you want a 'signed for' Christmas delivery!)

One is currently available. The next should be finished asap.

Pictures available here

A Big thanks to Sugar Mouse for helping us out!

Once again we have a new item for sale:

Diamond Lace Cowl knit by Canute. Should you be interested in donating to purchase this item, please contact Canute by PM or E-Mail.

Pattern: Diamond Lace Cowl by Knitplaywithfire from Ravelry
A big thanks to KPF for allowing us to use her pattern! This pattern is not yet available, but will be soon. This was a test knit, so if you buy this, you'll be getting a prototype!

Yarn: Mimi from Bernetta Wolle (50g / 230 yards)
Colourway: 114.24
Weight: Fingering
Fibre: 100% Merino Wool
Washing Instructions: Hand wash cold/warm, stretch to shape and dry flat
Needles: 4mm
Size: approx. 15 inches long, wide enough to fit over anyone's head

Cost for this scarf: $15

Delivery Time: Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. Can be sent Super Snail with larger donation.

Notes from the knitter: As mentioned, this was a test knit for Knitplaywithfire and is a prototype. I love the way it turned out and will certainly use the pattern again. Here it is, modelled by the ever obliging Mr. Bear. It is made of 100% wool, so if you're sensitive, this might not be for you. It is, however, really warm and comfy.

Sign-ups are now open for our 2008 Fanfic, Poetry, and Fanart Holiday Exchange!

Please follow one of the links below for more information, rules, deadlines, etc.

Fanart
Restricted Section Fanart

Fanfic
Restricted Section Fanfic

Poetry
Restricted Section Poetry

Sign-ups are only open until December 1, so please sign up ASAP!

*Mince pies baking on a real log fire
Buckbeak nipping at your nose
Wizard rock being sung by the fire
While house elves avoid Hermione's clothes

Everybody knows that slicing spells and magic knives
Help to keep your quill nib fine
While you write out all of your Immy cards
And send them out before you pine..

Away for Santa and his elves
Who'll bring you lots of cards and pressies on his broom
And for all the other things that Christmas shares
And helps us to show that we really do care

So I'm telling you all once again,
If you've not already gotten there yet
Go and sign up for the Immeritus Swaps
for your Christmas fun



And a resounding chorus of Hallelujah that rotten eggs cannot be sent in digital form.



Haven't signed up yet? Still thinking about it? Well, think no more! Go and sign up before it's too late!


The Snail Mail Card Swap
The Virtual Card Swap
The International Secret Santa Swap

*With Special Thanks to Moonanddogstar for supplying the first line and breaking my writers block. Not that I wouldn't have posted it anyway, so it's not her fault. She just improved it. :0)

It's November 4th and that means it's Election Day in the USA! We know our international community of Immeritans is very interested in this election so we're bringing back an Immy tradition and watching the election results roll in from Immy Chat!

Join us whenever the spirit moves you; we're expecting a pretty good crowd. The polls begin closing at 8pm Eastern time (GMT -5) so feel free to pop in and watch and chat with us!

See you there!!

We are back online. If you get a message about being in maintenance mode, the domain hasn't resolved to the new server for your part of the world yet. It should be done soon because it is done for me and for canutius (and we are decidely on totally different parts of the world!).

Once again, a huge thank you goes out to scarah2 for helping me with the transfer of the database and all sorts of other little things.

As I mentioned in The Daily Prophet, we are moving to a new server and it is now time, ladies and gents, for me to take the site down. If all goes well, it should come back up soon. Then I will need to point our name to the new server which might take a day or two (it will be different for different parts of the world as the name propagates). If it takes too long, I will post the temporary url that you can use, but only if it takes too long as it might make things more complicated for you in the future.

Cross your fingers!

Once again we have a new item for sale, this time donated by our own VolDoraMort! Thanks Dora! *round of applause*

Pattern: Improvised Design

Sale Status: Available

Yarn: Bernat Softee Baby Ombres & Prints
Colourways: #31744 Funny Print (White with light blue, medium blue and green dots)
Weight: DK
Fibre: 100% Acrylic
Washing Instructions: Hand wash cold/warm, dry flat / Could be machine washed on gentle cycle (cold)
Hook Size: 6.0mm, 5.5mm
Size: 54" (137.2 cm) wide at the top by 29" (73.7 cm) tall in the middle

Cost: for this item: $20 Donation

Delivery Time: It can get mailed pretty quickly, so it depends on where it's going.

Notes from the crocheter:
This Shawl/Wrap is made from an Acrylic baby yarn, so it's soft and warm. It's a nice size, and has lovely scalloped edges all the way around. With a bit more of a spring coloring to the yarn, and would be a pefect accessory for an Easter Sunday outfit!

Pictures:
Modeled by my Mum:

From the Front:

From the Side:

The Whole Thing

The Colours in it

Interested? Get the to The Burrow!

PS: The Handwarmers are back on the market as well. I'll edit the sold sign asap.

Our next item for sale are these Ionian Handwarmers Knit by yours truly.


Pattern: Improvised Design


Yarn: Bernetta Wolle Sportival
Colourway: 407-15 (Steal/Dark Blue - Change colour a bit with the light)
Weight: Worsted
Fibre: 50% Merino Wool and 50% Acrylic
Washing Instructions: Hand wash cold/warm, dry flat / Could be machine washed on gentle cycle (cold)
Needles: 4.5mm
Size: Medium (I have short, fat fingers)

Cost for this item: $15 Donation

Delivery Time: Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery. Can be sent Super Snail Mail with larger donation.

Notes from the knitter: These mitts are knit from a merino/acrylic mixture which makes them warm, but very soft and pleasant to wear. Because they aren't 100% wool, they could be used in a milder climate, or in spring / autumn in colder climates. These types of mitts are great for people who have cold hand, but still need to use their fingers. Frankly, I like these so well, that I'm hoping they don't sell. If it gets cold here any time soon, I might just have to take them off the market.

Sorry about the picture quality and the fact that there's only one, but it would be a while before I could get decent pictures in natural light, so I'm just going to use what I have. (The other hand looks just the same, but thankfully has the thumb on the other side).



This is the wool in natural light:

Deck the halls with cards from Immy
Fa la la la la, la la la la
And cover the entire chimney
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Don it with all of your swap presents
Fa la la, la la la, la la la
Join us in our fun events
Fa la la la la, la la la la

Sing it with me now!

Hmmmm…don’t know what I was expecting. None of you sang last year either. Is it my lyrics? The song? Do you need sheet music? A symphony orchestra accompaniment? Talk about a difficult audience! Sheesh. Humbugs, the lot of you. Well, at least you don’t get people throwing tomatoes through the internet.


You guessed it! Christmas is coming and it will be here before Santa’s beard grows back from that nasty accident with the bunsen burners in the elf’s chem lab. Oh wait, I wasn’t supposed to say anything about that. Sorry. Forget I mentioned it. Top secret stuff that. Just don’t go pulling on Santa’s beard this year children, k?

So, Christmas is coming and this year, we’re going to be prepared! This year, we’re not going to stress! This year, we’re going to get things done early! Oh, yeah, said that last year too, didn’t we (Yes, we did. I checked) . But this year is the year we do it! I feel it in my antlers. (I heard that Tarita! For the last time, they are not horns, they are antlers. I swear it. Santa gave them to me for Christmas one year. Just because he had a long, pointy tail and a pitchfork doesn’t mean he was an impostor. He was wearing a red suit after all. See? Proof. And I had nothing to do with the Bunsen burner incident. Nothing at all. Honestly. Some people are so suspicious. Burn the Christmas tree down one little time and you’re branded for life.)

So, where were we? Oh yes, in true Immy tradition, we’ll be hosting our swaps. Yes, it is only October, yes, we’re a bit early, but we’d like to give everyone enough time to design, create, organize and send their cards and gifts. So, if you want to join in the fun, get a lot of Christmas mail and generally get into the Christmas spirit, join us in The Burrow and start signing up for the swaps:

The Snail Mail Card Swap
The Virtual Card Swap (Linky to come)
The International Secret Santa Swap

Be there or I’ll be forced to make up more of my wonderful Christmas lyrics to berate you all with. I’ll do it too. Just you see. Now off with you! Shoo! Get thee to The Burrow!

So, Halloween is coming and how could we at Immy ignore that? After all, the wizarding world is what accounts for half our myths and tales. To celebrate, we've got a few activities for you in the Burrow. Come on in, take a look and share your Halloween with us in The Burrow!

The Holloween Costume Thread
Home Made Halloween
Halloween Food Art Challenge

Wooot! Thanks to Winky we have a new item up for sale in the Bazaar! Looking for that certain something to compliment your Halloween outfit or night out on the town? Winky has made a wonderful Halloween Capelet which would suit anyone looking to make a great impression. Go take a look at it in The Burrow Bazaar. Remember, all items in the Burrow are donations and only available in return for your donation to Immeritus, so not only are you getting a wonderful gift/item, but you're helping to support your favourite site as well!