You’re a wizard, Harry!

This year I got to celebrate 20 years with my favorite literary character, Harry James Potter.

I got to grow up with Harry, I was in 6th grade when I first read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and I’m definitely part of the “Potter Generation”. I prefer that title over Millennial any day.

Hi, I’m Amy and I’m a Potterhead.

Or if you want to be more specific, I’m a Ravenclaw and proud of it.

I think I what I like most about the series is the JK Rowling writes with intelligence, she has so many multi-faceted themes. Her characters are well developed and real, with many flaws, and she doesn’t dumb down concepts like death, love, and friendship and make it cheesy. It was fun and magical but tough and complicated. Before I read the first book, I never read a “kid” book that was accessible but also real.

This year, I decided that it had been too long since I’ve read the books. I was going to reread the series (currently still in book 6, trying to savor every moment) and finally go to Harry Potter Park at Universal Studios, Florida. We went in April and it was glorious! Best trip I’ve had in a really long time. I remember walking around thinking, all of this came from someone’s head. She thought it, wrote it, and now I’m in it. Isn’t life weird?

Also, try the frozen butterbeer, you won’t regret it.

It’s 10 years ago today, that the final book was released. I felt very conflicted – I wanted to rush through the pages to find out everything that happened, but also wanted to savor every thing that happened, knowing it would be the last time I would read it for the first time.

Now, I get to look forward to when my daughter is old enough to read the books. I hope she loves the book as much as I do.

So what does Harry Potter have to do with knitting?

“Oh there you are Albus,” he said. ‘You’ve been a very long time. Upset stomach?’ ‘No, I was merely reading the Muggle magazines,’ said Dumbledore. ‘I do love knitting patterns.’

Why do you have to be so awesome Dumbledore, why?!?

Well, not just that…I first wanted to learn how to knit around 8th or 9th grade. I had to have a Gryffindor house scarf so I could be Hermione Granger for Halloween. This spurred my love for crafts and creativity and melded my love for Rowling’s magical world into my own. It took me all summer to finish the scarf, it was long enough to double dutch! And is still my favorite item that I’ve ever knitted.

One thing about crafts, is that I love many! I’ve learned how to knit, crochet, sew, counted cross stitch and probably a few other random things. But I also have a PhD when to comes to crafts: projects half done. But here are a few completed and WIP…

Currently, I’ve been a doing counted cross stitch from The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery. I love the whimsy feeling these patterns have to them. I’m hoping to get one finished soon to show off. I’ve been working on this one, below, while listening to my Harry Potter audio books.

Thank you Karin.

All was well.