My Daughter the Muse

Arianna and Me

August 12th brought my daughter Arianna home for a ten day visit.  Arianna, like me, is a crafting dabbler.  She does some of everything.  She is also a Nanny so her crafting has to be small, fairly portable, space conscious and kid friendly.  Not a sprawling mess like mine is.  But she is always up to learn something new.  The visit was way too short.

So one of the first things we did was go over my fabric stash additions.  She tried to steal my precious fabric.  She hadn't even taken her sewing machine when she left 2 1/2 years ago and she wanted my fabric.

Then she tried to steal all the jewelry that Tatianna and I made.  Okay not all of it but several pieces.  I did let have 3 or 4 of them, maybe more.  Arianna was especially intrigued with the viking knit and kumihimo cords. 

I never got around to showing her how to do the viking knit.  But I did get her hooked on the kumihimo.  She made several ribbon cords and decided she needed a disk so she could work with one of  kids on it.  Arianna played with several different patterns and styles.  She even took the square one and figured out how to do it.  She had handed it to me to do, of course I hadn't been watching her and well I messed it up.  It was funny to see her reaction as she carefully undid the mistake.  I felt a little bit of pay back for all the times I had to undo and redo something she had messed up. 

Anyway, Arianna started going through the bead stash to use with her kumi cords.  She tried to steal several focal points.  I did give in and let her have a few of them.  But one piece in particular she wanted was a metal fairy pendant.  I bought it on Etsy last year some time.  I bought it because I wanted to make a necklace for my best friend/sister, Bear.  Bear loves Fairies.  I just had no idea what I was going to do with it. 

Now because it was for Bear and because she loves her Aunt Bear, Arianna didn't argue or even beg for the fairy   But bless her heart she gave me the start of an idea.  Arianna said you have to make vines and leaves and stuff because it is a fairy and all of a sudden I had the picture in my mind.  Problem was I didn't have the beads nor the ribbon.

The next day we went shopping in pursuit of Kumihimo disks.  We went to Lizette's shop in Havana, FL.  It's called "Lizette's Great Beadginnings".  It is a small bead shop in the back of Cindy's Chapeuax. (also a great little shop)  I like Lizette's because for the most part the prices are very reasonable, they have classes and you can just go in there on a Saturday afternoon and chat.  A fun place to be.  I knew that Lizette had the Kumi disks but I also knew they would be about $8.00.  They are made for jewelry makers.  Arianna needed something a little less pricey to work with kids on.  While at Lizette's I found the beads that I wanted for the necklace.  I had already picked up the ribbon that morning.

The search for affordable Kumi disks continued at Hobby Lobby in Tallahassee.  No disks there.  We did see and microwave kiln for fusing glass and a glass bead starter kit.  Both of which are now on my wish list.  (Like I need another distraction)

On to a little bead shop I had heard about.  It opened last October and was close already.  In this economy little craft shops are dying.  It is not the only one I know of that has closed recently.

That left one more place to look, Michael's.  I had not been to the Michael's in Tallahassee.  I am afraid it is not one of my favorite stores.  I find them to be a little high priced and more Home Dec than craft.  (I think my favorite craft store of all time was Switz's in North Syracuse, NY but since they died it has to be Craft Warehouse, a chain in the Pacific Northwest)  But I digress.

We looked all over Michael's,  we were about to give up when Arianna and Tatianna wandered into the Kid's section.  There they were labeled weaving wheels.  And at a reasonable price, $3.99 each.  There were 2 left and Arianna snatched them up.  A few more items and we were checking out.  Heavenly Father really loves Arianna because at the checkout the price was $1.50. She was one happy girl.


the slide


Once we got home I started on the Kumihimo cord for the necklace.  Sage Green and Heather Purple.  It didn't take very long to get the length I needed. I finished finished off the cord except for the end caps.  I then found a dowel the same size of the cord, wrapped a heavy wire around it and formed the base of the slide I wanted to hold the fairy.  I then wired flowers and leaves to the base wire creating tendrils with the ends.  I made beaded drop to attache the fairy with and slid it onto the cord.  I finished it all off with bead caps and a clasp.  I was so happy with it, it turned out just as I had pictured it.  All it took was Arianna to observe it needed leaves and vines.

I know that Bear reads my blog and I can't wait to hear what she thinks of her necklace.  I sent it home with Arianna and gave her the task of getting it to Bear.  You see I am terrible about mailing stuff.  My mother-in-law's Christmas present from last year is still sitting on a shelf ready to be mailed.

Bear - I hope you get down to the Maryland Faire this year.  Arianna really wants to see you.  But if you don't just nag Arianna until she mails it to you.  I love you.  - Amy