Hearts, Butterflies, and Octopus

I've been working on wire working a special gift.  I started off with a double heart idea with her initial and her kids birthstones.  I was almost done when I realized that it just wasn't her and she wouldn't wear it.  So, I tore it apart and started over again.

I started out with a simple wirewrapped heart and put a flower in the middle.  I wired swarovski crystals on the inside of the flower with the birthstones.  The end result is pretty and not to fru fru (Is that even a word?).  I still may do a little more but I am going to sleep on it before deciding.

I used the bits from my first set and I'm going to turn it into a butterfly pendant.  This is my mock up and it is not even close to completed.

The octopus pendant was done awhile ago.  I'll be adding it into my Etsy shop tomorrow.  First I think it needs some swarovski crystal eyes.   I'll most likely go with clear to give it a little sparkle.  This is one of the smaller pendants.  I handpainted it with unique mixture of blues and then highlighted it with a light rust color.  This isn't the picture but I'll add more in tomorrow.  

The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree

My daughter recently learned how to crochet.  She was on a 2 hour school bus trip and learned how to crochet during that time. I had tried to teach her when she was smaller but she didn't have the hand eye coordination at that point.

I was thrilled that she learned and eager to teach her more about it.  After a couple of weeks of chain stitch I showed her a double crochet and she quickly decided to make a scarf.  I helped her a bit but for the most part she did it and finished in 3 days.

She visited with her grandmother and learned how to crochet in the round.  She taught herself how to increase and decrease to make different things (pot holders, coasters, ball, hats).

Tonight she decided to make a Squinkie necklace.  She crocheted the chain and put the Squinkie in the chain. It looks so adorable.

Here is her proud smile.  I'm paranoid about weirdos so I covered most of her face.  She asked if she could sell them in my Etsy shop and I told her she could.  We changed the way the Squinkie hung from the crochet chain so she is wear it to school tomorrow in hopes she might sell one. I just can't be more proud of her!