So, guess who made these necklaces?
Four-year-old Charlotte did this all by herself. I thought I was embracing disaster by allowing her free access to several bins of beads while I worked on the computer today. I was entirely wrong.
Not only did Miss C patiently string together all of these designs without my oversight, but she made them all symmetrical. Even her most eclectic necklace doesn't miss a beat bead. Hours and hours of necklace-making. All I did was add the clasps. And I bent a loop at the top of her one pendant. That's it.
When I was four years old, my bottom dresser drawer was stocked with
white paper, a stapler and staples. I made all sorts of wild
inventions with white paper that year. And here I thought I had been
tricky-stuff at four, with my paper robots and elephants. Looks like
Charlotte has 4-year-old me mightily whooped.
The moral: Moms, Grandmas, Aunts and Alligators, let your kids have access to some of your precious supplies. They may surprise you with tidiness and ingenuity! I can only imagine what I would have done with real art supplies at that age.
Of course, they may surprise you with a royal disaster instead. I've been there too -- many times.
Pretty good for a little 4 year old! Charlotte looks like she is following in your creative foot steps. My mom was always willing to let us get into her craft supplies. At least she made it seem that way. I think it is a good principal...though I am rather protective of certain supplies. Luckily I have a few years before I have to share.
Posted by: Jess | July 13, 2009 at 02:18 AM
Amazing - and you're brave! I'm not sure my almost four year old could do so well with small beads. Big beads, yes, but maybe not the seed beads and other small ones. And my almost 2 year old...supervision ONLY or she'll end up going crazy! But yes, your post is a nice reminder that we should encourage our kids to try something without breathing down their necks.
Posted by: Deb D | July 13, 2009 at 02:29 AM
Wow, love the necklaces! Can't believe they're made by a four years old girl. Pretty good :)
Posted by: Sarah | July 13, 2009 at 02:38 AM
Maybe giving them "real" art supplies when they are young gives them a sense of responsibility. We always presume they couldn't handle the real stuff or maybe waste it. She did a great job! Good on you Heather.
Posted by: catherine | July 13, 2009 at 02:59 AM
Gorgeous! Definitely following in your footsteps Heather. Little fingers do have an advantage with tiny beads it seems!
Posted by: Ann | July 13, 2009 at 03:21 AM
What a creative little lassie, I hope you are going to keep one for when she is all grown up, maybe present it to her on her 21st or something - of course her tastes maybe completely different by then...
Posted by: jo 戎嶋 | July 13, 2009 at 03:28 AM
Wow, that is awesome! The necklaces turned out gorgeous! Very good eye for color!! Way to Go!
Posted by: Amy | July 13, 2009 at 04:08 AM
She did a great job! I don't have any beading supplies but Faith (my 4 year old) might just get some on her next birthday! I think she would LOVE creating necklaces like that!
Posted by: Kathryn | July 13, 2009 at 04:21 AM
Awesome work Charlotte! I love playing with beads too...especially sparkly ones :)
Posted by: Suzie | July 13, 2009 at 04:32 AM
Excellent work, and you are brave indeed, Heather, to allow her access. I've allowed my nephews (7 and 9) to play with clay and some tools and they did surprise me with how seriously they took the project. We had a great time and they were very proud of the monsters they made.
Posted by: Jami | July 13, 2009 at 05:05 AM
hey heather, where did you find your beads? i'd love to try this with my four year old and the colors you found are just perfect.
Posted by: Jade | July 13, 2009 at 05:34 AM
They are lovely, maybe Charlotte (you) could sell them on Etsy! I enjoy letting my 4 & 6 y.o. daughters do crafty things but my 2 y.o. son is another story. Maybe I'll relinquish some of beads or scrapbooking stuff today.
Posted by: Kathie B. | July 13, 2009 at 06:03 AM
Wow! What a great job and she is only 4.
Posted by: Bobbie Lynn | July 13, 2009 at 06:16 AM
Very impressive! You can learn a lot about color and design by careful study, but much of it is just a gift. A gift she seems to have =).
Posted by: Joan | July 13, 2009 at 06:31 AM
I think you should be impressed! She has done a great job.
Posted by: Kimberly C. | July 13, 2009 at 06:32 AM
I am mighty impressed with your little one! WOW! My almost four-year-old loves to draw...I do let him have access to all the paper and crayons he wants, and most of the time all is well. Most of the time. ;-)
Posted by: Wendy | July 13, 2009 at 06:41 AM
Wow -- applause for Charlotte! She did a great job! My four year old always surprises me too with the colours he puts together and his ability to handle art tools I thought he couldn't. I completely agree with the idea of letting them go for it -- under supervision, of course :-)
Posted by: Jen | July 13, 2009 at 07:26 AM
Wow! I had to reread the part about her age--these turned out great! Another artist in the house:)
Posted by: erika | July 13, 2009 at 07:28 AM
Good job Charlotte! Good job mom for being brave and letting her. It is just amazing how cleverly creative kids can be when we let them try.
Posted by: corinnea | July 13, 2009 at 08:11 AM
I bet she had a blast! I remember when I discovered beads as a craft... I was in heaven:)
-Christine
http://www.monkeycbaby.etsy.com
Posted by: Christine | July 13, 2009 at 09:19 AM
Great job Charlotte!! I let my 4 year old use my professional grade/artist quality materials, too. I have been so impressed by his paintings that I want to frame them and save them. I think kiddos can be just as artistic given the right environment!! Way to go Heather!
Posted by: Rachael | July 13, 2009 at 09:20 AM
That is so cool! Way to go Charlotte. Children are so amazing.
Posted by: Suzy | July 13, 2009 at 10:12 AM
very impressive! can she teach my 4 year old to keep everything from rolling on to the floor for the 2 year old to find? thanks!
Posted by: Patti | July 13, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Wow, that is so impressive. Seems she has some of her mom's giftedness for creativity! :)
Posted by: Carolyn | July 13, 2009 at 01:51 PM
Look at those bright colors, how can you NOT be inspired!?!
Posted by: E. Lindsey Hornkohl | July 13, 2009 at 02:14 PM
What a great reminder for us all. Let kids express themselves creatively--even if potentially messy. They'll discover things about themselves that gameboy will never teach them!
Posted by: Nancy | July 13, 2009 at 03:00 PM
I got a cool idea from the local little bead shop that I buy my supplies from...they keep a container full of big holed beads and pipe cleaners handy for kids to play with while we shop. I picked some up for myself and when I'm making my jewlery she gets to make her own necklaces and bracelets.
Posted by: AlyGatr | July 13, 2009 at 04:19 PM
Very pretty! She did an excellent job on those necklaces.
Posted by: Kristin | July 13, 2009 at 04:56 PM
She takes after her mom with her creativeness!!!
Posted by: Denise | July 13, 2009 at 07:31 PM
shes is a catcher.. so colorful
Posted by: Furniture removalists | July 13, 2009 at 08:12 PM
Only four and created such beautiful necklaces?
Creative juices flow in those genes!!
Posted by: Joye | July 13, 2009 at 09:12 PM
And I just have to say--I love your fabrics so much I wish I could wallpaper my entire house in them!!
Posted by: Joye | July 13, 2009 at 09:14 PM
Thanks. I needed to hear just this. I tend to be a supply snob with my 6-, 5- and 4-year-old kids. Your daughter's beading is beautiful. I think I'll learn to share... tomorrow.
Posted by: Ahwatukee Paula | July 13, 2009 at 09:37 PM
Great necklaces and such a talented little kid! :)
Posted by: Missteee | July 14, 2009 at 04:13 AM
That's what I call a talented girl!
Heather, you have a little something in my blog for you :)
Hugs from Uruguay!
Posted by: Lorena | July 14, 2009 at 05:37 AM
oh... nightmarish memories about a four-year-old (boy) trying to play with beads. and mommy collecting hundreds of tiny treasures from the carpet whereas the neighbor who saw me, suggest to just start the vacuum cleaner (nooooooo!). but your daughter made it not only pretty well but exorbitantly well, congratulations!
Posted by: Eliane | July 14, 2009 at 10:50 PM
beautiful designs Charlotte!!!!!!!!!!
i know a 4 year old too- Victoria Jayne- and we are graduating from cupcakes followed by tea party to jewelry and of course cupcakes followed by tea party!!!!!!!!!
heres to girly girls everywhere!!!
Posted by: Lori | July 15, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Oh that is the sweetest thing ever. I hope she is so proud.
Posted by: Charlene Austin | July 15, 2009 at 06:33 PM
I learned early on children are tactile! Five kids later (oldest hit 18 day before yesterday), creativity = sanity. With the youngest being the twins (10 years) we still have my grandma's buffet filled with crayons, beads, blow-pens, paper, scissors, paint, chalk and even play-doh and yes, my 18 year old will still sit down and whip up a play-doh cookie! So, you go Charlotte you little fashionista you!
Posted by: Dorrie | July 16, 2009 at 01:51 PM
I'm often surprised at how well my three year old can pick fabric that works together. But all all bets are off if she finds a big enough piece in the stash to wrap around herself as a dress.
Yay for little girls' creativity.
Posted by: Cheryl Arkison | July 20, 2009 at 12:33 PM
It's so much more fun, even for little ones, to work with the 'good stuff'. That necklace looks really pretty. You must be a proud mama :-)
Posted by: karin | July 21, 2009 at 11:05 PM