So easy a four year old can do it!

My mother and sister went to a bead show the other day. They brought home a toy for me: The Diva Custom Cord maker. It's a neato-vambeeto gadget that allows you to braid cords with very little thought required. Can you count to three? Can you rotate a disk in the same direction every time? Well, then you TOO can use the Diva Custom Cord Maker. In fact, it's so easy a FOUR year old can do it!

I believe the technique is really called Kumihimo. I've seen these wooden contraptions around on ebay before, and they really intrigued me. The Diva is mere plastic, but it accomplishes the same effect. I think it's more portable too.

So on Sunday, I received this contraption, and knowing what it was, immediately abandoned my homework and began to make my very OWN CUSTOM CORD! Fascinated, Ruth begged to try it. Sure, I thought, why not, it's easy enough. I knew she could handle it. And handle it, she did. She made a huge long cord that she's been tying everything together with. Brilliant.

This morning, I was trying (emphasis on the word trying) to get some weaving done when Hannah asked, "Can I try that thing?"

"What thing?" I implored, trying to figure out what she wanted.

"You know, that thing. You were using it the other day and it made that LONG long thing."

hmm, two things. That thing that made that long long thing. "OH!" I exclaimed as I figured out she meant the Diva Custom Cord Maker. (I just love saying that). "You want to make your own cord?"

I was skeptical that she could manage it, but what did it hurt to try. I told her that she'd have to do it on her own. I had to weave.

"Ok. I can do it." She responded optimistically. I remained the forever pessimist, figuring Hannah would cry, get frustrated, and constantly make me stop what I was doing to help her. But being the indulgent mother that I am, I set up the cord maker, and got her started. After about two times she said, "Aren't you going to go over and weave?"

"I will. I just want to make sure you've got it first."

"I've got it. You can go and weave." In otherwords, get lost mom.


And surprisingly, she DID have it down. I was so impressed, I ran and got my camera and snagged a video. The radio is playing in the background. I only get one stinkin' station on the dang thing, but I figure some noise is better than no noise. I have to have noise to work.



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Well, her attention span did eventually get the best of the Hannah. She managed to make all of a half of an inch. Still, I'm impressed. She had no tangles. No mix ups. Nothing.