Quills Fit for a Princess

Have I mentioned my beautiful niece yet?  She just turned 8, and she is a total sweetheart... and I've been busily training her to be a princess for the past 8 years.  I made her a birthday present, and got to give it to her on Easter.  

First, I gathered these supplies: 

• Three big, funky, feathers.  Since she's a pink person like I am, two shades of pink and a white. Got these at Hobby Lobby, 50% off (when floral stems are), so about $1.50 a piece, I think.
• Three non-click pens (laying around)
• White floral tape (About $1)
• Double-Sided tape (laying around)
• Pretty Ribbon (on sale--$1.50ish)
• Wire Cutters
• Scissors

 Then, I used the wire cutters to snip the stems of the feathers so that when the base of the feather was snug to the top of the pen, the stem didn't quite reach the nib.  

Next, I used floral tape to hold the stems to the pens.  I used a lot of floral tape, wrapping from top to bottom and back a few times, and reinforcing with a few extra wraps at the end of the wire stem.  Then, I reeeeally carefully wrapped the pretty ribbon over the floral tape.  (If you're not familiar with it, floral tape has a kind of double-stick-ish-ness to it.)  I picked a ribbon with little rhinestones on it, so I had to be really precise... if you pick something a little less... futzy, you should be able to be a little messier. 

I had to use some double-stick tape on the last inch of ribbon or so, to hold it firm.  They looked like this...

Ta-dum...

I stuck them in a little clear glass vase, to mimic an inkwell...

Emma was pretty excited, which was such a great feeling :-)  I got lots of hugs and giggles and lovin'... and she even used one of her new quills to SIGN her name in CURSIVE!  Ohmygoodness, I was there when she was born, and when spoke her first full phrase ("No, Katie, stop it" when I was singing in the car.  I promise.)

See my angel?

Always,

(Aunt) Katie