We are not a vegan household. That said, I've been trying to cook with a lot less meat lately. Some family members (read: those who are not me) aren't willing to go completely vegetarian, but we're all on board with eating healthier and spending less money.  So we're just making meat a rarity in this house, and that's fine. 

Coming up with new and different vegetarian options keeps me on my toes.  This one made the rest of the family pretty happy.  It wasn't fancy, and it didn't need to be.  If you wanted to dress it up with some chopped serrano chiles that would be fine; my daughter doesn't like spicy food so I kept it very mild.  I just took some staples I had on hand and mixed them together to come up with this.  You could do it with just about any other beans, or any frozen vegetables you keep around your kitchen. 

Not too long ago, I took my daughter up to Salem.  She's wanted to go up there since she could speak, and just the way things go sometimes we just never got around to going up there.  Well, life is short so I decided to make time.  We headed up north and wandered around on a bright, chilly day and made a point of enjoying one another's company. 

She also insisted on going into every New Age and magic shop we passed.  This was fine in most cases.  One or two had a funky kind of incense going that set off my allergies, but we didn't have to stay long.  The important thing to her was that we checked them all out, each and every one.  She's got this amazingly curious little mind, and I adore that about her.  

The owner of one of the shops gave her a little piece of smooth, polished amethyst.  I knew, right away, that I was going to have to do something with it.  My daughter counts it as one of her treasures, it being purple and all.  She is also nine.  She might treasure that piece of amethyst, but she also runs around like a little loon and sometimes that coat of hers becomes an offensive weapon.  Sooner or later, that beautiful piece of amethyst will go flying. 

I knew what I wanted to do with it.  I even kind of knew how.  What I did not know was whether or not what I wanted to do was feasible.  Fortunately, I knew where to look.  

I had Pinned a tutorial showing a fairly simply wire-wrapping technique for larger stones and crystals.  I decided I would practice on a piece of quartz I had lying around and see how that worked before I went messing with my daughter's super special little prize. 

The people who made the tutorial know what they're doing, much better than I do.  I will say it's harder than it looks, especially after a long day of typing.  I'm reasonably pleased with the results.  I did try to make my own jump ring with some leftover wire, and that was not an exercise for the faint of heart.  (The perfectionist in me says I need to practice more.  The practical adult in me says I can buy them better and cheaper online, and focus on things I get paid for.)  

I'll add a picture once I get around to wrapping my daughter's little amethyst.  Drop me a line and let me know what you think!