I guess you all know by now I dote on my youngest grandchild. Her name is Nikole. I found out she was coming last weekend on short notice.

Well, we'd rounded up some clothes and a few toys just on general principal. And it turned out she was desperately needing the clothes, but something special had to be found. And fast.

I took a piece of local black oak and a scrap of koa. The oak was a strip about 2' something long by 1/2" x 1". I racked my brain for the exact size of her little hand and fashioned the end 4" into what I hoped was a fitting grip. The koa got cut to 4" pieces about 3/4" x 1 1/4" and each piece was notched so together they made a fit over the oak. This was glued up right above the grip. The oak was then tapered into almost a point and one edge was reduced almost to an edge. All rounded carefully. The koa was rounded top and bottom to form a hand guard. (drawknife, spokeshaves, rasps and scrapers)

When she got here after the real hugs, the special kind where you and another human being very nearly melt together, she came in and surveyed her private kingdom where she is the benevolent dictator, grandma and grandpa's place.

I asked if she saw anything different. This started a careful search. It was leaning against the door frame going to the kitchen. She looked right at it twice and didn't see a thing. Finally I had some mercy and pointed her little head right at it. She still didn't see, so I did it again.

"Whoa, for me???" she said making a grab for it. Her hand slipped around the grip (it fit) and she raised it high. She sighted down the blade and firmed up her hold. All at once her eyes caught fire and she made a lunge for me. I sidestepped and ran around the backside of the couch. On she came, boiling pure instinctive joy like to raise the roof. Good thing I had the foresight to leave a 1/2" dowel handy. I defended myself most heroically, but it was no use. She had the light of day on her and skewered the old guy. Ahhhhhhhh and a crumple to the floor in mock defeat was my part. She squealed and danced and put one hand on her hip and held the little wooden sword high over her head with the other.

"I am big, I am big, I am big" she chanted as my heart plumb broke.

Here is another little thingi made sometime ago...

That's a mother of Pearl 3 button mouse inlaid in the grip with a silver cord :-)  Maple, walnut, rosewood with a big fat piece of jade let into the end of the handle.