Maker's Monday: Waterlily Maiden Necklace

Nothing like being jolted awake by your hubby yelling that it is 6 a.m. when you should have been out of bed by 5:45 a.m. Our power went out on Saturday and the alarm clock needed to be reset. Seems I set it ten minutes slow. Ah well. I'm awake and mostly alert now. It should come as no surprise that I didn't have today's blog post even started yet so I really had to hustle and go through all of my supplies to come up with a sweet necklace for Maker's Monday.

I bought this lovely pendant from the Vintaj booth at the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee.I've said it before, but if you're into jewelry, you should really attend this show!

Can we just say how lovely this pendant is???

Supplies:
1 Vintaj brass Waterlily Maiden pendant
2 Vintaj Treasured Filigree Connectors (these may be retired)
6 small brass jump rings
1 large brass jump ring
26.5 inches of brass chain
1 lobster clasp

I don't know the jump rings sizes - they are "leftovers" from other projects

Tools:
Jeweler's pliers (one or two pairs, depending on your preference)
Flush cutters

Instructions:
1. Slightly open the larger jump ring. At the split of the jump ring, gently push the left side away from you while gently pulling the right side toward you. Be careful not to open the jump ring too wide - it can distort the shape and weaken the metal. You also want to make sure you don't open the jump ring but pulling the two sides out to the side because that will weaken the metal as well. Slide the mermaid pendant onto the ring and close it reversing the push/pull motion.

This jump ring is thicker so I did use two pliers to open it

2.  Cut 4 inches of chain.

If it is slightly longer/shorter than 4 inches, that is fine for this project

3.  Slide this short piece of chain through the large jump ring.

4.  Open a smaller jump ring and add it to one end of the chain.

5.  Add one end a connector and then close the jump ring.

6. Repeat for the other side of the chain, making sure your connectors "face front."

Let's marvel again at this wonderful pendant!

7.  Add a jump ring to both remaining holes of the connectors.

8.  Now you'll want to cut your remaining piece of chain in half. Rather than count links, an easy way to get the sides even is to take a headpin and slide both of the ends of the chain onto it.

Someone did her nails for this how-to

9.  Hold the chain up off your workstation and see if you have one or two links to cut. In this case, I have two.

10. Once you have cut through your link(s), determine which side you want your clasp to be on. I'm right-handed, so I usually have my clasp on the right side.You'll add a jump ring to the end of the chain and then slide it through the ring of the clasp.Close the jump ring.

11.  Open your last jump ring and add it to the other side of the chain and if your clasp has a connector with it like mine, you'll add that to your jump ring. If it doesn't, have no fear, your lobster clasp can attach right to the jump ring.

 I hope you liked this quick-and-dirty how-to! This pendant is a real show-stopper, so I opted for all brass but you could add pearls or crystals to make a treasure. What colors would you pick?