Creating a Retro Necklace for Christmas

Wow: Peace, love and joy, and a "Merry Christmas," '70s style. The old peace medallion necklaces aren't hard to create if you have a little patience. You can also make the sun emblem. You are going to need a small ball-peen hammer, those are the types that have a ball instead of a claw on the back, 7 feet (84 inches) of round sterling silver 14-gauge wire, a fine jewelers file, wire cutters, some round nosed pliers, and a ball point pen. That's just for the necklace. You will find as you read directions, some things that you can substitute, with love of course, this is the '70s after all.

The clay parts are much simpler to make. If you use clay at home that dries hard, you can use that. Otherwise make some wonderfully easy clay with 1 cup of salt, 1/2 cup of cornstarch, a little food coloring and 1/2 cup of boiling water. I know this sounds repetitive, but I am still amazed that McCormick has so many neat colors out in their food coloring line. I go to the website periodically just to check what is new...but then, you must remember, I have no social life. The color that you choose is totally up to you. They even have neon colors so this can really get exciting. (My God, I am a lonely person.) http://www.mccormick.com/productdetail.cfm?id=10790

Test the length that you want the necklace by using a string and adding 5 extra inches. If you don't know the measurement of the recipient's neck, make it longer than you think it should be and adjust it after they open it. This requires that you take your pliers, wire cutters, and hammer to the Christmas party. Now, all you need is some tape on the nose of your horned rim glasses and you'll be all set.

If you are going to add beads that have an opening the size of the wire, put them on before you complete the ends. Once the end is flattened, you're out of luck, because they won't fit. If you are going to make the beads in the rest of the article, you're still cool, man, so chill. (I may be mixing different decades here. After you get to a certain age it all blends together.)

Flatten out 2 1/2 inches at each end of the metal with the ball end of the hammer. Bend the metal to form a circle. You will need to work slowly so there is a smooth bend. Not many people that I know have angles in their neck.

Use those pliers to bend the ends. Bend one to the inside of the circle and one toward the outside. File any sharp edges off. These are close to the jugular vein and a bleed out at Christmas will really wreck the celebration.

While you've got the wire and cutters out, cut a 6-inch piece, 2 pieces each that measure 3, 2 1/2, 2 1/4, and 2 inches. Cut 30 pieces that are 1 1/4 inches. Flatten the ends to about 1/2 inch up. The short ones look like little spoons. That is just a commentary, and of no real importance.

Mix up a batch of clay that is the color of your choice. Remember it lightens up when it dries, so go a shade darker. If it is too sticky add more cornstarch. Roll it out to 1/2-inch thickness. You can use a glass to cut the large pendant. Simply invert the glass and put the mouth on the clay. Twist, and voila (I'm getting quite continental here.), you have a pendant.

The next step is a little tricky. Use a round wire, not one of the flattened ends, and insert it through the middle of the pendant. If the pendant were a coin, you would be putting it through the edge. When you look at the top you will see wire, then just the pendant, and then wire coming out. Wiggle the wire a bit to create a larger hole. The holes shrink when you bake them.

Put the peace sign in the middle by pressing down a piece of wire to form the up and down line, and then make the upside down V at the bottom. You can also just make designs. Have fun with it. Use the end of a pencil with the eraser removed to make a circle outline. Do a lot of these for a design. Use screw heads, paper clips, or a design from your own imagination. Scoop the pendant off and put it on a cookie sheet that has foil on it. Carefully remove the wire.

Cut small beads out. Use that pencil end, or even a plastic straw that is at least 1/4 inch in diameter. Anything smaller is too difficult to work with. Carefully take the circular beads and make holes with the wire on their edge, just like you did with the pendant. Wiggle the wire for a bigger hole. Again, make it larger because there is shrinkage. Make at least 9 of them, I would do more because you should have adequate dough, and if one is crummy, you don't have to use it. Transfer these to the cookie sheet.

Bake the beads. This step will require a vigilant eye. I've used this dough several times and the baking time is never the same. Have your oven preheated to 350 degrees. Pop in the clay and when the tops look dry, flip over the beads and pendant carefully with a spatula. Watch until the top looks dry again. You really need these dry, so for good measure flip them again, wait, and flip another time. DRY is IMPORTANT.

Let the beads cool and prepare to assemble. Put one bead on each of the longer wires that you made. Put the pendant above the bead on the 6-inch piece. The flat end will keep the bead from falling off, and the bead will keep the pendant from falling off. Use those pliers to make a loop at the other end of each wire. Leave enough space to the loop will fit over the hooks at the end of the necklace. Do this on the thirty 1 1/4 inch pieces.

Put the necklace together. Start in the middle. Put the pendant on first. Add three of the 1 1/4 inch plain wires on each side. Put on the three inch beaded pieces on each side, then add 3 short pieces on each side. Place the 2 1/2 inch pieces on each side and add 3 more if the unbeaded short pieces. Add the 2 1/4 inch pieces on each side and again the three unbeaded 1 1/4 inch pieces beside each. Last, you will add the 2 inch pieces and put three more 1 1/4 inch pieces on the outside.

You are done. Just as a recap each side should start with 3 very short pieces and then form a V of longer pieces with 3 very short ones in between each. These are so simple but can be quite elegant. You can make the happy sunburst for the pendant and it is really elegant. Be creative, have fun, and enjoy life.