Summer of Love - Necklace

Created by: Mollie Valente

#28-866-03 Bright color-themed glass handmade David Christensen beads
#28-866-F Heart-shape blown glass beads handmade by David Christensen
#47-301-SP* 16-gauge round wire, nickel silver
#40-099-12-9 3.3mm flattened long-and-short chain, gunmetal
#26-822* 3x4mm faceted rectangle beads, copper plate
#37-133-9 4.5mm round jump rings, gunmetal
#37-136-9 5mm round jump rings, gunmetal
#44-454-1* 12x8mm heart lock charm, white
#44-676-9 5x27mm bar connector charms with 2 loops, gunmetal
#37-415-9 1.5" thin head pins, gunmetal

*Patina items with Liver of Sulfur #86-354 or WinOX #86-343.

Tools: Flat-nose plier, chain-nose pliers, round-nose pliers, side cutters, chasing hammer, steel block, 2-hole metal punch, patina supplies

Designer's notes:
I made the "beefy-sized" eye pins out of 16g nickel-silver wire (could easily be made out of sterling silver); I formed one side of the loop, hammered it, patinaed it, added the beads, formed the second loop, hammered it, and finally touched up the patina.

I bent the two-loop bars to create bails for the heart beads, and the plating does chip off a bit, but a quick touch up of patina takes care of the problem.

The rest is just a connect the pieces project.

I really wanted to add a ton more dangles -- hand-stamped word charms and more styles of hearts, but managed to hold myself back. Sigh.

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