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A mini rain cloud to adorn your graceful neck...
One of my favorite quotes is "Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass; it is about learning to dance in the rain." I wanted a necklace as a constant reminder to keep a positive outlook in life. Besides, I liked the poetic idea of having clouds hanging from necks, and I wanted to try a lariat design.

Posted by Conn from San Francisco, California, United States • Published See Conn's 100 projects »
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  • How to make a chain necklace. Rain Cloud Lariat - Step 1
    Step 1

    The cloud is basically made by stringing the beads in a circle. Simple.
    First, string round, white beads onto your wire (work with the whole spool if possible). The amount depends on how big your beads are, but I used 17 beads to create a cloud that's about 3cm in diameter. You can also use string, but I like to use wire.

  • How to make a chain necklace. Rain Cloud Lariat - Step 2
    Step 2

    Make the circle as tight as possible so that the beads can't slide around before twisting the two wire ends to seal the shape.

  • How to make a chain necklace. Rain Cloud Lariat - Step 3
    Step 3

    Use one end to make a loop...

  • How to make a chain necklace. Rain Cloud Lariat - Step 4
    Step 4

    ... and the other end to wrap around that loop.

  • How to make a chain necklace. Rain Cloud Lariat - Step 5
    Step 5

    Then cut the ends as short as possible and use pliers to press them down so they won't poke you.

  • How to make a chain necklace. Rain Cloud Lariat - Step 6
    Step 6

    To wire wrap the teardrop beads, begin by inserting wire through the bead.

  • How to make a chain necklace. Rain Cloud Lariat - Step 7
    Step 7

    Then bring the wire up and wrap the two ends together.

  • How to make a chain necklace. Rain Cloud Lariat - Step 8
    Step 8

    Cut the shorter end and use pliers to make the cut end as close to the wire as possible so it won't poke you.

  • How to make a chain necklace. Rain Cloud Lariat - Step 9
    Step 9

    Make a loop with the leftover end.

  • How to make a chain necklace. Rain Cloud Lariat - Step 10
    Step 10

    Bring that end down and begin wrapping the wire down the bead.

  • How to make a chain necklace. Rain Cloud Lariat - Step 11
    Step 11

    After wrapping down, wrap your way back up to the loop.

  • How to make a chain necklace. Rain Cloud Lariat - Step 12
    Step 12

    Cut the end short and use pliers to make the cut end as close to the wire as possible so it won't poke you.
    Make more raindrops, depending on however many you want.

  • How to make a chain necklace. Rain Cloud Lariat - Step 13
    Step 13

    String a jump ring through the loop of the cloud and then through the last link of one end of the chain.

  • Step 14

    Then take one end of your chain and insert it twice (wrap the chain around, basically) into the circle of beads that will be the cloud.
    Use your hands to make the circle of chain wider before looping the chain around your neck. Adjust the length to decide how long you want the necklace to be and how far down you want the "raindrops" to be. When you've decided, cut the chain. I ended up with 20 inches of chain, but make your length match your preferences.

  • How to make a chain necklace. Rain Cloud Lariat - Step 15
    Step 15

    Use jump rings to attach your raindrops to the chain however you like. I just put one at the end of the chain and another about 2cm above that. I later decided that I wanted three raindrops instead so I added yet another one 1.5cm above the top-most raindrop.

  • How to make a chain necklace. Rain Cloud Lariat - Step 16
    Step 16

    To put on the lariat, simple loop the chain around your neck and insert the raindrops into the cloud twice to secure the lariat.

  • How to make a chain necklace. Rain Cloud Lariat - Step 17
    Step 17

    You're finally done! Enjoy your new lariat and wear it with pride. And don't forget that when others rain on your parade, you can always poke them with your umbrella (can't find the source for this quote). Or when people rain on your parade, look up rather than down; without the rain, there would be no rainbow (Gilbert K. Chesterton).
    The rain quotes could go on, but I think you have a lariat to make so... *wink wink nudge nudge*

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