VINTAGE FABULOUS.

A big part of effective thrifting is being able to spot potential, and knowing how to
revamp a potentially awesome piece. Vintage jewelry can be great for costumes, but
usually needs a bit of updating to wear in your everyday wardrobe. I found this piece
at Thrift Town and was drawn to the color and delicate details - it was worth a bit of
work to have a killer necklace.

The main structural change needed to modernize this necklace was length. The
original piece was more of a choker, with all the beads making it look a bit heavy and clunky. For $3.99 it was worth a shot at a necklace I could really love.

In order to add the length I needed and lighten the overall look, I used a vintage chain.
I measured a necklace of mine with the perfect length, and compared the length to the
vintage necklace. I decided to split up the vintage beading into a couple sections, and
added 2 separate chain lengths to each side.

These lil jewelry pliers were the only tools I used for the job. One to hold a chain length still, and the other to open and close the links while disassembling and reassembling.

The chain adding equation was this:
modern necklace length - vintage necklace length = total added chain length needed
total added chain length divided equally by 4 = 2 sides of 2 chain pieces each

L: original necklace length. R: new chain lengths inserted.
Half way done it was getting exciting to see what a difference it
makes visually when you spread out the heavy beads.

TWO PROBLEMS:
1. the pendant and metal in the chaining were a bit gunky from age,
2. the metal setting for the pendant was bent.

TWO SOLUTIONS:
1. an old toothbrush + a simple jewelry cleaning solution
got all the gunk out and polished everything right up
2. the jewelry pliers applied gently to the setting got it right back in shape.

TA-DAAA! I’m in love with the final necklace. It’s so great when you envision something
and your DIY-ness pays off with exactly what you pictured. It’s perfect to wear over a
simple blouse and jeans or a nice dress — modern with an authentic vintage flair.

I hope this little project inspires you to take the plunge and make
something old new again - after all, it is the beauty of thrift + creativity!

Til next week - happy thrifting!
XO Kari

_________________________________________

Do YOU upcycle your vintage finds??
Tag us in your posts on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram: @thrifttown

__________________________________________

Kari Shipman is thrifty, eco-conscious, and knows the importance
of supporting local charities. She has been our featured blogger
since we started the blog in 2010, and has a serious passion for
fashion. Kari owns her own Fashion Consulting Business, Juniper
James and lives out her passions in Northern California with her
wonderful husband Charles, and their little girl Olive.