I have a rule: I don’t plug stuff I don’t believe in. So when I previously blogged about Addie Kidd’s “Learn to make your own clasps” video from Jewelry Classes on Demand, it was because I was excited to try her techniques. And I did!

Some backstory: My fiancé wears a gold cross on a chain around his neck that was a gift from his parents on his 21st birthday. All these years, the cross has been held to the chain by a thin jump ring that sprang open a year ago, was mangled into a split-ring shape, and recently sprang open again. I decided it was time to be proactive.

Using 18-gauge gold-filled wire, I made the eye half of the hook-and-eye clasp Addie teaches in her class and used it as a bail to attach the cross to the chain. I didn’t even have to look at the instructions or replay the video – Addie taught the technique well, and it lodged in my brain! Holding up the repaired necklace, I asked my fiancé, “Do you like it?” His rely: “You made that? It’s almost too pretty to wear!” Almost. He put it on immediately and has yet to take it off. Thank you, Addie!

So here’s another plug for a class I believe in: Linda Augsburg’s “Chain necklace and bracelet” class. Jane already blogged the praises of this class, so all I'll say is this: Linda’s demonstration has made me a believer in using one pair of chainnose pliers and one pair of bentnose pliers when working with jump rings. She also showed me a more sophisticated method of opening jump rings than my personal technique of grasping each side and pushing/pulling in opposite directions. Let’s just say her way won’t mar and mangle your jump rings as much as mine!