When I was a girl, I was nuts for horses.
My friend, Leona, and I would spend a huge chunk of our adolescence at barns, riding horses, cleaning stalls, and sighing over cowboys.
So the horseshoe – also a symbol for luck – holds some pretty powerful memories for me. I think back to those days and remember the velvety feeling of a horse’s muzzle, the smells of hay and sawdust and leather, and the long conversations between friends while mucking stalls.
It’s pretty fantastic.
And while not everyone found joy in shovelling horse poop out of barns, we are also coming up onto the Chinese New Year – and it’s the year of the horse!
I was born in the year of the dog. Save your jokes for the end of this post, thanks.
This necklace is SO simple. You will need:
One horseshoe charm (I got mine at Consumer Crafts, if you’re wanting to hunt it down)
Two lengths of 8″ small loop chain
4 jump rings
1 clasp
2 sets of Flat-nosed pliers
1 set of wire cutters
Using two sets of pliers, open the jump rings and slip them through the horseshoe charm at the end of one length of chain. Use the pliers to close the jump rings in order to ensure that they’re tightly closed.
Repeat the same for the other side of the horseshoe.
I chose 8″ lengths of chain for each side of the horseshoe. I quite like this length; however, if you are of smaller build and want it to sit in your clavicle, measure out the chain and clip the chain as needed!
However, be sure that you shorten BOTH lengths of chain. You want the horseshoe to sit in the center of the necklace.
Add a jump ring to the end of each length of chain and attach the clasp.
You’re done! Your lucky little horseshoe is ready to sit on your neck.
Prepare for overwhelming luck and compliments.
I love this necklace, and because it is such an inexpensive and simple one to make, I’m going to be gifting a few of these to some of my most precious friends.
We can all use a bit of luck sometimes.
And if you’re liking the look of that mason jar, come back on Thursday and I’ll tell you how I made it so fancy-like.
24 comments
Cate Moore
Such a pretty end result!
Tara
Thank you, Cate! It’s such a simple project, but I think it’s a lovely little necklace. I love wearing it!
Natalie
Oh, this is so pretty Tara! I love it! And by the way, I love love love the new website!!! Stacey did an amazing job… isn’t she fantastic to work with! And I totally love that we share a similar little bird in our headers… It might become her trademark, hahaha!
Natalie
XX
Tara
Thank you so much, Nat! And yes, Stacey did a phenomenal job (I spent some time poking around your site to get some inspiration!) – how lovely that we share the same little bird. I like that! 🙂
Jo-Anna
Looks great Tara! I love simple and pretty jewelry!
Tara
Me too, Jo-Anna – I find that understated pieces work with almost anything!
Shari
Very cute Tara! Man I wish we lived closer and could get crafty together. I will be over that way the first weekend of April for a work thing, who knows, maybe we can meet up for coffee or something. I will try to give you a call this week !
Shari
Oh and I keep meaning to say I like the new blog style too!
Tara
Thanks, lady! I know – we need to make a point of getting together and we can craft it up. I’ll see what’s happening in my Calendar o’ Crazy and we can sort something out!
Dani @ lifeovereasy
Very pretty! I know horse people are crazy about them – my girls used to ride and they still miss being in a barn. They would love that necklace!
Tara
Oh, your girls rode? How fabulous! Did they stop because of life?
I stopped because of school. Well, and life. And not being able to afford horses because they’re damn expensive.
Marion Taylor
That is lovely! I have a number of horsey friends who would be happy to wear this…and as you say, we can all use a little extra luck! Thanks for sharing–I’m kind of loving the jar in the photo too!
Tara
Horsey-people are eternally in love with horse paraphernalia. I don’t know why – it must be wired into our brains. My girlfriend just got a horse scarf, and I was drooling over it the minute I saw it!
(And yes, the jar! Come back on Thursday!)
Amy of while wearing heels
Look at you…making your own jewelry (and using tools like pliers). I’m sure you had your share ofcowboys sighing over your as well 🙂
Tara
Oh, I wish. There was one cowboy who I had the BIGGEST crush on. And I hadn’t ever really talked to him.
I just liked the way he wore his Wranglers. 😉
Kenz, Interiors By Kenz
That is supes cute. I need some extra luck. Maybe it can bring me some extra sleep 🙂
Tara
No sleep, eh? Oh man… been there, but still.. that doesn’t help.
You email me your address, lady, and I’ll send you a little bit of luck!
Adrianne
I totally bought these charms too! I can’t wait to show you my idea. I didn’t know it was the year of the horse. I prefer to think of it as the year of the unicorn…
Tara
Oh, couldn’t every year be the year of the unicorn?
I’m dying to see what you did (or will do) with the charms!
Marilyn
Tara, growing up in Kentucky, EVERY girl was nuts for horses! I didn’t realize that this was the year of the horse…Love the horseshoe necklace idea. Perhaps I will have good luck this year if I make one! 😀
Tara
Lady, I wish you all of the best luck this year. You deserve it.
Mel
That’s really sweet Tara, my town is called the heart of the thoroughbred country, growing up I was always riding, sadly with new estates going up many of the stables and riding tracks have disappeared
Tara
Did you ride English or Western? I would love to ride again in the future, but it’s one of those things that seems pretty far off.