Peterpan Gold Necklace

picture from Harpers Bazaar Australia

I was browsing through Pinterest, and I found this DIY chain bow necklace. I immediately grab my diy box and start making it. It's pretty easy, and the instruction from Harpers Bazzar (Australia) was so clear. I copied it here for easy resource.


Here's what you need:

- Around 1 metre of delicate gold chain.
- One lobster clasp
- 5 gold jump rings
- Beading plyers
- Scissors

1. Cut your chain into three pieces - one around 50cm, and the other two around 25 cm.
2. Create the base of the necklace out of the longer piece of chain by attaching a jump ring to one end and the lobster clasp to the other end.
3. In the very middle of the chain attach a jump ring and the two other pieces of chain to this jump ring.
4. Put the necklace on and in a mirror hold up the ends of the two pieces chain to see where you think the collar parts of chain should sit. There isn't any right or wrong here - just test until you like the roundness of the collar.
5. Attach these remaining ends of chain with jump rings further up on the necklace to create the collar shape and feel free to cut shorter if required.

And voila! This is my version of the necklace!

PS: Tutorial images are from Harpers Bazaar Australia.

The Power

Christ the vine

(John 15:1-8)

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."

Today's reading is very nice and simple, and the homily at church today was very simple for me, and basically reminds me of how we should live. The pastor kept on repeating, "Without Him (in us), we are nothing. Without Him, we are just angry humans. Without Him, we are just lazy humans. Without Him..." emphasizing on without Him (in us).

Not to sound preachy or anything, this simple thing may look simple, but to abide in Him fully (and vice versa), it's not really an easy thing to do. But maybe we could keep asking to ourselves, what would we be without Him. This "Him" can refer to anything you rely on for power, for strength, and mostly for life. IMHO, It really doesn't matter what religion or believes you have.

This may be bias, but what I realize today is that, without that "power" in you, what are you exactly? And with that "power" in you, aren't you suppose to act and to live by the reference of that power?