After creating the little framed pendants/charms for the necklace project, I found that I enjoyed wire wrapping and wanted to try a larger project. Thus, when I spotted a tutorial for a woven wire neckpiece featuring double holed beads in Step by Step Wire, I was intrigued. I’ve had these double drilled fancy jasper stones for years, but never could figure out what to do with them. Suddenly, they were calling to me. Their necklace had been found!
From the start this neckpiece was a challenge. I had to drill the focal beads to accept the thicker gauge of wire and getting those holes to go cleanly all the way through proved to be difficult. After switching diamond drill bits a few times, I found the right size to accomodate the wire. The first attempt of wrapping had to be taken out since I didn’t like the first placement of the stones, but after that, all was well and the neckpiece flowed quickly. I had made the byzantine chains the night before and all that was needed was to pop them into the tumbler to remove burrs and the task was completed.
The neckpiece is an 8 inch frame of 16g sterling silver with additional sterling wire creating a web to hold the mix of organic hues. Reds, Greens and Cream along with bright silver beads form the focals of this neckpiece. The chain is more of my thick byzantine sterling and it has an adjustable set of links so that the neckpiece can be worn at choker length all the way down to 18″. The clasp is a handmade big hook that has been hammered.
