"Once I had the elements picked out, I found a large band of black leather and cut it down to the same width as a set of black five-hole leather cuff ends. As my choker took shape, I knew I wanted to add lace for an old-world Victorian feel. I knew I would need to use rivets to attach the lace, but wanted a clean look across the back of the choker as well, so I cut and dyed a chunk of thin, buckskin leather, that I would later use as the back of the choker. I set that and the lace aside, and focused on securing the elements to the center of the design. To add the gemstone skull and cross bones, I had to figure out how best to attach this to the leather, and I decided on filigree and rivets. I first enlarged the center of the filigree pieces so a rivet would fit through that center hole, making sure the cap of the rivet would be added to the back side of the leather. I formed two filigree ovals to gently 'hold' both bones and another I curved to rest at the top of the skull. Once all three filigree’s were the correct shape, I added the rivets, then carefully tied the top filigree to the hole on the back of the stone, using thin-gauge wire. I then attached each of the three rivets to the leather, using a rivet press.

I used thin pads of rubber and leather to keep the rivet setter from breaking or marring the stone, or scarring the filigree. Once the stone was secure, I used rubber cement to sandwich the lace between the buckskin and the black leather, then secured these together using eight Swarovski [CRYSTALLIZED™] rivets. I antiqued the silver rim and the rivet backs so they would blend into the black dyed buckskin. Once this was done, I added eyelets to the cuff ends. I had 3mm eyelets and a large awl. Using the awl, I was able to force the eyelets into the cuff-end holes with no problem. I then used 20 large antiqued jump rings, and links from the rollo chain, to connect the cuff ends to the choker.

"The cuff ends and the jump rings really looked cool---but they were added so that the size of the choker could be adjusted at a later date. The final touches were in adding the charms and the chain. The bee charm rests at the 'temple' of the skull, while the curb chain drips from the choker and adds balance to the opposing charms. These two elements are, by far, my favorite additions. The bike wheels were stacked and glued together, then attached to the oval filigree using gunmetal jump rings." -- Mary Tafuri

Polly’s Picks are designs our editor especially likes despite the fact that they did not win a formal prize. These designs are often simple, practical and/or whimsical examples of how to use Rings & Things components well.

View more 2009 Polly's Picks. Or, check for details about our most recent contest!