Experiment with placement of the appliques around your neck (or a friend's), and stitch the ends together to create a single piece. (If you're using crocheted trim, you won't need to do this.)

Add jumprings and the closure to the back of the necklace.

Count out how many beads you need, and thread a headpin into each of them.

Create a wire-wrapped loop for each bead using the following method:

a) Use the chain-nose pliers to bend the pin at an angle to the bead.

b) Grip near the bend with the roundnose pliers, and twist the wire around to make a loop.

c) Keeping the roundnose pliers in the loop, use the chain-nose pliers to twist the end of the wire once around itself, just below the loop you made.

d) Trim off the end of the wire with your wire-cutters, leaving about 3/16" to spare.

e) Twist the remaining end of the wire below the first twist, so it is not protruding.

Attach each bead to the crocheted neckpiece with the jumprings so the beads dangle and catch the light as you move.

Wear with a low-cut dress or top to show off all of that dark sparkle at your neck.