I love big, dramatic statement necklaces. When I need to dress up for a social occasion, I often pair a simple dress or jumpsuit with a chunky collar necklace. The weightiness of the jewelry grounds and emboldens me a bit. And it sparks conversation, directing attention away from my social unease and toward a topic I love: fashion. The unexpected and unusual quality of this succulent collar necklace could easily carry conversation through the entire length of a party, making it the perfect accessory for those who are small talk–challenged like me. I used lamb’s tail (Sedum morganianum), sedeveria ‘Blue Elf’, and hardy hens and chicks (sempervivum or Jovibarba heuffelii). I used around fifty 11/2 to 2 in (4 to 5 cm) sedeveria and sempervivum and around forty 1/2 to 1 in (12 mm to 2.5 cm) sedum, sempervivum, and sedeveria plants.
STEP 1: Trim all the succulents from their stems.
STEP 2: Gently remove any dirt, spent leaves, or roots.
STEP 3: Work in sections of a few inches at a time. Add a fine layer of glue to the necklace base. Starting at one end, add the smallest succulents, placing them very close together and alternating varieties.
STEP 4: Add a bit of glue to each plant’s underside before placing it on the base. Gently but firmly press each plant and hold to the base for 10 to 15 seconds to ensure it adheres.
STEP 5: Continue to add plants, including small sections of the air plants, gradually working up to larger and larger florets. Alternate type and orientation to create a mosaic of elements that looks beautiful from all angles.
STEP 6: When you reach the center, spend a little more time focusing on the sides of the design—facing some plants up toward the top of the piece, and others downward—puzzle piecing them together to create a full, finished focal area and taking care to cover every bit of the brass base.
STEP 7: Work your way down the length of the other side of the necklace, selecting plants to gradually diminish in size.
STEP 8: Complete the piece by adding delicate finishing elements such as string of pearl tendrils. Use them to float over larger plants, or to tuck into tiny empty spaces that would otherwise be difficult to fill.
