Polymer clay butterfly with tatting

It's done! This butterfly measures 6 inches (15 cm) across. The entire necklace weighs less than an ounce.

First, I made the polymer clay pieces, punching holes around the edges for attaching the tatting later. I baked the clay according to the manufacturer's directions.

Then I got out size 20 thread and a size 13 steel crochet hook. Most of the edging is just chains, attached through the holes with lock joins. Doing the body was a little trickier, and I experimented as I went along...well, you know...I just sort of "winged it" :-)

I discovered that I needed to finish both wings first, before attaching to the body in progress.

After completing the butterfly, I added the neck cord, improvising with Victorian Sets, split rings,
and rings with chains.

The closure is a toggle of polymer clay. It makes for an adjustable necklace by fitting into any of the spaces between the rings and chains.

Here's a neat trick to avoid extra cord length from sticking out around your neck: put the toggle through the last space first, then again through the desired space.

This necklace is one-of-a-kind, and I'll proudly wear it myself. But, who knows, now that I've got one figured out, I may get others finished to sell later.