There are a few necklaces I have constructed over the years which have become much-loved favourites. They are more solidly-made than my earlier attempts, and better achieved my design aims: big, distinctly gothic-styled, and something no one else had exactly.

If you've read my earlier article about My Oldest Hobbyist Necklace Designs, you'll know I started making my own necklaces because I liked Alchemy Gothic's style, but I wanted something unique. The necklaces I've shown on that page are nice, but they didn't quite hit the mark for me. I realised they just weren't obvious enough. By that, I mean they were almost too normal; historically-inspired and large statement pieces, but not properly spooky.

I was missing bats. And spiderwebs.

The hardest part of making my own jewellery is sourcing the right bits and pieces for it. I spent ages scouring the internet for my 'hero' components; the large spooky-themed parts which would become the focal point or centrepiece for each necklace. It's definitely got easier to buy the spooky bits in base metals, but its always been rarer to get them in sterling. I still have a sterling collection I intend to use gradually, but it would be prohibitively expensive to buy today. I am starting to experiment with stainless steel, and I'll share pictures of anything I make, sterling or steel.

The first four necklaces shown in the pictures are all sterling silver. The beads are black faceted glass, I think. You'll notice the sterling silver 'dagger' pendants are common to all four, and I have a pair of these on earwires to wear as matching earrings. The bat necklace is an 'everyday' necklace, followed by the beaded high-low necklace for days when my top has a higher neckline. The spiderweb necklaces are only worn occasionally as I prefer the contrast of the black beads against my skin, and - no matter how dramatic the necklace - plain silver doesn't seem to stand out as much.

I have occasionally experimented with recycling broken antique necklaces. One example is where I've incorporated some antique black chain, possibly Whitby Jet, into a new piece. It's a bit of a 'kitchen sink' necklace, using my favourite components at the time: quatrefoils and bones in stainless steel. There is a loop to attach a locket or other pendant, making it somewhat customisable.