Make a Giant LEGO® Necklace

Before: LEGO® in the toy box

Ever since I saw the incredible jewelry by Emiko Oye in her "My First Royal Jewels Jewellery Collection", I wanted to make a giant LEGO® necklace. Sure I have made small jewelry projects using LEGO® before. One of my professors in art school even required  the class to use LEGO® in at least one "design challenge".

We demonstrated some easy earrings made from odd LEGO® parts rescued from the toy box last month....but my kids really, really love LEGO® and they have a lot of LEGO® so the challenge was on. Yesterday, my daughter and I dumped out our big box of LEGO® and began making the LEGO® into a large all LEGO® necklace.

Inspiration

Like Emiko Oye, we took our inspiration from jewelry found in museums. In our case, we were particularly inspired by this emerald necklace made by Cartier, Inc. in 1928-29 and donated by Marjorie Merriweather Post to the Smithsonian in 1964. The necklace is on permanent display in the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals at the Museum of Natural History. (A pendant removed from the necklace before it was donated to the Smithsonian was made into a brooch that is in the Hillwood collection, also in Washington, DC).

Materials
LEGO®
Glue

After: LEGO® Necklace by GeltDesigns.c

Step 1
Sort through the LEGO® and find the pieces you find interesting.


Step 2
Begin arranging the pieces into a pattern you like. Play when you do this. Try different looks. 

We created a frame for the necklace from black LEGO® and then started adding parts.

Step 3
Add a drop of glue in strategic places of the necklace frame so the necklace can be worn. Add additional glue if you want the necklace to be permanent. Be cautious with the glue so the necklace can be moved and rearranged for maximum fun. Be sure to leave the back portion free from glue so you have a clasp for the necklace. 


Related Tutorials
Make LEGO® Earrings 


Further Reading
"The LEGO Book"; Daniel Lipkowitz; 2009.
"The Unofficial LEGO Builder's Guide";  Allan Bedford; 2005.
"Fabulous Jewelry from Found Objects: Creative Projects, Simple Techniques (Lark Jewelry Books)";  Marthe Le Van; 2007.
"Junk to Jewelry: A Step-by-Step Guide to Using Found Objects in Jewelry You Can Actually Wear";  Brenda Schweder; 2007.
"Beaded Jewelry with Found Objects: Incorporate Anything from Buttons to Shells";  Carole Rodgers; 2004.

New & Noteworthy
"Jewelry from Found Objects"; Heather Skowood; 2011.

Day 32. Week 5. Month 2. Jewelry from Found Objects.  $ spent: 0
Found materials: LEGO®
New Jewelry a Day.