Biker Chic Collection Skull 's N' Swarovski Crystal Necklace(c)

by Maryanne Murphy
(Atlanta, Ga.)

Skulls. They're everywhere and part of today's clothing trend.

My two little grandsons, Christopher 1 1/2 and RJ 3 years old have sported from infancy clothing with skull and crossbones designs. I, their grandmother at first looked a bit askance at this, wondering how on earth it became a style trend, and in children's clothing no less.

Their mom, my elder daughter who's 35 informed me that these styles are a reflection of her generation's heritage, much like mine of peace signs, smilie faces and tie dyed clothing.

I don't know where I was when I was raising her that I didn't know about this, but it was news to me.

We had a lovely conversation. She, like me is a motorcycle enthusiast. What's there not to love about a Harley Davidson. They are works of art on wheels. I spent some of the best moments of my life on the back of one, and even had a motorcycle (Honda - you don't learn on and dump a Harley) myself.

What you have to understand is that I was born in Greenwich, and raised in Westport Connecticut and was the very conservative wife of a Wall Street stock broker. My daughter was raised by Mr. & Mrs. Republican conservative.

So I came around to understand the symbolism of the popularity of cross and skull-bones designs and started to notice this trend in jewelry.

My daughter's birthday was coming up and since I design and make jewelry that is what women in my family receive as gifts. I do want their present to be unique, something that reflects their personality and that they will love.

I capitulated to my daughter's like of skull and cross-bones design translated through my creative inclinations. It's a good thing that I start the preparations months in advance because sourcing an esthetically pleasing-to-my-eye skull was a challenging undertaking.

But with determination was successful in finding the little guys that the design was ultimately based upon.

Sourcing is a huge part of what makes my designs possible. I had already found and had in stock a selection of several heavier weight chains.

The one I chose for this necklace is of medium/heavy weight interconnecting sterling silver plate circles. Again, I had several different pewter connectors in stock and chose the one I did for its Gothic/feminine style and three connection rings.

The skulls are pewter size charms approximately 15mm high and worked perfectly with the connector rings spacing. It was a forgone conclusion for me to connect the skull charms via eye pins to the connectors with swarovski crystals, and did so in jet black, siam red and black diamond.

Yes, I made three different necklaces. I just couldn't make up my mind which color I liked best. And had fun coming up with a design that not only my daughter loves, but one that I do too.

One does not notice that it is skulls forming the dangling design until you are very close to the person.

And thus the "Biker Chic Collection" came into being. There are several other necklaces and earrings styles that have been added.

My daughter has told me I had better start making more because she's bringing them down to Bike Week in Daytona, Florida in February.

They aren't one-of-a kind as many of my pieces are, but they are definitely a limited edition.

Maryanne Murphy
On the Rocks Gemstone Jewelry