"Handle With Care" Skull

HAPPY SKULLTASTIC 2013!!!

Mike da Ponte is combining the strength of steel with the fragility of glass to create some of his works, most especially this gruesome looking figure titled "Handle With Care".

The rugged and abused exterior really carries a lot of character.  A story yearns to be told of how this skull was left for dead under a now uninhabited building, but it's tale will never unfold.  Plus, this totally looks like a Slipknot album cover or something to that effect.  Thanks for the hardcore submission, Mike!

China Glaze's I Herd That Chevrons with Purr-fect Plum

Happy New Year's Eve!! Well, it's still the 31st here in California so Happy New Year to anyone 9 hours ahead of me! ;) 

To celebrate, I put together this sparkly fun mani to ring in the new year :) I busted out the striping tape and got started. 

 

I used China Glaze's Purr-fect Plum (left) and I Herd That (right) for this mani and I really like how it turned out. I tried to make it look like the Chevron on my middle finger extends along the rest of the fingers. 

 

  

 

This is a pretty straight forward mani that anyone can put together. I cut thin strips of painters tape and apply it once my base color is completely dry. Make sure when you're taping to remove the tape very soon after applying the new color (in my case the glitter). If the glitter dries and then you remove the tape, your line will not be as clean as you'd like. 

 

As a bonus for today, here is my current support group while I'm slaving away over my manis ;) 

Fonzi

Fonzi and Maxwell

Cecil, the 24 pound cat! He's great :)

Feel free to share your New Years Manis! Happy Polishing 

Skeletubes!

My hand-painted reclaimed vacuum tubes are finally for sale online!



At the Skeletubes store you'll find several versions of the minimalist Skeletube Army in a nifty bag/tag package.



You'll also find the highly detailed one-of-a-kind brainac style tubes.



Be sure to check the store from time to time as I'll be adding new variations and packaging in 2013!

Healthy Eating Ideas

Today I want to talk about food. I love food. I really really love food. My measured stress levels are regularly lower when I know I'm about to eat. Food is what fuels your body, and if you choose the right things it's downright delighful. By choosing healthy items in a variety of colors, textures, and carb/protein levels - you can get more energy and better health just by what you eat.

Here's a few delicious looking ideas from me to you. Find these and more on my Pinterest Food Board.

Healthy Wrap:
1/2 cup chopped chicken, 3 Tbsp Fuji apples chopped, 2 Tbsp red grapes chopped, 2 tsp honey, 2 Tbsp almond butter. Mix and wrap in a Romaine lettuce leaf.

Cucumber Subs:
Really any sandwich filling works for this bread-free sandwich. This one includes turkey, dijon mustard and laughing cow cheese. 

Vegetarian Sweet Potato Burgers with Avocado:
This had me at sweet potatoes and avocado. Click Through for the recipe and lots of pics.

Grilled Ham and Cheese on Waffles:
This one might be questionable on health-appeal 'cause I doubt frozen waffles are winning many health awards. Still - I don't know why my sandwiches haven't been using waffles as bread since always. Click through for the recipe.

Coronation of the Skeletons

Wolfgang Sangmeister from Hamburg is back. He created "this painting is 140 x 100 cm acrylics on canvas after the oil painting from Velázques."

I wasn't familiar with the painting inspiration, so I searched for it. It is "The Coronation of the Virgin" by Diego Velázques. If you are familiar with Christian iconography, you will probably recognize Mary in the center, with God to the right, and Jesus to the left. The little skulls at the bottom are the cherubs in the original. I'm not big on religious paintings, so of course I prefer the skull version. It's remarkable how similar the two paintings are. Wolfgang's version is simply beautiful.

Sunday Simulacra - Version 6.31

Today's simulacra are from December 21, 2012... a day we will all remember for other reasons.


First up is our The Skullmaster who said:  "I was just stepping out of a car when I found this colorful fellow staring up at me!"

Next is Cozette McCreery in London, UK from Sibling, who showed us her breakfast. She explained: "This sweet (literally) "End Of The World Syrup" skull was found on a pancake on December 21."

Peaceful C says:

Thank you both for playing along with us and sharing your finds.  We may not have witnessed the end of days, but you did get some great shots to remember the day.  As we come to the closing of the year, may simulacra simile on you are we begin anew once more.

Keep sending those pictures in, we always love seeing what our skull hunters find. Anyone is welcomed to participate, it's fun and it's easy- if you see a simulacra skull, photograph it and send those pictures in to our submissions address with a little something about what it is really and maybe a little about you.

[CONTEST REMINDER] Win A Drop Dead Skull Glass

This contest has ended. Thanks to everyone who submitted a comment!

Don't forget that you have until 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time Wednesday January 2nd to enter our latest giveaway contest for a Drop Dead Skull Glass from the Cute Cube Collective.

[NOTE: If you are reading this on Facebook or Google+, you must go to THE ACTUAL BLOG POST HERE to enter this contest! You CANNOT enter this contest by commenting on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+]

Of course you don't need to wait for our contest to end for a chance to be a winner.  You can always be a real winner by purchasing your own skull glass here.  Thanks again to PrzemO.o from the Cute Cube Collective!

Super Embellished Skull Saturday

After visiting South America, joining a street art project mosaicing the streets of Brazil, and spending time with shamans in Peru, Lauren Baker had an epiphany of becoming an artist. She started using ethically sourced animal skulls, paint, tiles, and other embellishments to pay homage to the living creatures.

Each piece is unique and breathes it's own life back into the skull with amazing color and vibrancy.  You can see that Lauren uses quite a few methods and techniques which is an awesome way of keeping things fresh and creative.  Thanks for sharing the excellent works, Lauren!

Skull Marbles

Artist, Brad Pearson in Richmond, VA challenges us to another game with some new skull themed marbles he made recently.  He wrote: "All this work is made at my RVA studio, and was made using lampworking techniques. I draw a lot of the inspiration for these from the day of the dead motifs."

Pocket C says:

Thank you once again for sharing some of your excellent work with us.   It is always wonderful to see artists working in the ancient mediums.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Deborah Lippmann - Across the Universe

I was so spoiled this Christmas. Not only did I get to spend 10 days in Costa Rica, my boyfriend bought me enough polishes to keep me busy for a LONG time! Yay! He ended up getting me the entire On Safari collection from China Glaze which I fell in love with from the first moment I saw it. It's a Trap-eze! from their Cirque du Soleil collection was also included. If that wasn't enough, I got 3 new ButterLONDON's AND my very first Deborah Lippmann!!! To top it all off, I got a new Shany image stamping plate that I absolutely love. I can see myself using every single one of these stamps. I am so excited about all of them and feeling so fortunate for everything I have right now :)

I fell so hard for the Deborah Lippmann that I had to put in on immediately. I went with something simple and ended up using two of my new China Glaze's as well, Man Hunt (blue) and Exotic Encounters (green). And of course, I couldn't leave well enough alone so I added a stamp using my new plates! I really love this look...possibly because I am back to my favorite colors ;)

Happy Polishing :)

Then I Hung the Meditating Hippo

This holiday season I've spent most of my time resting, hanging out with Adam, reading books, and drinking lots of hot drinks.  There was the requisite gift exchange where I got enough "things" but not too many... and I like every single one of them. 

I got a few great yoga-themed gifts for christmas this year, but the most unexpected item had to be this adorably gaudy hippo ornament.

It's a fun reminder that meditation is always an option. 

[CONTEST] Win A Drop Dead Skull Glass

 This contest has ended. Thanks to everyone who submitted a comment!

Here to ring in a spectacular 2013 is the Cute Cube Collective with their "Drop Dead Skull Glass".   This magnificent drinking vessel drops the conventional skull glass idea on it's head by inverting the skull to be INSIDE of the glass.   As you fill it with your drink the liquid takes on the shape of the skull thus making your ordinary cup of milk, or whatever, completely BAD ASS!  Now you can have one for your very self by entering our giveaway for one FREE glass.  Keep reading for more info...

The Idea*

"Lo and behold, DROP DEAD, the unique collector’s item. DROP DEAD is the offspring of our passion and resolve. It is the child of the Cute Cube Collective, a creative group of people in possession of arcane knowledge, gathered by countless generations of alchemists. One of a kind. The mysterious alembic. Vas Hermetis."

The Design*

"The item was designed and produced in Poland through an extremely complicated casting process. Each copy is cast manually, and subsequently manually polished by a master craftsman. Made out of high quality crystalline resins. Cold to the touch. Volume of 250 ml. Cylindrical in shape. 7 cm in diameter, 10 cm in height. The experience of the family casting workshop makes it certain, that this item may be called a true piece of applied art."

Usage*

"Fill it with whatever it is you crave. An elixir of eternal life, virgin’s milk, maybe? If not, then alcohol will do! When an ominous skull appears before you, stare deeply into its eye sockets. See your own self, in articulo mortis. Treat the item with reverence. If necessary, clean it with lukewarm water. Dry it with a soft rag. Do not use hard sponges or metallic dishrags under any circumstance. Also, don't leave it with the regular dishware; show it off in a display cabinet. Use it only when making the most extraordinary of toasts."

*Information taken from the Drop Dead website

PRIZE INFO: One (1) Drop Dead Skull Glass as described above.   

HOW TO ENTER: It's been said that drinking from someone's skull lets you partake in their knowledge and wisdom.  Leave a comment below stating whose knowledge you would drink from this glass if you could choose anyone from any point in time.  I would have to do a coin flip between Albert Einstein and Ghandi.

CONTACT INFO: If you win, we need to contact you. With your comment, please include your email, or make sure your Blogger profile has a working email link for you on it. Entries are only valid with this information.

WHERE TO ENTER: All entries must be made on this blog post, on Skull-A-Day.com. You CANNOT enter this contest by commenting on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.

CONTEST CLOSES: 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time Wednesday, January 2nd.

NUMBER OF WINNERS: One

PRIZE SHIPS: This contest is open to all skull lovers around the world. You can "Drop Dead" no matter where you live.

IF YOU DON'T WIN: You can always "Drop Dead" too by purchasing a Drop Dead Skull Glass via the store here.  They do ship from Poland so be sure to inquire about exchange rates and costs (approx $32 USD).  Many thanks for the awesome giveaway to  PrzemO.o  from the Cute Cube Collective!

Egg Cases Skull

Maria Burke and Denise Corcoran paid homage to Noah Scalin by making this skull. Noah was a keynote speaker at the Virginia Arts Education Association annual meeting in Norfolk, VA. Maria and Denise were attendees.

If you aren't familiar with Norfolk, VA, I'll tell you now, it's along the VA coastline...aka by beaches. If my memory serves me right, the objects they used are stingray or skate egg cases. They commonly wash up along our beaches. Most are empty, but because the cases are so light weight, the tide will pull them up onto the beach. The next time you see some, gather them up and make something for others to see.

Painted Skulls

Returning** Artist Natalie VonRaven AKA "Magisterian", from Alberta, Canada showed off a pair of paintings she created.  She wrote: "I am a full time painter and artisan. My primary focus is on gothic/fantasy/surreal themes, portraits and...SKULLS!"

Title: "Joker"  

Medium: Acrylic   Size: 5"x 7" 

 Title: "A Gentlemans Madness"

 Medium: Acrylic  Size: 9"x 12"

Milliner C says:

At this time of the years it is always nice to catch up with old friends. we don't always get sizes that go along with submitted work.  It was nice to get of feeling of perspective on your pieces. Thank You once again for sharing your work with us.

** You can visit another of her posted submissions HERE.