Memento Mori...

It might seem morbid, but I've delved into some research to help cope with the recent events.  While the desire to languish is strong, I find that work, especially all-consuming work, is the best remedy for grief.  The act of doing something and hopefully inspiring others to do something is a powerful medicine.  I've composed a shopping guide of different skull themed beads and pendants.

(Please note that not all of the artisan made goods are sold individually as components, but as completed finished jewelry pieces.)

A) Glazed ceramic pendant by Gaea.  B) Fused dichroic glass pendant by Etsy seller, artdefleur.  C) Printed shrink plastic by Etsy seller, artsyathina.  D) Soldered glass tarot card pendant necklace by Julie Johnson.  E) Copper Day of the Dead pendant by Christina and Marisol of Wink Artisans.  Check out their BLOG.

All of the above glazed ceramic pendants are made by Melanie Brooks Lukacs of Earthenwood Studio.  They belong to her Spooky Head series.

A) Glazed ceramic pendant by Gaea.  B) Fused glass piece by Jamie Burress.  C) Optical illusion skull embedded in a resin-filled bottle-cap by Amanda Anspach.  D) Day of the Dead sugar skull altered Scrabble tile pendant by Etsy seller, thegildedlily.  E)  Glazed ceramic pendant by Surly Amy of surlyramics.com.

All of the above pieces were made by Amy Johnson of Tank fire + metal.  A) Acid green and lavender skull and crossbones.  B) Lemon yellow skull and ochre cross bones.  C) Red skull and purple crossbones.  D) Tangerine skull and seafoam crossbones.  E) Mossy green skull.  F) White skull with black crossbones.  G) Purple skull with red crossbones.

A) Antique gold-toned skull charm with bail from Twyla, Etsy seller, xSuppliesx.  B) Electroformed lampwork glass by Etsy seller, boobiebeads.  C) Tan plastic skull beads from Audrey of viragocreations.  D) Lampwork skull bead from by Lindsey, Etsy seller, LilCarltonCreations.  E) 12 piece Gumball skull charm from Holly. 

A) Glazed ceramic pendant by Gaea.  B) Pressed Bronze Clay Skull coin by Green Girl Studios.  C) Printed plastic pendant by Holly Modine. D) Fabricated sterling silver tag by Lauren Mojica. E) Vintage Hamlet Skull Illustration embedded in resin by The LAM Collective.

All of the above pieces were made by Michael Craig, the self-proclaimed, "Flaming Fool."  Check out his WEBSITE.  You can find more of his work on Etsy, under the seller name, flamingfool.  A) Flower skull 7.  B) Skull 5.  C) Encased skull 27.  D) Flower skull 12. E) Encased skull 28.

A) Painted polymer memento mori skull bead set by Etsy seller, hibernacular.  B) Polymer girly skull by Jackie of Beary Sweet Beads.  Check out her BLOG.  C)  Black resin skull charm by Fredric Hamby.  D) Lot of 15 Jolly Roger Bright skull charms by Etsy seller, Scissorshappy.  E) Bisque Glazed Porcelain bead by Joan Miller.

A) Felted, embroidered and beaded sugar skull brooch by Etsy seller, ladybug9753.  B) Lead-free pewter Smiling Skull by Green Girl Studios.  C) Bisque glazed porcelain by Joan Miller.  D) Skeleton key charm from Etsy seller, doubleangeldesign.  E)  Pirate poison lampwork aromatherapy vessel in Ivory by Etsy seller, flamekeeper.  Check out her BLOG.

A) Sterling silver sugar skull barrel bead by Anne Choi.  B) 10 Pressed Czech glass from Beadaholique.  C) Lead-free pewter Fandango skull by Green Girl Studios.  D) Glass beads from Artchix.  E) Black acrylic charm by Duplicate Daughters.

A) Fine silver "skully" charm by Melissa J. Lee.  B) Day of the Dead Calavera resin pendant by Etsy seller, UrbanBead.  C) Pirate skull bisque glazed porcelain by Joan Miller.  D) Altered Scrabbled tile pendant by Etsy seller, theinkling.  Check out her BLOG.  E) Carved bone Tango skull with rose from Etsy seller, supplystudio504.

All of the above beads and charms can be found at Fusion Beads.  A) Copper-plated sugar skull.  B) Gold-plated sugar skull.  C)  Sterling silver skull and crossbones charm.  D) Open-mouth Sterling Silver skull charm.

A) Miguel de Cervantes Sterling silver Flower Skull bead by Anne Choi.  The sides read, "Until death, it is all life."  B)  Black resin skull by Etsy seller, brownbagstudio.  C)  Polymer Day of the Dead sugar skulls by Laura of Zoeowyn.  Check out her BLOG.  D) Fine silver "skully" coin by Melissa J. Lee.  E)  Felted Skull Hair Accessories from Etsy seller, geckoartist.

I originally met the lovely folks at Anima Designs at a Bead Mercantile Show in Pittsburgh many years ago and again was neighbors with them in Tucson a few years back.  I love their stuff!  They've got such a great assortment of fun and funky vintage finds.  They've got an entire section on skull beads.  The ones below are examples of some of the awesome skull beads they've got to offer.

A) Carved pale green jade skulls.  B) Large ceramic raku skull beads.  C) Carved bone bead.  D) Resin skull beads. E)  Carved yellow jade skull. F) Unglazed porcelain skull beads.

A) Large carved bone Indonesian skull bead.  B)  Carved large copal skull bead.  C)  Carved bone mala bracelet.  D)  Carved turquoise skull beads.  E) Black ceramic skull beads.