Lively Skulls

Lively Skulls... that doesn't make much sense does it? But wait it is a little oxymoron that is the perfect title to my post. Skulls are the complete opposite of life and normally one might describe them as creepy, dark and a little morbid... But the skulls that I am sharing with you today aren't scary or dark, they are most fun and friendly!

(Skull bracelet by Shebee)

At my work experience at a boutique, I came across these gorgeous skull necklaces by a brand called 'Shebee'. They are really simple: just chunky Mexican style skull beans with jewelled eyes in fun colours and it's the eyes that give it a sense of humour and take away the ghoulish connotations of skull. I loved them so much as they were really my style; fun, quirky and cool. Unfortunately they were way beyond my budget and a little overpriced if you ask me (£300/400 for a long necklace the same as the bracelet pictured above) but I would love to make something similar. It's a great piece to make a DIY copy of!

(DIY customised friendship bracelet; Nail polish, Damsel in a dress by Essie)

(DIY beaded stretch skull and pearl bracelets)

And more on skulls. At home I have some mexican-style skull beans in bright colours. The bright colours are what make the skulls less gothic and more lively and fun. Although they are too small for the above DIY, I decided to use them to customise a friendship bracelet that I had lying around. Plus I did a little photoshoot. 

First the photoshoot. I had some beautiful pink roses at home and felt like getting snap happy and playing around with the settings on my camera (a Canon EOS 1000D). I liked the idea of arranging the skull in the petals of the roses as if they are emerging out of the flower with the contrasting symbols of life (the rose) and death (the skulls). You could see it as a little unsettling the way the skulls come out of a flower as it is sort of saying that death is always peeking it's head at you. But I see it more as the idea of re-incarnation and that death and life are part of eachother. Anyway enough analysing, I'm really pleased with the photos and the colours came out really well.

Finally, my little DIY. This is a super quick DIY. All you need is a friendship bracelet (homemade or bought; I bought mine in a shop in Covent Garden), some colourful skull beads, embroidery floss, a clasp (mine is a lobster claw) with a ring to attach it and a needle (the needle needs to be big enough for the floss and small enough for the beads. All I did was attach the clasp to the bracelet by unraveling the strings at the end and knotting the them to the clasps. Then I threaded through the skulls beads and secured it well.. Simple as that! 

I also made these beaded bracelet using whatever beads I had. I just strung my colourful skull beads with pearls, faceted beads and diamonte beads on elastic cord. Wear several piled up on your wrist and mix with other friendship bracelets.

xxx

Love,

Thais