beading skulls

[Suzizila]

Hi Everyone!

this is a some day project, so I was wondering if anyeone here has done this. I been looking at beaded skulls on the Prairie Edge site and was thinking this might be a nice challenge. At first, I have decided to go with some little ceramic skulls (buffalo).


How would I fit my beading surface to the skull to come up with a pattern,so i could go around the eye sockets, horns, and where it get narrow toward the bottom part?
What would be the best way of attaching beadwork to the skull?

What would be the best way to make a hanger for the skull?

Does anybody have ideas about this?

Thanks!

Suzizila

http://www.prairieedge.com/buffalo-skull-w-beaded-image-of-mother-child/

http://www.prairieedge.com/catalog/product/gallery/id/2855/image/1939/

http://www.prairieedge.com/catalog/product/gallery/id/2957/image/2063/

[Joe's Dad]

Can u bead two of those for trouble?

Just two.

[OLChemist]

I imagine you noticed the beadwork was done on buckskin. If I were making the pattern for this, I'd lay some muslin over the skull and pin and mark to make a rough pattern. Then I'd transfer it to the hide, sew were it needs sewn, then bead. These don't look too different from horse masks and those are relatively flat. I suspect a nice weighty piece of beadwork would conform to the shape with little if any tailoring. Remember the hide has some give, so this does not have to be (pardon the pun) skin tight.

You're on your own with the hanger.

[Suzizila]

Can u bead two of those for trouble?

Just two.

You mean you weren't putting in a special order for yourself?(a left skull & a right skull) Three heads are better than one...only they wouldn't be ceramic. Somebody might try to knock some sense into you & I wouldn't want them to break.

[Joe's Dad]

I don't do skulls.

This is me ---->

Seriously, are u talking big skulls? Little skulls? Flat stiched on leather then put on the skull or wax inlaid?

[Suzizila]

I don't do skulls.

This is me ---->

Seriously, are u talking big skulls? Little skulls? Flat stiched on leather then put on the skull or wax inlaid?

i was talking about the stitched on leather type. When I saw the little ceramic skulls, I thought those would be good to start out with. Then I could move on to the real thing.

I have seen atleast one very detailed wax inlaid beaded skull, but I'm more of the sew it on leather type of gal.

[Joe's Dad]

I was down in Mexico City decades ago and saw some of the Huichol Indians inlaid beadwork down there.

Absolutely awesome!!!

[Suzizila]

I imagine you noticed the beadwork was done on buckskin. If I were making the pattern for this, I'd lay some muslin over the skull and pin and mark to make a rough pattern. Then I'd transfer it to the hide, sew were it needs sewn, then bead. These don't look too different from horse masks and those are relatively flat. I suspect a nice weighty piece of beadwork would conform to the shape with little if any tailoring. Remember the hide has some give, so this does not have to be (pardon the pun) skin tight.

You're on your own with the hanger.

Thanks, Ol Chemist! Atleast somebody took me seriously right away & gave me some good ideas....unlike somebody else we know, who claims to be an I'm open to more help with this project.

[Joe's Dad]

Hey, I helped! hahaaaa

That OLChemist rocks!

[BlueDove]

I have looked at these before and seriously thought of doing it Ive painted Texas Longhorn Cow skulls and really wanted to try this

[AmigoKumeyaay]

I was down in Mexico City decades ago and saw some of the Huichol Indians inlaid beadwork down there.

Absolutely awesome!!!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.228358050547119.54784.149483298434595&type=1&l=767c1abd8c

[AmigoKumeyaay]

Our Huichol friend EagleRabbit is a well-known vendor at Calif. powwows, and a few other states as well.

He told me his wife took two days to bead the jaguar head he is holding in the picture above.

Purty cool....

[Choctaw Keith]

The beaded skulls I have seen draw the pattern on the skull. Then string the beads and glue the string of beads to the pattern directly on the skull. It is a slow process since you must allow the glue to dry before adding too many beads. The end result is beautiful. I will try to find the website where I have seen these and I will post it to this thread.

[Choctaw Keith]

I was not able to find the website. But will keep looking.

[kgirl7]

You could probably do a google search for Huichol art.