Yorick Skull Limited Edition

Our RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Yorick Skull is a limited edition hand cast matte resin craft blank, ready to alter.

Just in time for your Halloween designs!

He has a sweet grin, wide enough to hold a glimmering jewel between his teeth.

We took Yorick's name from the character in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, Act 5, Scene 1. 

Hamlet:  "Alas, poor Yorick, I knew him, a fellow of infinite gest and excellent fancy!"

Measurements 1 3/4" Length x 1" Wide x 1" Height. Just right for a statement ring, a book cover, a necklace, cuff bracelet or mount it to one of our Ex Voto's for a unique shrine adornment.

What will you create?!

The inspiration for this piece came from divine a Renaissance period skull ring I once saw in a museum in London. My rendition is adhered to a ring blank, dressed in gold paint, crackle medium, antique ruby red glass cabochons, crushed turquoise and one saltwater baroque vintage pearl. I'm planning on wearing him while giving out Halloween candy to our neighbor kids! 

Click Here to purchase.

"Mirror, Mirror on the Wall" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Heather Thompson

Having young children at home and the fact that they STILL think Momma is fun and "the best Momma in the world," my art is highly influenced by them.  It tends to reflect on what we are actually doing around the house or in the gardens or what we seem to be watching at that given time. Also seeing that my daughter, Olivia, and I share an art room together she gives me her honest, heart warming opinion on EVERYTHING.

I mean, when she doesn't like something, she will usually give you a better way of doing it in her eyes. So when it came to the "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall" piece, we were talking about how we wanted it to look and we had the movie up on the screen. Olivia was pointing out details in the walls and torches and things evolved from there until it was time to make the torches.

So with Apoxie Sculpt® in hand, (she gets to mix it up for me and then play with the left overs because I can never measure the perfect amount) I struggled, and then struggled some more, and then mom duties where calling and I had to make supper.  She asked if she could help. I thought, "Why not? Let's see what the girl's got."

I was happy to see I wasn't the only one that struggled. She would manipulate and twist and turn and with much delight, the torches were done, and not by me! As proud as Olivia was of her handiwork, I said, "Well we better put them where they belong."

So to give credit where credit is due, Olivia, the little scutlper that she is, did in fact, make the beautiful torches. With some expert "Olivia guidance" of color choices, this "Best Momma in the World" finished the paint details that made the whole project seamlessly come together.

A collaboration of the minds, our rendition of "Mirror Mirror on the Wall" was completed and Olivia is one proud artist.

*Inspiration from Walt Disney's 1959 "Snow White", the main villain, "Evil Queen"

Supplies:
Relics & Artifacts® Facia Familiaris
Relics & Artifacts® Dresden Star Chain Gold
Relics & Artifacts® Ostensorium
Apoxie Sculpt®
DecoArt Media Gesso
DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics: Titanium White, Quinacridone Gold, Dioxazine Purple, Primary Cyan, Metallic Silver, Burnt Umber, Paynes Grey, Primary Yellow, Cadmium Orange Hue, Carbon Black Metallic Gold
Amazing Putty
Amazing Casting Resin
Stampin' Up!  Embossing Folder
Antique Iron Frame with mirror (from Italy)
Table Salt

"INSPIRE" and a *GIVEAWAY!* with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ambassador Monica Downing

Seeing the projects our Tribe members post in the Relics & Artifacts® Tribe on Facebook is always so much fun.  I love seeing all the different ways everyone creates with these craft blanks.  As Relics & Artifacts® Ambassadors, we like to create projects for these challenges to cheer you on and inspire you.  I have been so busy the last few weeks, that I wasn’t able to participate and make something for the #RAShadesofRed Challenge we just wrapped up.

After seeing all the submissions for the challenge, even though it has ended now, I was so inspired that I had to make something.  This piece, “Inspiration”, is dedicated to our Relics & Artifacts® Tribe.  You are all an inspiration to me.  I love seeing what you create. I learn and grow from watching you make.

Leave me a comment here on this post, and tell me where you find your inspiration. I will be drawing one winner from the comments below to receive my "Inspiration" piece as a thank you gift.  Keep creating and inspiring. Keep growing and pushing your boundaries. We love what you do!!

If you are not already a member of the Relics & Artifacts® Tribe, we would love to have you join us. It is a friendly, positive, and very supportive group with endless inspiration.

SUPPLY LIST:
Relics & Artifacts® "Rising Spirit II"
Relics & Artifacts® Dresden Trim Gold Angel Wings
Relics & Artifacts® Bohemian Jewels "Peridot"
Verday 2 oz Paint Kit
Wood plank
DecoArt Acrylic Paints (reds and pinks)
Epoxy sticker
Metal Crown
White Signo Pen
Black Micro pen
Liquid gold pen

"From the Tribe" with RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Guest Ambassador DeeDee Catron

This month's "From the Tribe" RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Guest Ambassador is a woman of incomparable talent.  She's been in the industry for quite some time and has worked with a multitude of people to include Donna Downy.  It is our pleasure to introduce DeeDee Catron as February's Guest Ambassador.  Grab a coffee, a comfy seat, and let's let DeeDee show us what she's all about!

"I am a Mixed Media Artist | Instructor | Designer sorting through the ever expansive mixed media world in an effort to conquer ALL.THE.THINGS. I can never settle on one medium or one technique and I truly love to throw them all together. I live in Las Vegas and I teach classes both locally and abroad. I also offer occasional paid eCourses and tons of free mixed media demonstration via my YouTube channel."

DeeDee's work of art is absolutely mind blowing in its composition and construction.  We'll let her share the story.

Hello Relics & Artifacts Tribe! I'm super excited to be here today sharing a project I worked up specifically for Sandra and the amazing team. I've been a long time fan of the girls who work the Muse and Toil was a labor of love inspired by each and every one of them.

Toil started out as a political statement and evolved into a much more personal expression. It's about keeping the balance between respect and courage.

Between wants and needs,

Between light and dark,

Between life and death.

It's about the inner struggle and which wolf we'll feed today. 

Toil encompasses a lot of symbolism and there are a lot of struggles on the piece. The contrast in texture between the smooth resin and the harsh grungy masking tape is so appealing. The full figured Renaissance style face versus the feeble old skeleton makes my heart race. It's always fun for me to start a project, watch it morph, finish it and then talk about it.  When Mr. Catron saw the finished piece he blurted out, "It looks like a mausoleum!" and I was so happy about that! It wasn't something I INTENDED but what a cool final effect, right? 

What do YOU see when you look at Toil? What emotions are stirred, if any? I really look forward to conversing with you about the art. ♥

DeeDee's art invokes thought and is every bit as evocative as it is provocative.  She's so graciously put together a Snapguide tutorial for you on how to create a piece like this one.  Beautiful, powerful, thoughtful and so full of soul, we thank you for sharing your creativity with us.  For more about you can connect with her on her website, Facebook, Instagram (@deedeecatron), and YouTube.

Supply List:
Relics & Artifacts® Egg Shrine
Relics & Artifacts® Archangels
Golden Fluid Matte Medium
Golden Carbon Black Fluid Acrylic
Golden Heavy Gel
Liquitex Glaze Medium
Liquitex Gesso (P) (White & Clear)
DecoArt Media Gray Fluid Acrylic
UmWowStudio Star Confetti Chipboard
UmWowStudio Angel Wings Chipboard
Stabilo Marks All
Amazing Crafting Products 2 Part Clear Cast Resin
Mona Lisa Gold Foil
May Arts Ribbon
Tim Holtz Rubons
Tim Holtz Alterations & Configurations Box
Sand paper, scissors, heat tool, clay tools, baby wipes, canvas strings, plastic skeleton, paint brush, measuring cups, stir stick, vintage italian text, paint cup, water, coffee, graphite pencil, vintage dictionary page, masking tape

It's All In The Details

I get enjoyment from many different aspects of Creating.

Sometimes I have a plan and do quick sketches to get my ideas down on paper and while I have dozens of sketchbooks filled with project drawings and ideas, it would take me years to actually make all the pieces I've designed and want to create.

I love collecting, gathering and sorting through my antique materials.

Taking time to try out different arrangements until I find the perfect piece and placement, you know it's the piece that looks as though it were made to go in that spot!

The golden seed beads and bouillon trims you see here came off of a 1920's Flapper dress and all of the set stones are actually "paste" stones from the 1700's. Paste is a term they used for a certain kind of highly refractive lead glass that was hand cut, faceted and then polished to resemble real gem stones.

The large center stone is also early paste. These stones are getting harder to find all the time.

In order to get just the right look on the flames I've layered several different tones of yellow from mustard to butter, sun to sunset, all topped with little highlights of metallic gold.

When I'm hunting for antique pieces it's the details that make all the difference for me. The thing I go crazy for on these stones is the setting, look closely, each setting has a little dot of round metal that holds the stone securely, isn't it beautiful?! And just so unique.

When the last bit of embellishment has been applied another aspect of being a maker is ready to happen. Photographing the finished piece is a much fun for me as making it was. It's an expedition, traveling around the object, camera in hand, peering through the lens just waiting for the right angle to reveal itself.

And lastly the satisfaction I get when actually wearing a piece I made from beginning to end. The sense of pride and accomplishment means so much to me, its especially gratifying in times of unrest in the world. 

I never take for granted the act of creation. Makers are the journey takers, the adventures, the wanders and the experimenters. Thats who we are, we explore, we observe, we absorb, we interpret, we express and we contribute.

RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Ancient Heart (heart and flame)

RELICS & ARTIFACTS® Rising Spirit V(wood support back)

E6000 Adhesive/Tacky Glue

Acrylic Paints Yellow Tones/Gold/Brick Red

Necklace chain

Antique trims/Camera