Skulloctopus From Outer Space

Plaseebo is at it again with a couple of wonderful new custom skulloctopus figures.  Bob Conge is the creator of these unique creatures using glass eyes, a clear vinyl head filled with cosmic debris floating in space slime illuminated by an internal motion activated color changing LED unit.  I love the bright ideas that these little critters give me.  These are as comical as they are creative.  Thanks for sharing them, Bob!

Mosaic Sugar Skull Coaster Tile

This smiley stained glass skull coaster is from Faith Spicer-Jenkins in Kent, England. She created it from left over off cuts of her stained glass works. This skull is made from iridescent pink and green glass with dark blue and is 10cm Squared .

What a great way to recycle your scraps and turn them into something fun, festive, and functional.  I'm sure every drink is that much better when it gets to rest upon this brightly colored brain case.  Thanks for sharing your skull, Faith!

Diablo Sugar Skull

This devilishly handsome figure was made by Michelle C. Stewart of Seattle, WA. She created it from Papier-mâché and acrylic paint with glass eyes.

Sugar skulls aren't always my favorite(sorry), but this bad boy has me grinning. He's got traits of sugar sweetness, but that's just a glossy exterior hiding the true sinister motives inside. Plus, it looks like a pinata and I can make candy a metaphor for "sinister motives". Ha! Thanks for sharing, Michelle!

Stained Glass Sugar Skull Candle Holders

Faith Spicer-Jenkins of Kent, England creates stained glass sugar skull candle holders.

I'm fond of stained glass when it's back lit, especially with candles. The colors radiate onto the surrounding surfaces. I'm sure the skull casts and eerie beautiful glow. I bet this would be more gorgeous in a dark room. You can see more of Faith's work on her FB Page and blog.

Animal Skull Wall Vases

Don't worry, it's not as bad as it sounds. The good folks from Scaleworks in the Netherlands have no interest in exploiting wildlife for their personal design ideas.  These skulls, measuring 53cm wide x 76cm high x 30cm deep, are made from MDF, glass, and some optional pink and orange branches.

**Scale Works is an Amsterdam based prop design studio specializing in interior design, photo shoots, theatrical productions, unique gifts and home decor.  It was created in April 2012 by British born, Amsterdam based, visual artist Lawrence James Bailey as a means to distract himself from all the other important things he was supposed to be doing.  Much of the Scale Works output attempts to mix day-day banality with mysticism, occultist symbolism and cheeky rustic charm.

These wall vases are just a couple of the skulls found over at the Scaleworks website.  I truly appreciate the combination of biology and technology in these and other pieces they have.  It's a great way to celebrate the wonders of nature by using the man made products that came from the Earth first.  Thanks for sharing!

Sunday Simulacra - Version 6.38

Today's simulacra comes from Ryan Whisler who snared this smiling skull enjoying some good times at the Sedona Taphouse in Midlothian, VA. The light and shadow cast by the glass suggested a grinning skull that was competed with salt for the eyes and nose.

Judging by the shape of the glass and the color of the beer I would guess that this might be some type of Belgian brew.  I'll run with that idea and call this "spirit" Bernie the Belgian Beer Glass Skull.  Everyone has a great time when Bernie makes an appearance.  Thanks for sharing your good time with us, Ryan!

p.s.- I couldn't agree more with the coaster.

Steampunk(?) Skullpture

Today, Teresa Reaver  presents us with, "A sculpture piece I completed in Mexico for De La Los Muertos this year."  It appears to me to be a combination of steampunk and stone.

Teresa's work is wonderful in many ways. She uses a lot of different elements in her work (stone, metal, glass, wood) and the details are astounding. Check out this thoughtful skeleton if you want to see more. Thanks for sharing your work, Teresa!

[CONTEST REMINDER] Win a Personalized Etched Skull Glass from Tatman Glass

This contest has ended. Thanks to all of you who entered and good luck in our future giveaways!

Don't forget that you only have until 11:59:59 Eastern Time on TONIGHT to get entered to win a FREE personalized etched glass from Tatman Glass.

This glass features the #149 Cocoa Skull Stencil and will also have the winner's name etched on the back using Skullphabet #1.

[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+]

Don't worry if you don't win, you can always feel like a winner with your own Official Skull-A-Day pint glass done by yours truly, Tatman Glass. Good Luck!

[CONTEST REMINDER] Win a Personalized Etched Skull Glass from Tatman Glass

 This contest has ended. Thanks to all of you who entered and good luck in our future giveaways!

Don't forget that you only have until 11:59:59 Eastern Time on Friday, January 25th to get entered to win a FREE personalized etched glass from Tatman Glass.

This glass features the #149 Cocoa Skull Stencil and will also have the winner's name etched on the back using Skullphabet #1.

[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+]

Don't worry if you don't win, you can always feel like a winner with your own Official Skull-A-Day pint glass done by yours truly, Tatman Glass. Good Luck!

[CONTEST] Win a Personalized Etch Glass from Tatman Glass

This contest has ended. Thanks to all of you who entered and good luck in our future giveaways!

That's right, ladies and gentlemen(and non-gentlemen)!  It's been such a great pleasure to host all of these magnificent giveaways from all of our wonderful sponsors that I had to reward myself with the awesome feeling of giving a prize away as well.  So, here I am with my specialty- a Skull-A-Day etched pint glass.  I cut all of the stencils for my glasses by hand on each glass so that no 2 glasses are truly the same.  The glass you see featured below has Noah's #149 Cocoa Skull Stencil on the front, and it will truly be a one of a kind for one lucky reader who will be randomly selected to have their own name etched onto the back side using Skullphabet #1.

Show your friends your true love of skulls while you sip from a skulltastic etched glass with YOUR NAME on it. The additional bonus is, you can drink ANY liquid from this glass.  Water, tea, a hearty stout brew, whiskey, ANYTHING! (Please read all warning labels on any liquid before you drink it, and use some common sense. Please!)

 

PRIZE INFO: One (1) Personalized pint glass with #149 Cocoa Skull Stencil on the front and the winner's name in Skullphabet #1 on the back.  

HOW TO ENTER: I want to know one of two things.  Either how long you've been a Skull-A-Day fan, or how you found out about our site.  Whatever you choose.  I've been here since the first month (maybe first week) in 2007 because I was looking for some skull cabinet knobs.  True story.

CONTACT INFO: If you win, we need to contact you. With your comment please include your email address.  Entries are only valid with this information!  You can break it up to avoid spammers(i.e. skulladayfan AT skulladay dot com).

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 Friday, January 25th.

NUMBER OF WINNERS: One

PRIZE SHIPS: Apologies to our international fans, but this contest is only open to North American entries.  Glasses are just too heavy and fragile to make the long trip.

IF YOU DON'T WIN: You can always get your own Official Skull-A-Day pint glass at Tatman's Glass site.  I'm still only offering the #9 Stencil Skull, but if I get more positive feedback I may start to offer any of the available stencils on our Free Stuff page.  If you would be so kind then let me know what you think.  Good luck!!!

Dia de Los Muertos Glass Pendants

Holly Schineller has been making these glass pendant skulls since 2009. Each one is different and there are nearly 100 out there.

I like the quirky faces that each skull possesses, but the best part is that each one is different. Unique with it's own personality, shared with only the person who wears it. Thanks for the great submission, Holly!

Mythical Glass Skulls

Percy Echols is a glass sculptor working from Illinois State University.  I feel his description of his work does a waaaay better job than I could....

"Using fictional narrative, I create a mythology in which I deal with human perception and belief. The narrative itself focuses on the presence of corruption in the world. I use corruption analogously with change, influenced by talks by Jan Verwoert on corruption, care, and magic. As a medium, glass is chosen for its translucent properties that lend to the mystical. Through the narrative I draw inspiration from many religious and cultural mythologies, as well as my personal experiences. In rendering this process I use deconstruction and reconstruction of nature to render abstract creatures. These creatures together with other sculptural elements will tell a piece of the narrative."

Title: Solntsedar I: Character Attribute Study
Materials: Blown, Cast, Flamworked Glass, paint, and colored water

Detail view

Title: Syblline Abyss: Ravine
Materials: rolled steel, blown and cast glass, LEDs, arduino hardware

Glass sculpting is still one of my personally favorite art forms. These pieces are works of imagination brought to life by Percy. The mental becoming the physical by way of molten creationism and hand manipulated tools. Thanks for the great work, Percy!

[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 TONIGHT 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!

"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!

[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!

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.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

[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!

[CONTEST REMINDER] Win a Set of Skull Ornaments

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED! Thanks to everyone who participated!

Don't forget that you have until 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time Wednesday, December 26th to enter our latest giveaway contest for a set of 2 Skull Ornaments from Laura Bartholomew. You can find the original contest posts here or by clicking the side bar ad.

[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, Laura's beautiful Dia de los Muertos wood and porcelain glass ornaments are available for purchase in her Etsy shop ARTholomew. Also, she's offering a 10% discount on all purchases if you enter SKULL10 at check out!

[CONTEST REMINDER] Win a Set of Skull Ornaments

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED! Thanks to everyone who participated!

Don't forget that you have until 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time Wednesday, December 26th to enter our latest giveaway contest for a set of 2 Skull Ornaments from Laura Bartholomew. You can find the original contest posts here or by clicking the side bar ad.

[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, Laura's beautiful Dia de los Muertos wood and porcelain glass ornaments are available for purchase in her Etsy shop ARTholomew. Also, she's offering a 10% discount on all purchases if you enter SKULL10 at check out!

Casted Glass Skulls

Glass artist, Mike Eader of Seattle, WA is here with his glass skulls that he created by making a sand casting mold and hot glass that he pours into place. They measure 7 inches long by 4 inches wide. Some get sandblasted and some are adorned with copper nails.

Glass happens to be one of my favorite mediums to see, but sometimes it can be fragile and finicky, which makes it that much more impressive when done done right. These skulls look fairly solid and heavy and rock with their 3 dimensional features. The addition of the nails is a brutally awesome look. I do wonder what one could do by etching designs on the face of these. Infinite possibilities! Thanks for the great submission, Mike!