Raccoon skull fascinator

[CherryLex]

I know there's a "Stuff you've made" showoff thread but I wanted to post this separately because I am very, very proud of myself!

I had seen a similar fascinator to tho on Etsy but it was $150 , seeing as I had a raccoon skull already I decided to order the materials I needed (buckram and feathers is all I needed to buy) and give it a go myself. Since I already had most of the materials this cost me about $25 and I have enough material to make many more fascinators... I am addicted!

Here's the item on Etsy for reference - http://www.etsy.com/listing/56135005/ra ... e=handmade

And here's mine:


and then adding rosettes. I'm going to make these removable so I can change the colors. The rosettes are handmade also.


Here's the bottom to show the lining & attachment of the elastic:

and being worn, prior to the rosettes addition - excuse the no makeup.


I'm so excited about this thing, lol. But constructive criticism is definitely welcome, I'm sure some of you experienced hat makers could give me some tips!

[PrettyDreadful]

Thats gorgeous hun.
I love it .
Nice work

I have enough material to make many more fascinators...

^^ Yes , please do

[thecutealternative]

Ahh soo cool, it's different and quirky and I like it! Great work!

I personally prefer your's because I like the smaller rosettes, and I like the idea of being able to change them too, however I do like the net cover over the skull on the expensive *cough* overpriced* end cough one, that's a nice touch, I think it makes the skull a little more subtle!

OT - but you look so different without make up on!

[MrsEss]

I already commented on facebook.....but I will on here again cos I BLOODY LOVE IT!!!! <3

[LittlePinkFaery]

where did you find the skull????


Yours is fab, I do agree that ned over the skull would make it look less stark, but you have done really really well. As a wee hat maker myslef, I cannot understand how much people change for things! It is maddness at times!

[CherryLex]

@Pretty Dreadful - thanks! I have some other skulls and bones to work with, also some doll heads and other oddities so I've got plans, I just need to get some fabrics!

@cutealternative - I totally agree on the netting. I'm thinking about moving it around on there so it mimicks the other one. I've never worked with veils so it's been tricky for me!

@Sarah - Thanks

@LPF - A friend gave it to me, but I live in an area with lots of roadkill so I think I'm going to start scavenging more, lol. I know it's going to be weird picking up dead things off the side of the road but I'm not interested in paying $20-$40 for them. I have some other friends who are also going to give me skulls they have so hopefully I don't have to scavenge too much. I've thought about going out into the woods and searching too. We have a lot of vultures and hawks/various birds of prey so I know they hunt out here and leave bones. Gosh, that's such a weird thing for me to have just typed, lol.
I also agree on the costs, I understand needing to pay yourself appropriately for your time & all but seriously, I have never done this before and it only took me about 3 hours start-to-finish.

[Vex88]

It looks great. Id seen a few on etsy too during my browsing. Personally ,it looks a bit big for something i'd wear.. but it's still a kool idea

[Librarynerd]

LOVE IT!! I love bones too. I don't think it's creepy:) Last summer a raccoon up and died in my back yard and was stinking bad so I buried him. Dug him up 5 months later and he was just bones and dirt! No smell or ick at all. So I have a whole raccoon skeleton now, including the penis bone(yes, really).
Things rot fast, so if you find some roadkill bury it in nice loose moist dirt and it will be clean in no time. Or you can put roadkill in an anthill if you have any around, the ants will clean it down to bone in days.

One thing to be careful about if you are selling stuff online with animal bits is to make sure they are not from a protected species. I think all the hawks in the U.S. are protected and it is illegal to have any parts of them including feathers regardless of where you found them. There is an exemption for tribal use. Many other birds are protected too.
But raccoon, possums, squirrels, skunk, coyote......all the U.S species that are doing very well in human populated areas state Fish and Wildlife usually has no problem with collecting bones.

Edit: Just noticed you are in Florida! Lucky:) you have all the weird critters there. I would guess that Florida Fish and Wildlife does not have a problem with collecting invasive exotic species in your state, I hear they are a BIG problem there. ohhh...python skull and vertebrae would be really cool.

[FrankenBabe]

this is fantastic! id wear it every time i went out if i had one lovely work!

[MizB]

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!

[Nenedhel]

Thats super cuet, really well done ^^ would love to see more

[Couture_Coiffure]

Definitely prefer your version, especially with the interchangeable rosettes. Also, I like the addition of lace, so it doesn't look like the skull is hanging off the fascinator. On a side note, I prefer the veil to be less 'out there', if you know what I mean, but that's just my taste.

[WalksWithStrangers]

I totally prefer yours, it looks like it sits incredibly well which is the main problem I have with fascinators, I find they always sit too stiffly or angularly, but yours sits beautifully.
I also totally prefer the placement of the feathers, and though I'd like to see the rosettes closer to the front and the veil slightly smaller, on the whole, thats pretty f*cking beautiful and you have every right to be proud
I'd love to wear it on my head <3

[[[Violet.Nightmare]]]

beautiful! i love jewellery made with animal skulls
and this is very nicely made

[liz]

wow, i love it!