Beaded Muskrat Skulls.

I had a fabulous weekend.  We visited the Des Moines Art Center and experienced the wonderfully curated show, "Transparencies."  You can check out the show write up at http://www.desmoinesartcenter.org/exhibitions/Transparencies.aspx, if you're in the area you have no excuse not to go.  GO!

We also ate delicious medium rare steak, bought some brewing supplies and mix n' match beer at Beer Crazy (I bought an agave wheat beer, AMAZING), found an awesome art supply store by the Drake Campus (why do I have such expensive tastes in paper?), and ate wonderful sushi at Hoshi Sushi (it was so fresh and delicious...and in Iowa).  It was a lovely, rainy day.

I also finished up these two lovelies.  I'm kind of on a roll with these skulls.  Thanks goodness it's almost spring because I'm running out of skulls to embellish.  A friend recently asked me where I acquire all of these skulls.  Good question.  All of them have been found during arrowhead or fossil hunting ventures.  Yup.  Found them all on the ground.  Nature!

Interesting use of Animal Parts, sonny.

I was in a pawn shop the other day and came across something interesting...can anyone guess what the framed art is made from?  I doubt it, although many of you may come close to the correct answer.

It's made out of turtle toes. 

I will never look at turtle toes the same way again...but now that I think about it, I've never really thought much about turtle toes to begin with.  Way to be, random Outsider Artist.  I wish you weren't dead so I could talk to you (I know he's dead, this item was part of his estate that was purchased by the owner of this particular pawn shop.)