Mummification experimentation part one complete.

So, lovely readers, as you know your fearless heroine has been hard at work figuring out the logistics of ancient mummification to honor a dear friends pet in it's journey into the afterlife.  (Run on sentence much?)

Yesterday, after much stupidity in Howard County, I finally came away with unbleached cotton muslin, and a sad excuse for gold leaf.  Apparently, Joann can't be bothered to keep actual gold leaf in stock because the binding agent in carcinogenic.  No need to worry about the fact that I've been elbow deep in some mildly toxic resins and the stuff that they're selling in place of gold leaf contains Hexane which is a neurotoxin *eye roll*.  Anyway, I digress.  I got home and set to work...

"gold leafed"

wrapped

All Done.

So it's done.  I'm quite pleased with it.  I'm going to work on a larger rat next before starting on Pip.  But D, saw the finished project last night and was pretty pleased.  I think everyone on my Christmas gift list this year will be getting one.

Thanatos, by Henry Kirk White

I visited with my doctor today, and he told me to  look up this poem, it's beautiful, and I thought I would share it with you.  xoxox

Thanatos

Oh! who would cherish life,
And cling unto this heavy clog of clay,
Love this rude world of strife,
Where glooms and tempests cloud the fairest day;
And where, 'neath outward smiles,
Conceal'd the snake lies feeding on its prey,
Where pitfalls lie in every flowery way,
And sirens lure the wanderer to their wiles!
Hateful it is to me,
Its riotous railings and revengeful strife;
I'm tired with all its screams and brutal shouts
Dinning the ear;--away--away with life!
And welcome, oh! thou silent maid,
Who in some foggy vault art laid,

Where never daylight's dazzling ray
Comes to disturb thy dismal sway;
And there amid unwholesome damps dost sleep,
In such forgetful slumbers deep,
That all thy senses stupefied
Are to marble petrified.
Sleepy Death, I welcome thee!
Sweet are thy calms to misery.
Poppies I will ask no more,
Nor the fatal hellebore;
Death is the best, the only cure,
His are slumbers ever sure.
Lay me in the Gothic tomb,
In whose solemn fretted gloom
I may lie in mouldering state,
With all the grandeur of the great:
Over me, magnificent,
Carve a stately monument;
Then thereon my statue lay,
With hands in attitude to pray,
And angels serve to hold my head,
Weeping o'er the father dead.
Duly too at close of day,
Let the pealing organ play;
And while the harmonious thunders roll,
Chant a vesper to my soul:
Thus how sweet my sleep will be,
Shut out from thoughtful misery!

October, the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

I love autumn, all of it's crisp sweatery goodness.  The leaves changing, the taste of mulled cider, pumpkin everything!  However, it is the artists worst nightmare; especially, if you need to go to the craft store for supplies.  The trip started innocently, just some cotton muslin and gold leaf.  I went on by break from work because I had gobs of time.  Apparently, not enough.  I had forgotten what a mad house fabric and craft stores are come October.  So wrapping the mummy will have to wait a couple of weeks.

The mouse has come alone quite well.  I am pleased with how it dried.  I am sure that I have a better understanding of keeping parts of the body which will be kept exposed and preserved via resin.  I light a stick of incense next to it every morning, and I'm a little bummed that I got rid of my Egyptian Book of the Dead.  Who knew I would  be adding mummification to the laundry list of talents.

Today, I'm headed to Gettysburg to poke around antique shops, and stand in cold spots with my best friend and husband.  Maybe walk through a cemetery or two.  In two Wednesdays I'll be strolling into the doors of The Mourning Museum in Drexel Hill, PA.  How sad is it that I am probably more stoked about that than ever going to Disney World.  This is his anniversary gift to me.  Maybe we can pop over to the Mutter Museum for a quick visit with the wall of skulls, and perhaps a new 2013 Calender just in case we make it past December 21st.  ;)

Absent

I've been on a whirl wind fun time having vacation for the past couple of days or so.  I've needed it.  It's been super fun.  I feel more centered and focused, which is NOT where I've been lately.  I've been staring at projects and books that I should be reading, looking at my calender at appointments I should be making.  I have been a bit more absent minded than usual.  I am a very detailed oriented person, but lately, little things have just been slipping through my fingers.

I started reconstruction on Wilfred's leg, which is a pile of foam mauled by the sweetest of pit bulls, Fletch.  Thank God I have a pile of pins.  I feel like a surgeon piecing together some one's shattered hip socket.  It's not the end of the world.  It just calls for a bright light, Bondo, and straight pins.  Once, I have it temporarily reconstructed, I will number the bits, take it apart and begin putting it back together with said Bondo.

It's also the first day of October, which normally means that I begin 31 days of horror at my house.  I think I may skip it this year in favour of classics instead of the gore fests which have lead me to become increasingly depressed during my favourite time of year.  I think tonight I'll start with The Omen, or Rosemary's Baby.  Both favourites.

The mummification project is going well.  I may pop out to a fabric store today to see if I can get some muslin.  The one mistake I made was drying the mouse face up.  There was seepage from his face (because of the detailed work involving removing his brain and eyes <see not being detail oriented while doing taxidermy IS a problem>).  This will be less of a problem with the ferret.  Cavities are larger, so I will be able to get into the skull to take care of both of those things.  Otherwise, Now that I know to dry them face down, I think the process will go super smooth.  Clearly, Pip will have to dry for a much longer time, but I think all in all the experiment was a success, and the resins that I chose not only did a beautiful job preserving, but it's the loveliest smelling piece of taxidermy I've ever created.  I hope to get started on Pip this week.  Hopefully, Diana will have him back by December 21 (end of the world stuffs).  That's my goal, at least.  I'll see her today to discuss specifics on decoration and whatnot.  I'm very excited about it.

Another weekend filled with friend therapy on the horizon.  That's good stuff!

Next post I promise will be image heavy.