#skullcleaning

Last Deer Garland update (for a while) - today at 4 p.m. 💀🌿 . . Winter's colder temps slow down maceration & bacterial activity - which slows down our ability to clean bones. . . And because we collect bones from forests & roadsides they often need Lots of cleaning. . . We don't use harsh chemicals or soaps when cleaning (until the very end). Instead we focus on letting nature do her job. We use water, organic all natural soaps & time. . . We do use #hydrogenperoxide as a last step to whiten and disinfect the bones. . . Remember to treat your bones with care : 🚫 no boiling, 🚫 no bleach & no harsh chemicals - these methods can damage or weaken the bones. Check my highlights for #bonecleaning tips. . . . . . . . . #igatherthedead #igtdskulls #skullcollecting #skullcleaning #bonecollecting #bonecleaning #vultureculture #deertalisman #deathgoddess #deathpositive #darkaesthetic #heathensofinstagram #animism #witchyhome #bonemagic https://www.instagram.com/p/CpVq322P7sS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

BONELUST Q&A: "Can I just leave animals to decompose in a bone cage & do nothing else?" No, it is only one of the first steps in my bone processing techniques. There have been some misconceptions about how bone cages are used in skeletal processing. There are several reasons you don't want to just leave an animal carcass in a bone cage for the months or even years it could take for nature to clean it for you. _ Reasons not to leave bones in a bone cage for an extended period: Lichen, moss, mold, algae etc can start to grow into the bones. Sometimes you can't get this plant life out of the bone. Or the green stain off. Fallen leaves will eventually stain & decay the bones too. Also, you greatly chance getting rust on your bones. Even though I put screen down over the metal wire cage it can still ruin the bone if left too long. I started using coated wire for this reason. _ Normally my bone cages are used simply to let the wild carrion insects deflesh the animal remains for me. When bones are removed from the bone cage for maceration they should have very minimal skin/fur left for that remaining defleshing step. Maceration will further clean them of flesh, skin, ligaments, cartilage & such. Using only water and patience. Do NOT at soap or detergent or anything else for maceration! Then degrease if needed and last step is the sanitizing & whitening hydrogen peroxide bath. Full extensive bone processing blogs at my Bonelust blogspot and look for my group SKULL COLLECTING on Facebook where I post more about bone cage construction and tricks like using screen and strainers to keep from losing small bones/teeth. 💀💀 THERE'S A FULL BLOG POST ON THIS TOPIC AT THE BONE-LUST BLOGSPOT 💀💀 #boneprocessing #bonecage #skullprocessing #bonecleaning #skullcleaning #vultureculture https://www.instagram.com/p/CVQ_XD3BTig/?utm_medium=tumblr

When I traveled to Germany several years ago I was enamored with the beautiful way skulls were displayed on intricately carved plaques, so I was thrilled last year when a client requested that their whitetail skull be displayed in a similar way. Skull cleaning/mounting was done by me on a beautifully carved wood plaque from an artisan in London ( will find the name and edit post to credit them.) . . . #europeanmount #euromount #whitetailskull #skullcleaning #classiceuropeanmount #taxidermy #taxidermist #deerskull #missouriwhitetail #missouritaxidermist #missouritaxidermy (at Kansas City, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMw7CDcpNsL/?igshid=lqifffyukq7v

Northern pike skull maceration progress, been digesting about 3 months. Originally I was going to take many more deatailed progress pics, but got bogged down with the virus lockdown, not being able to restock on gloves and rationing what was on hand. Meanwhile this big guy turned into quite the project. Here the bones have been separated by size, shape, and level of visible grease still on them… 🐟💀✨

Some of my favorite pieces that are currently in my personal collection.

💀 Shop update October 7th 💀 previews up now 🖤🎃 (with more coming on wednesday) . . www.igatherthedead.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #igatherthedead #igtdskulls #vultureculture #deadwhenwemet #foundinthewoods #foundasbones #bonecollecting #bonecleaning #skullcleaning #skullcollecting #ethicalbones #nominkbones #nobattaxidermy https://www.instagram.com/p/CjT1m_3vxk2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=