The Elegant Skull

La Calavera Catrina ('The Elegant Skull') is a 1913 zinc etching by Mexican printmaker Jose Guadalupe Posada The image has since become a staple of Mexicn imagery and often is incorporated into artistic manifestations of the Day of the Dead in November. The etching was part of his series of calaveras, which were humorous images of contemporary figures depicted as skeletons which often were accompanied by a poem.

This is my version!! Mine has the traditional flowers but a crown instead of a hat!

 The flowers were very roughly hand cut from book pages, glued together and sprayed with watered down Distress inks.

 I used a letter stencil to write the words. I am entering this for this weeks challenge on SIMON SAYS STAMP AND SHOW where we are asked to show something SPOOKY....I think this might just fit into that category!

EDIT: Olive asked how I made the skull.....I didn't, I bought it......it's  papier mache and I got it from The Craft Barn last year, I see they are still on their web site but it does say out of stock :(

 On a different note and continuing to give glances into my life here in Kazakhstan today was what is called vendors day at the Womens Club.....lots of local sellers bring their products for us to buy.
I did some Christmas shopping!!

 So, this is the Uzbek pottery........................

 ...this lady had lots of felt goods.......I really liked the hats (always another time) but decided I liked the dolls more........the one in the middle now lives at my house!........

 ....posing for a picture.......they were selling beautiful scarves......silk with wool/felt patterns added......and finally just a general view of the room.