I adore cameos, especially very old ones…cameos that have a story attached. I know my great-grandmother wore them but some how I was not lucky enough to inherit one of hers. Anyway, one day I was looking through etsy and happened upon these every cool cameos–instead of featuring beautiful ivory maidens, they featured intricate skeleton profiles! I immediately thought of the new wave of books such as “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies”, “Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters” and “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”. I think this is a fun take on these classic stories and really quite unexpected. Why not take classic jewelry, such as cameos, and go for the unexpected? It does not take away from the beauty of original vintage pieces…it just puts a new spin on the idea. I wasn’t sure how I would create such pieces but I finally found a mold to use so I could create my very own skeleton cameos. I created the cameo and used vintage beads and other bits to finish the piece. I am in the midst of creating more but have posted photos of the one I just finished. Comments are, as always, very welcome. :^D
Cheers!
This slideshow requires JavaScript.











Facebook
The Art Of Donna Store
33 comments
Comments feed for this article
November 21, 2010 at 6:56 pm
NEAL CODY
i love those skeleton cameo ear rings donnie.
November 22, 2010 at 3:48 am
theartofdonna
Thanks Neal!!! Necklaces though for now…maybe earrings soon.
November 21, 2010 at 6:59 pm
BronwynMerritt
Donna, you are so right about how cameos go with goth. My Mom had some cameos from the 1920s which I loved to wear in my proto-punk youth. When her estate was liquidated, I gave them to her teenage granddaughters, and they were thrilled with them. They seem perfect for Edward Gorey/Lemony Snicket types of styling- you have really done a beautiful job.
Bronwyn
November 22, 2010 at 3:49 am
theartofdonna
Thanks so much!!!! I have always loved them!!
November 21, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Miranda Armfield
Sounds wicked cool. Love those books as well as their classic, non-zombie counterparts. I might have to buy one of those cameos!
November 22, 2010 at 3:49 am
theartofdonna
Thx Miranda!!!!!
November 21, 2010 at 7:06 pm
Mary Jo
Donna, I LOVE cameos, too. The skeleton ones are edgy and right up my alley. Yours is beautiful, with a creepy feel, esp. like the dangling pearls. It gives the piece a look of skeleton fingers dripping down.
November 22, 2010 at 3:51 am
theartofdonna
You are right!!! That’s so interesting! Thanks so much—I appreciate your comments! :^D
November 21, 2010 at 7:45 pm
kmarkko
I love these Donna! They remind me of Morality paintings. The painting is broken into panels. On one side, the virtuous woman is rewarded with marriage and children. The opposite side shows the poor girl who has chosen the “wrong path.” She is usally dipicted alone, starving, with a child at her feet. Sometimes she looks skeletal, and in the last panel, often hanging from a noose. I’ve seen these in Europe, and usually the girl who sleeps with the knight before marriage is blonde! Her face transforms from beautiful to skeletal. Ah, Morality!
November 22, 2010 at 3:52 am
theartofdonna
Oh Kathleen—that sounds so interesting!!! I will have to check those out!!! I don’t think I have ever heard of them!
November 21, 2010 at 7:46 pm
Lynn Wiegand
Only you could make zombies look beautiful, Donna! I too wish my maternal relatives passed on a cameo, especially since my daughter desperately wants a “real” one. If you ever come across an antique cameo that can be made into a necklace, let me know.
November 22, 2010 at 3:53 am
theartofdonna
Awwww thanks so much Lynn!!! That’s nice of you! I will defo keep my eyes open for you!
November 21, 2010 at 8:03 pm
Jeff Manhart
Donna, your work is amazing! Your creativity seems to have no boundaries whatsoever, and that is what makes it special. I don’t know how you keep coming up with the ideas.
Most intensely creative people are tortured (think Van Gough), but you are relatively normal (I mean that in a good way!) and I know you are happy.
Keep up the great work, I’m surprised your jewelry isn’t fetching millions. Hopefully it will someday, and it’s fun to know you’re doing what you like to do.
Regards to Greg & kids, and have a great Thanksgiving & Christmas!
take care,
Jeff
November 22, 2010 at 3:57 am
theartofdonna
Thanks so much Jeffery D! :^D I get inspiration from many places. I’m not the first person to create these but I do put my own spin on them. I wish I were making big $$$$ can always use it! LOL! I am doing what I love to do but am missing creating more mixed media art…I’ll get back to it though. XO
November 21, 2010 at 8:44 pm
Maddy Sells
Wow Mrs. Kishbaugh! Beautiful! I’ll have to stop by and check it out!
November 22, 2010 at 3:58 am
theartofdonna
Thx Maddy!
November 21, 2010 at 11:42 pm
Stacie Ewald
I love this idea and think the finished product is awesome
Good work !
November 22, 2010 at 3:59 am
theartofdonna
Thx Stacie!!!! :^D
November 22, 2010 at 11:59 am
Debi Lovell
Donna your such a wonderful personality and your jewelry definitely reflects that. Love ya cuz
November 22, 2010 at 2:36 pm
theartofdonna
Awwwww thx cuz! Love ya!
November 22, 2010 at 1:15 pm
Carol
I loved the cameos my grandmothers wore. I would sit and look in their jewelry boxes for hours.
November 22, 2010 at 2:37 pm
theartofdonna
Cameos are usually very beautiful! I saw some amazing cameos in Paris at an auction that were quite possibly the most beautiful I have ever seen! Too expensive for my budget though! LOL!
November 22, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Angie Hopkins
Very cool Donna. I need to get some orders in but your probably swamped already for the holidays and all your other endevors (sp?). I love the cameos! Lacy and I are always commenting on the cameos we get her at work. Some of the women are beautiful and others look like they are Dr. Suess characters! I really like the skeletons! It would make people look twice at a cameo like we do now!
November 22, 2010 at 2:39 pm
theartofdonna
Thanks Angie!!! I miss seeing you! How are you? I will have an exhibit at B&N for December so maybe you will see something there. I am always happy to do orders no matter what—just need them as soon as possible. XO
November 23, 2010 at 2:54 am
terry laughlin
my grandmother had tons of cameos
November 23, 2010 at 11:59 pm
Amy Nieves
Donna, I love the subtlety of the cameos. It isn’t until you really study them up close that you realize you’re looking at a zombie! Also love the music on the site. Very appropriate
November 24, 2010 at 12:16 am
theartofdonna
Thanks so much Amy! The music changes. I try to make it match whatever my blog is about but I have been bad about writing them lately—so busy right now! LOL!
November 26, 2010 at 7:06 pm
Ginger Davis
your jewelry is amazing !!!! Its so original , I love it
November 27, 2010 at 1:08 am
theartofdonna
Thanks G!!!!!
November 27, 2010 at 12:16 am
Marty Ransford
Very cool skull cameo idea Donna. I thing they would be great as the focal point of a festoon necklace. Have you seen the moonstone cameos. Lots of lapidarists are making them. Basically a moonstone with the moon’s face carved into it.
November 27, 2010 at 1:08 am
theartofdonna
Sounds cool Marty! :^D
January 21, 2011 at 2:50 am
Jen Scotello
I haven’t visited your page for a while, so I missed this cameo when it was new. Just wanted to tell you that I love it!
January 21, 2011 at 3:21 am
theartofdonna
Thx Jen!!!!! I sold two at Christmas but still have two—one other might be sold. Thx so much for your feedback! I appreciate it so much!!! XO