I got a thing for skulls. I like them. I really, really, like them. I like to wear them. They complete me. If I were a corporation, the skull would be my own corporate logo. You'd see the skull and think of me. Now before you go thinking that I'm all crazy, let me explain.
I've always liked the skull, even as a kid and especially at Halloween, but my true desire to be synonymous with the skull didn't come about until 3 years ago. That was just after the big "break-up" but before the big "D". I went to Amsterdam that summer with my best friend on my first trip to Europe and purchased this:

Thus began the dawn of the "Goddess of the Skull, Keeper of the Edge". Because Europe has always been a year ahead of us when it comes to trends in fashion, this was long before the influx of the crappy, cheap, commercialized skull paraphernalia flooding the market in the United States today. (I consider myself a skull purist and expert on all accessories of the skull) The funny thing about the belt was, it spoke to my edgy side. It was almost like a silent protest, or a reversed scarlet letter. I could almost feel it's power. It wasn't like I went all goth or anything, because the belt said all I needed to say silently, yet effectively. I wore that belt a lot and continue to do so regularly.
In the last decade, French designer Christian Audigier has built a fashion empire by marketing the designs of an LA tattoo artist named Ed Hardy. Unless you live under a rock, you've seen his brilliant, bright colored, tattoo art on every thing from t-shirts to luggage. Ed Hardy's specialty is my good friend, the skull.
DonEdHardy.com is my mother ship and my expensive"skull habit" and I have found a home.
I am always ever so grateful when I receive a gift from someone who gets the fact that I love the skull and I have received so may great "skull" gifts in the past few years. The problem is that there is so much cheesey skull crap out there, that I have had to become somewhat of a skull snob. It has to speak to me, and when it does, there's no stopping me. I gotta have it.
These are just a few of my favorite skull things from my own"pirate booty":
This is a fabulous candle that my mom gave to me last Christmas. You can't see it but there is a tiny wick on the top of his head. I would NEVER burn it. I love it far too much! It is proudly displayed in my bathroom amongst the other black bathroom accessories. (creepy, I know!)

This is my favorite purse. It is a Thomas Wylde and the chain is the shoulder strap! Although you can't see it very well, my favorite part of this bag is hanging on the ends of the zipper enclosure strings; six anatomically correct lead skull heads. They are so tiny and cute! The bag also is lined in skull fabric and has a huge skull head laid out in metal grommets to display on the other side.
But my most treasured skull posession and personal possesion of all was a gift from My Guy. It was the first gift he ever gave to me, the first Christmas we shared together.

This wonderful Roberto Coin diamond encrusted skull and crossbones. I NEVER take it off. It is very special to me because somehow My Guy knew that skulls and diamonds were this girl's best friends.