Craft-a-long: Memento Mori 💀

Live: Saturday, October 4th @ 12:00PM CST

So yes, Halloween is about scary movies, gorging yourself on candy, and letting inner freak free, but there is a side that a lot of people don't really consider. Halloween has long been a time to honor the dead and connect with our ancestors. It’s a season of reflection, when the veil between the living and the departed is said to be at its thinnest. Memento mori, a practice of remembering mortality, aligns beautifully with these themes. Through symbols and art, it serves as a poignant reminder to cherish life and the legacies of those who came before us.

Hairwork display concept

In this livestream Craft-A-Log, we’re diving into the art of memento mori hairwork displays. This craft-a-long will guide you through the process of creating a beautifully framed hair braid, inspired by the historical tradition of preserving memories through hair art.

🧵 What You’ll See:

-Techniques for preparing and braiding hair into intricate designs.

-Styling and securing hair braids for long-term preservation.

-Creating a custom background and framing the final piece.

-Chat and Q&A about the history of hairwork, tools, materials, and Slightly Sinister-inspired ideas.

📌 What You Will Need: Tools and Resources: Links provided are for product information and not a direct endorsement of the vendor.

Essential Materials:

• Hair – Human or synthetic, don't worry, I won't ask how you acquired it. I will be using synthetic because crafting while being filmed is 300x more difficult and I don't want to ruin my daughter's precious locks during a demonstration. You don't need an entire head of hair. Here are a couple of options that won't slash your budget:

  • Blonde: https://a.co/d/e68ZFyo

  • Black/brown: https://a.co/d/iJm5WZP

  • Silver/gray & lots of other color options: https://a.co/d/0lFqfyo

• Thin wire – for shaping braids and holding them in place

• Needle & Thread – Color matched to your hair. Highly recommended if you are using human hair that belongs to someone you care about. Braids can be sewn into place and later removed if you want to rework your piece or just go back to storing it elsewhere.

• A small shadow box or deep picture frame – Simple shadow boxes can be found at your average craft store, and can be jazzed up, or you can find a fancier frame and build out sides using craft wood to give your hairwork some distance from your frame glass. I will likely be covering this process because I didn't find a pre-made shadowbox that felt right to me. If this is the route you end up going, you will need:

  • Small frame

  • Wood glue

  • Tiny framing nails

  • A sheet of matte board for making your frame sides, you can use bass craft wood if you wish

  • Xacto knife, or small craft saw

• Decorative paper, fabric, or matte for the background – Pick something that won't detract too much from the actual hair, which is the centerpiece of this project.

• A small comb or fine-toothed brush – for taming tresses

• Dried or faux flowers/foliage: baby's breath is a popular choice, just don't pick anything that will detract from your braided pieces.

• Small nameplates or engraved plaques – for personalization if you are using a loved one's hair.

• Charms, beads, pearls or other memento mori-inspired decorations – A quick stroll on the internet will show you plenty of examples of Victorian hair art. They get quite elaborate! My braids are going to be fairly simple, and the magic will come mostly from the arranging of elements.

• Tweezers – for delicate adjustments

• Hot glue gun or craft adhesive – Not recommended to use on actual hair because this would be permanent adhesion. Great for floral elements, just be careful not to get it where you don't intend it to be.

• Scissors

• Vice or clamp to hold hair while braiding

I often thought it would be hilarious to have an entire hallway plastered with frame hair art but then realized that guests would probably think I'm a serial killer. Let's have some pre-Halloween fun and chat about our holiday plans! 🎃