Flower Deer Skull


This deer skull belonged to an individual in a herd that frequented a neighborhood in north Fort Collins.  One day this young buck laid down in a tree sheltered area in my friend’s back yard and died.  My friend called me to ask if I could be willing to come and help him respectfully load up and take the body someplace where it would naturally decompose.  I was able to determine the buck likely had been hit by a car, a common story with deer who cohabitate with people in suburban areas.  I placed him in a quiet area not far from my farm and allowed nature to do its magic. 

About a year later I asked my friend if he was OK with me beading this special deer’s skull for him and he said yes.  This deer chose a flower bed sheltered in the trees and so that became the inspiration for the forehead, an alert deer on the left cheek honors this life.  My friend chose black and white and so this was my first skull with this color combination.  The blue and red heart on the back of the skull is in honor of my big hearted friend.