From Makeup to Macabre: The Twisted Journey Behind 'Skulls over Turquoise'
Have you ever wondered why some artists seem drawn to the darker side of creativity? As the creator behind Twisted Ginger and the annual "Skulls over Turquoise" collection, I often get asked about my fascination with skulls and all things spooky. Today, I'm pulling back the curtain to share the twisted tale that led me to where I am today.
Born Under a Halloween Moon
It all started with a birthday. Born at the end of October, I've always felt a special connection to the spooky season. While others were planning princess or superhero costumes as a child, I dreamed up creatures that could have crawled straight out of a horror movie. Little did I know this childhood obsession would shape my entire career.
From LA Dreams to Mountain Screams
In my early 20s, driven by a passion for the extraordinary, I packed my bags and headed to Los Angeles to study makeup for movies. The glitz and glamor of Hollywood called, but it was the gritty, gory world of special effects that truly captured my heart.
After completing my program, fate led me to a horror film set in the mountains. For a month, I served as the key makeup artist on the movie "Dead and Gone" (Grab Your Copy Here), working alongside special effects wizards to bring nightmares to life. It was here, amidst the fake blood and prosthetic wounds, that I fell head over heels in love with FX work.
A Cabin in the Woods (Literally)
Picture this: an old, creepy mountain cabin, complete with mice scurrying across the floor. That was my home for the duration of the shoot. Each night, I'd fall asleep to the sound of the cabin creaking, half-expecting to wake up in a real-life horror movie. It was atmospheric, and it fueled my imagination to create a plethora of gruesome creations down the road.
The experience was intense, challenging, and absolutely thrilling. Every day brought new creatures to create, new wounds to simulate, and new boundaries to explore, working alongside the gurus in the world of special effects. Little did I know, this immersion in the macabre would later influence my jewelry designs, infusing them with a touch of that delightful creepiness.
A Star-Struck Moment
Just when I thought the experience couldn't get any more surreal, the universe threw me a curveball. The day after the wrap, the Director and AD surprised me with a special invite—they wanted me to do makeup for Kyle Gass from Tenacious D, who was filming a scene that day.
Imagine my excitement! After weeks of making a movie alongside a team of incredibly talented people in the film industry, I worked with a member of one of my all-time favorite bands, IYKYK! It was a welcome respite from the mountains' cold and creaky cabin floor. As I applied Kyle's makeup, my hands steady despite my internal fangirl screaming, I realized how far this path could take me.
This brush with fame (pun intended) fueled my passion for the craft and showed me the incredible places makeup artistry could lead. It was a moment that reminded me of the undeniable magic that can happen when you follow your passions - even if they lead you to spooky cabins in the woods.
Halloween: My Year-Round Obsession
Even as I realized the big city life wasn't for me, I packed up my belongings and moved back to Louisville, a city I called home for a few chapters before moving to Alaska. My passion for the macabre never waned. Each year, Halloween became my personal canvas. I poured countless hours into creating elaborate costumes, from crafting prosthetic moving skeleton hands to mastering the art of stilt-walking and, quite frankly, giving folks a good old fashioned scream! Costumes were only a part of the act; staying in character the entire evening to truly capture the eerie essence of the holiday was one of my favorite parts of Halloween time.
One of my proudest achievements was a Hellraiser-inspired look that took over eight hours for the paint job alone. Creating and attaching over 100 nails made from melted plastic Q-tips and spray paint to my scalp after seven layers of liquid latex was a labor of love, to say the very least. The patience and precision required for these projects would become invaluable in my jewelry-making process years later.
From Stilts to Sterling Silver
As the years passed, the idea of teetering on stilts amongst the stumbling patrons of the bar scene lost appeal, but my love for the spooky and spectacular remained. (My back thanks me!)
When I laid my Halloween Queen crown to rest, I turned my attention to a new medium: jewelry. I began creating skull-themed pieces, designing less intricate but still spooky costumes around these macabre accessories. The Skull Jewelry was my new version of Walking on Stilts in a Hellraiser costume, so to speak.
This shift marked the birth of what would eventually become my annual "Skulls over Turquoise" collection. Each piece I crafted carried the spirit of those elaborate Halloween costumes and the techniques I'd honed in being inspired by the FX on the movie set, all in one tiny little silver Capsule.
Twisted Ginger: Where the Macabre Meets Elegance
Today, Twisted Ginger is the culmination of this lifelong journey through the world of the fancy, weird, and wonderful. The annual "Skulls over Turquoise" collection is more than just jewelry; it's a testament to years of passion, creativity, and a tiny touch of mad hatter madness.
Each piece tells a story, from each handcrafted silver dusted intricate details of each sterling silver leaf and ceramic skulls (handcrafted by the talented Q of Natural Stone Art Studios) to the vibrant pop of turquoise and the ancient whisper of petrified dinosaur bone. It's a story of transformation, from movie makeup to metalwork, from costume parties to high fashion.
Join the Twisted Fam for Exclusive Access!
This year's "Skulls over Turquoise"(And Petrified Dinosaur Bone in Pyrite) collection is launching on Sunday, October 20th at 12:00 Noon PST. But why wait when you can shop early?
VIP Perks:
- Enjoy a full hour of exclusive early access shopping
- First pick of this limited collection
- Special VIP-only offers
Ready to embrace your inner twisted beauty? Here's how:
- Join the VIP Fam: Sign up here for exclusive early access at 11:00 AM PST
- Sneak Peeks: Check out the collection preview on Instagram - complete with a countdown timer!
- Mark Your Calendar: Set a reminder for this spooktacular launch!
Can't wait to see what's brewing in my cauldron? Visit my homepage for more Twisted Ginger creations!
As you browse this year's "Skulls over Turquoise" collection, remember that each piece carries a piece of my Twisted journey. Whether you're a fellow Halloween enthusiast or someone who appreciates the beauty in the unconventional, these pieces are designed to help you embrace your own inner twisted beauty.
So go ahead, adorn yourself with a bit of the macabre. After all, in the world of Twisted Ginger, every day is Halloween, and every piece of jewelry celebrates the beautiful, the bizarre, and everything in between.
Keep it Spooky,
Erin
