Half Embalmed

A peek into the workings of my death filled life. ethical taxidermist, preserver of wet specimens, bone processor, jeweler, and collector of the odd and macabre.

[halfembalmed]

When I traveled to Germany several years ago I was enamored with the beautiful way skulls were displayed on intricately carved plaques, so I was thrilled last year when a client requested that their whitetail skull be displayed in a similar way. Skull cleaning/mounting was done by me on a beautifully carved wood plaque from an artisan in London ( will find the name and edit post to credit them.) . . . #europeanmount #euromount #whitetailskull #skullcleaning #classiceuropeanmount #taxidermy #taxidermist #deerskull #missouriwhitetail #missouritaxidermist #missouritaxidermy (at Kansas City, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMw7CDcpNsL/?igshid=lqifffyukq7v

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Spooky season is almost over and seasonal depression is already starting to creep in. Though nothing this year has gone according to plan, I'm thrilled that @shawntabitha and I were finally able to bring this antique-inspired photoshoot to life, three years in the making. More photos to come...🕷 . . . #halloween #spiderweb #spider #antiquestyle #vintagestyle #blackandwhite #missmuffet #victorianstyle #edwardianstyle (at Kansas City, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHBgTBmJixu/?igshid=1d7s8v0px7ira

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I captured this image in our yard this week, I'm so ready for Fall and I think the spiders are too 🕸 . . . #autumn #spiderweb #spiders #spooky #halloween #fallvibes #halloweenvibes #autumnvibes https://www.instagram.com/p/CFSvuNupruD/?igshid=11u1mksmznci0

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Stick this wherever your broken heart desires! This durable vinyl sticker is the first in a series of stickers featuring my work. . . . #sticker #brokenheart #wetspecimen #halfembalmed #organembroidery #stitches #oddities https://www.instagram.com/p/CB1GfZrJrbP/?igshid=18mxfma6bhfir

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Though we may be far apart in these dark days, remember that you're always home 🖤 . . . #we'llgetthroughthis #stayhome #togetherapart #isolatedinsolidarity #home #homeiswheretheheartis #family #love #organembroidery #embroidery #embroideredheart #pandemic #coronavirus #oddities #wetspecimen #fluidpreservation #halfembalmed #darkarts #darkartist (at Kansas City, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAg9t48p33T/?igshid=2b4fx5nusf1z

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The arrival of Spring has brought with it new life. Plants are growing and insects are buzzing, and though our own lives as a species has been drastically altered it brings me a strange sort of peace to see other creatures come out their winter hiding and enjoy life as they always have. #spring #spiderweb #web #spider #preservedweb #victorian #antiquephoto #victorianphoto #realspiderweb #framedspiderweb #hope #halfembalmed #pandemiclife #oddities #darkart #darkartist (at Kansas City, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_-awUHp-WO/?igshid=h0aqi9qjwvf8

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Friends! I’m excited to announce today’s release of this project I am a part of, The Dark Art Coloring Book organized by @cabinetofcuriousclay ! 🎃 Featuring 34 artists 🎃 44 coloring pages 🎃 FREE downloads 🎃 Asking for a donation to @who ‘s Covid Response Fund http://www.darkartcoloring.wixsite.com/coloringbook ARTISTS: @alternate_empire @amdownsart @angelhawari @artistghoulio @babegangpatches @batsinthebelfrycrafts @blackbirdhaus @blackwillowgallery @britaustinillustration @cabinetofcuriousclay @caitlinmccarthyart @edynrashae @hailmarytattooer @HalfEmbalmed @jatternack @jenthetracy @jessbakertattoo @jessihardesty @jodicachia @kwtallantdesigns @larrywestproductions @livelyghosts @Lizardman_RC @loudmouththreads @lovely.landfill @marysyring @meaganmeli @mheldillustration @obolobivobioba @roadsidelinenarts @stephasketch @thankyou_sean @thepicketywitch @theprettycult @unevencreations CREDITS: 💀 Website by @cabinetofcuriousclay 💀 Coloring page layout by @jodicachia 💀 Cover design by @britaustinillustration If you download and color a page, post it on IG with the hashtag #darkartcoloringbook . . #darkart #darkartists #freecoloringbook #coloring #digitalart #digitalcoloringbook #coloringbook https://www.instagram.com/p/B-z5wStpXUu/?igshid=2i5irzcphzze

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🕸Shop Update🕸 I've been working on moving into my new home studio and found a few framed webs hiding out from last fall. These webs, as well as gift cards, are now available on my website. The link in my bio will take you there 🕷 #spiderweb #spider #forsale #darkart #darkdecor #odditiesforsale #odditycollection #cabinetofcuriosities #darkarts #darkartist #supportartists #halfembalmed #vintageframe #shoponline #supportsmallbusiness (at Kansas City, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-sgRbXpT5p/?igshid=18tfie43ttgyf

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Making shapes with bones during the final cleaning and inspection of these cat vertebrae. 🖤 . . . #boneart #bonecleaning #vertebra #vertebrae #catbones #petmemorialization #petaftercare #bones #oddities #odditiescollection (at Kansas City, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/B81h5E-JB2J/?igshid=tddzwyfeijba

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Cleaned skull of a client's pet cat, known for her one giant fang. It's always an honor to work with memorializing these special pets, no matter what the species. 🖤 🖤 Thank you to the client for allowing me to share this photo. 🖤 . . . #catskull #petaftercare #petmemorialization #skullcleaning #dermestidbeetles #petaftercaremissouri #petmemorializationmissouri #petaftercarekansascity #petmemorializationkansascity #pettaxidermy #pettaxidermist #kansascity #kcmo #petskull #felineskull #halfembalmed (at Kansas City, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8rPTY2J0ZC/?igshid=1u83fo0zi5fqi

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📣Tickets on sale now!📣 March 28th I'll be teaching a Beginner's Taxidermy class at @noirartsandoddities from 11:30-5:30. In this class you'll taxidermy a mouse while learning all of the basics of small mammal taxidermy. You'll leave class with your finished mouse on a wood base and the confidence and knowledge to continue your pursuit of the art of taxidermy. Tickets are for sale on @noirartsandoddities website noirartsandoddities.com that I'll link to in my bio. Hope to see you in class! 🐁 . . . #mousetaxidermy #taxidermymouse #taxidermy #learntaxidermy #kansascity #kcmo #noirartsandoddities #thingstodoinkc #thingstodoinkansascity #dateideas #taxidermist #newhobby (at Kansas City, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8pPKZDpNbu/?igshid=1m1tst4y2cp8f

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"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable." ~ C. S. Lewis Happy Valentine's Day from my heart to your's 🖤 . . . . #heartbreak #brokenheart #valentinesday #valentine #heart #organembroidery #stitches #oddities #odditiescollection #wetspecimen #fluidpreserved #halfembalmed #selflove #vulnerability #love (at Kansas City, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8jMruJp7zm/?igshid=iuj072ygj1li

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Happy season of love to you all🖤 I'm taking this opportunity to make an announcement about this year's taxidermy class schedule and answer any questions: I'm getting married in June and in the process of wedding planning. I have a habit of overworking myself so in an effort to be healthier and devote the time needed for the wedding, classes, and commissions I will be teaching four classes this year, all at @noirartsandoddities. We will be announcing the first class date very soon! 🐁 . Photo of me by the awesome @shawntabitha . . . #clumsybride #weddingplanning #taxidermyclass #dangerousstairs #ghostlybride #announcement #kansascity #kcmo #creepyinkc #noirartsandoddities #halfembalmed #learntaxidermy (at Kansas City, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8bsmrQpL6h/?igshid=1xvo577wmkvfk

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Thank you @noirartsandoddities for posting this lovely photo of some of my work available in the shop, you always know how to capture my good side! . . . #skull #skullcleaning #oddities #odditiesforsale #noirartsandoddities #kcmo #kansascity #naturalhistory (at Noir Arts and Oddities) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8UDQFoJuCq/?igshid=ht7kq0r9pc8y

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Peril in the nursery.. . . . #antiquephoto #antiqueportrait #victorianportrait #beetle #entemology #odditiescollection #oddities #odditiesforsale #awkwardfamilyphotos (at Kansas City, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8PcxkjpFB7/?igshid=1eiids6nkzqwg

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I've been pretty silent on social media so far this year as I've been working mostly on pet memorializations. It was such an honor working with this 155 pound Mastiff, the largest dog I've worked with to date. His cleaned skull is quite heavier and denser than an average deer skull with antlers. I'd like to thank his owner/companion for allowing me to share his photos. Every companion animal I have the honor of working with starts to feel like a family member and I miss them a bit when they go home 🖤 . . . #dogskull #petpreservation #petmemorialization #mastiff #petaftercare #petaftercarekc #petaftercarekcmo #skullcleaning #bonecleaning #halfembalmed #alternativeaftercare #alternativepetaftercare #taxidermy #oddities #dermestidbeetles #dermestidcleaned (at Kansas City, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7XfYcDJPKA/?igshid=4y3z4m9wc7km

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"May New Year From Sorrow And Sadness Be Free" 🕊 The Victorians had a morbid greeting card for every occasion. Wishing you all a wonderful new year and new decade 🖤 . . . #happynewyear #newyear #newdecade #2020vision #vintagegreetingcard #victoriangreetingcard #morbidgreetingcard #deadbird #sadness #sorrow #mourning #putabirdonit #newyeardeadbird #oddities https://www.instagram.com/p/B6ycwe7pliC/?igshid=lap5x4nm1til