How to Make Feather & Bead Earrings
Feathers are natural, beautiful and abundant. According to Ohio State University, humans from all corners of the globe have worn feathers and fur as bodily decorations for thousands of years. Even ancient man saw and coveted beauty in nature. Making feather earrings with bead accents is a project that requires minimal supplies and resources. The technique is simple enough that crafters in a range of ages can enjoy making feather and bead earrings.
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Things You'll Need
- Feathers
- Gentle anti-bacterial soap
- Gold or silver jewelry wire
- Wire cutters
- Beads
- Earring findings
Instructions
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Match up two feathers that you'd like to use. They don't have to be even in length or color unless you want them to be. Use the feathers to express your own personal tastes and preferences. Having one longer than the other may be a way to turn heads. Having two alike may add an elegant touch to an evening gown. The possibilities are endless with feathers. Use beads that also reflect your personal preference.
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Wash your feathers in a gentle anti-bacterial soap if you have gotten them from a humane farm or found them outside. Purchased feathers from a craft store are generally already sanitized. Lay your feathers flat and allow them to air dry. Depending on how dense the feather, this may take several hours. Do not blow dry your feathers. This may damage the delicate keratin strands within each feather.
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Cut two 4-inch pieces of jewelry wire. Begin to wrap the quill of the feather with the wire. Wrap around three times very tightly. Begin to thread beads onto the wire at this point. Continue to wrap the beaded wire around the quill until you have reached the end. You should leave a 1/8-inch remainder in the wire to attach your earring findings.
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Thread the 1/8-inch wire allowance through the eyelet of the earring finding. Using your wire cutters or some needle-nose pliers, bend a loop around the finding. Close the loop by compressing the wire closed as tightly as possible.
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Tips & Warnings
Ask local farms for feathers that have been molted. Some peacock farms give them away free, as do fowl farms.
Be careful while handling the feathers. A feather is made of keratin, the same material our hair and nails are made of. The keratin can be bent or broken easily. If you accidentally break the quill or barbs you can not use that feather.
References
- Photo Credit feather image by Kateryna Shamanovska from Fotolia.com
