Birds of a Feather

Feathers feathers everywhere. Another throw back to the seventies and eighties American fashion of using everything you can think of.

At least the creepy custom of rabbit’s foot key chains has not come back yet.

If you have read a few of my posts, you know I can turn down a bargain. So when I found these charming red feathers I knew I had to use them. Using a material that is three inches long requires imagination.

Not as they occur in nature I am sure.

I readily imagined these on the ears of my incredibly lively neighbor Marian. Marian is in her seventies and acts younger than I do. She and her husband were going to be in New Orleans on Christmas Day. What better way to make a statement than to show off your new pixie haircut by wearing enormous red feathers?

Age defying!

She loved them! The other neighbors are already asking for me to make them some.

My next project will be to tackle this little pile.

Maybe too much? We shall see.

My challenge is how to keep the heavier materials from hiding behind the lightweight feather. I have tried stringing the pieces on different lengths of cord, chain, or jump rings to no avail.

I called my Dad up to ask if he would share some of his fly tying materials. A week later he sent me a happy care package complete with a page ripped from the Cabella’s catalog and complete details on the pros and cons of each feather he sent.

Lots of information.

I like the dyed feathers the most. They are so vivid.

The longest one measures five inches!

Dad said a Lady caused quite a ruckus at the Fishing store the other day when she came in and bought up all the feathers she could. She wanted to use them for hair ties and barrettes. Oh the controversy!

I will keep exploring different materials.