Tutorial: by delilah - Feather Earrings

Material List:

- 4 feathers (most likely, in pairs of two)

- chain

- ear wires

- 12 pieces of seed beads

- about 20 cm of 0.3 mm silver plated wire

Tool List:

- wire scissors (you can adjust feathers, too, with them)

- round nose pliers (to open ear wires bail - or chain jump rings)

- something round to spin wire around it (diameter 3 mm or less, if you have)

Alternative materials:

- you can use feathers of any kind, at hand, any colors. I have these ones from my parrots, picked them up from their cages.

- beads also can be replaced with any other small beads, any colors. 

INTRODUCTION

I will teach you in this tutorial how to create a funny pair of earrings, with feathers and few additional

materials. Working on them requires not so many skills; anyone can make them, if there’s a wish. Simple to

create, beautiful when worn, this pair of earrings will make you shine and smile.

Now we start working with the 0.3 mm wire. Note that you can work with the entire wire (20 cm) from the very beginning, but, if you do have wire (wasted) from other projects, now it’s time to use it. Pieces of 5 cm will be more than enough for one feather to work it out.

In the 2nd picture you can see the wire with a bead inserted on. In the 3rd picture, you get the wire’s end and insert it once again through the bead hole, in order to secure it. 

Once the first bead is added to the wire, we go on and add the feather, simply inserting it through the bead’s hole, making sure the wire we are working with remains at the top part of the feather. Wrap the 0.3mm wire three times on the feather and prepare to add the second bead.

Now we must add the second bead, and the last one, as the operations are the same. Note that the bead must be inserted on the feather, not on the 0.3 mm wire. Add the bead, wrap/coil the wire three times more, and finally add the third bead and another three coils.

Now I will show you how to create a bail for this feather, to be able to attach it on the chain. Just grab something with a small diameter (2-3 mm) and twist the wire twice around it.

We continue with twisting the wire under the bail, around both wrapped wire and feather. Twist it 4-5 times, as much as you consider it is tightly secured. At the same time, you can notice how this feather should look like with bail finished and secured.

The second feather requires the same operations, the same steps to follow. And the other two feathers for the other earring, as well.

Now, all you have to do is to hang these feathers two by two, symmetrical or not, (and that depends on

you) on the chain.

What is there to say ... Pick up the chain you are going to use (make sure there’s a chain with small jump rings, because the feathers are pretty light, and only the chain will keep them “hanging down”).

Take measurements in order to have two equal chains (count their jump rings, to be sure). Ok, one piece of chain … decide where you will attach it on the ear wire, open the ear wire’s bail and insert the chain’s jump ring. Do the same operation for both of the earrings, in order not to forget the counting and make them symmetrical.

Once you’ve attached the chain to the ear wire, close the loop and prepare to add feathers.

To add feathers, you must open every final jump ring on the chains, and they are 4 (2 for an earring,

another 2 for the other). Open the jump rings and insert the feather’s bail, one by one, at each end.

And that should do!

Here’s an earring ready! 

Text and photos: delilah

www.delilah.ro