Tut Challenge.... Eagle Feathers

[ltsexpressions]

Ok, I've had some requests by my Native sisters to try Eagle Feathers....

My first general ideas include use of white and intense black in delicate stringer work and some raking...

Trouble I've had so far has been getting the DELICATE part to work with me...

So, I put it up to you, the AWESOME world of my glass siblings....

Gimme your brain for a moment to come up with a way to do these or if anyone has ever tried them. And, the request is specifically for EAGLE feathers, not a representation thereof....

[Emily NZ]

Got a photo of an eagle feather?

[SassyCassie]

Stacy...could you post a pic of a feather you are trying to represent? I'd love to give it a shot. :)

Cass

[Chroma]

Wouldn't intense black tend to break up?

[Heather/Ericaceae]

Do you mean a sculptural feather or a feather image on a bead surface? I have one idea for an image on a bead surface... Make a pretty thick twistie using a white base and thin stripes of dark brown, or grey. Twist very tightly so that the lines are as straight as possible across the stringer. Then, add a dot of dark brown to the tip of the twistie - the dot it should be the same width as the twistie. Make a base bead and add a line of the twistie, maybe four times as long as the twistie is wide. Melt it flat. It should have thin lines crossing the white stripe and a brown tip. Then stripe-heat just that section and carefully rake along the melted-in twistie from the brown tip to the end of the melted-in twistie... it should make a feather shape. I don't know if this is the sort of feather you wanted to make but I hope it helps!

-Heather

[ltsexpressions]

Do you mean a sculptural feather or a feather image on a bead surface? I have one idea for an image on a bead surface... Make a pretty thick twistie using a white base and thin stripes of dark brown, or grey. Twist very tightly so that the lines are as straight as possible across the stringer. Then, add a dot of dark brown to the tip of the twistie - the dot it should be the same width as the twistie. Make a base bead and add a line of the twistie, maybe four times as long as the twistie is wide. Melt it flat. It should have thin lines crossing the white stripe and a brown tip. Then stripe-heat just that section and carefully rake along the melted-in twistie from the brown tip to the end of the melted-in twistie... it should make a feather shape. I don't know if this is the sort of feather you wanted to make but I hope it helps!

-Heather

Heather!

This may be the ticket Watson!!!!

I'll pull this back up and try your suggestions next time I get to torch.

I'll also look for a pic or two to post to show what I'm thinking of...

Heather, either raised or flat would work. I'm just thinking that since I try to cater to Native people's tastes in my bead making and I predominately sell at Pow Wow's, an Eagle feather is kind of a MUST for needed designs....

thanks again and keep the ideas coming!!!

stacy

[outoftheflames]

7761 I made these quite awhile back........I sold quite a few sets at a show and had lots of requests for some in different colors....Is this what you are trying to make?
Lori

[SassyCassie]

OMG that twistie Idea is AWESOME!!!

[ltsexpressions]

7761 I made these quite awhile back........I sold quite a few sets at a show and had lots of requests for some in different colors....Is this what you are trying to make?
Lori

AHO!

Those are da' bomb for feathers! Now I have 2 techniques to try!!!

Woohoo... am I gonna have a fun Sunday!!!

[DreamMuse]

How did they turn out, Stacy??? I'm dying to see what you did *grins*

[outoftheflames]

Yeah! C'Mon Stacy......How'd they turn out? lets see pics!!:fireblob:
Lori

[ltsexpressions]

ok, much as I WANT to try these... life has been HELL lately and I haven't had time to just "play" on the torch....

last 2 torch sessions were strictly "business" filling orders or getting ready for PW this weekend....

maybe Sunday I'll get to try these 2 techniques out!!!

and, DUH, I'll show pics!!!

[ltsexpressions]

ok, forgot to try these today, but I was focused on getting Rachel's beadies done for the Round Robin swap!!!

I put a reminder on my desktop to play with the ideas tomorrow. I'm hoping to have some new eagle feather earrings to wear (and sell) at the next PW on Dec. 10th... and the next sweatlodge on Dec 3rd.....

hummmmmmmmmm, guess I'm making eagle feathers tomorrow for earrings!!!