This cluster of plumes were all added to one wire pick with a decorative brass base. The plumes are all added to a separate wire so they can be angled or rotated after the pick is added to your hairdo.
(above) photos of Laurie Tavan by Tavan photography.
A pick like this starts with a brass medallion that has sections that can be bent up and a center hole. This one did not have a center hole so I had to drill one.
Then bend the six sides up. I also cut two pieces of 20 gauge gold coated wire 12″ long.
Holding the two wires with needlenose pliers at about 5″ from one side I twisted the longer end for about 1.5 to 2″.
I then bent the twisted section over a pair of pliers. (you could use a pencil) and bent all 4 loose ends to the center and started twisting.
I continued until the ends were about 1.5″ long.
I clipped one of the ends near the end of the twisting because I did not need it and my hole was only large enough for 3.
I then twisted the ends of the wires into a circle, I do this because it helps anchor the feather. If you wire the plume along the full length of the wire it can not be pulled off because of the circle.
Now for the feathers. These are vintage Egret feathers that are individually wired and the wire taped with florist tape. The tape has rotted so……
I unbundled them.
Took off the rotten tape and wire.
There were two or three feathers on each wire. I used twice as many as shown here.
I took a piece of twisted wire and started to add feathers two or three at a time by twisting thread around the base of the stems.
I keep adding more groups of two or three moving down the twisted wire.
I keep going….
When I got to the end of my feathers it was about 10″ tall.
I wrapped the stems of two ostrich feathers I had sewn together along their stems. Check out this article for “how to” sew feathers together.
I had two plumes now I needed something with more color so I gathered some rooster stems (feathers).
Added wire to a bundle of them by wrapping color thread around the ends of the stems.
Photo by Tavan photography.
Photo by Tavan photography.
Laurie Tavan modeling the pick. Photo by Tavan photography.
Laurie Tavan modeling the pick. Photo by Tavan photography.
Pattern for this headdress which is part of my Spartan Cap pattern is downloadable here.