Thanksgiving is pretty much here and I wanted to make a fall wreath before we bring out the red and green. So I unwrapped these beautiful Pheasant feathers Joseph brought home from a hunting trip and they were a little stinky.
Luckily I called my taxidermist friend from high school, Travis, with Travis Manning Custom Taxidermy and he kindly gave me some professional advice. I gave these feathers a bath in Anti-bacterial Dawn dish washing soap and made sure to remove all the disgusting stuff off the quill. Then I repeated until the water rinsed clear.
The feathers took a while to dry. Travis said not to use a hot blow dryer so I was using the cool setting until I realized it was like watching a pot boil. Then I just had to leave them under the fan for the afternoon. The feathers were finally dry after my kids were in bed and I got to work.
I wanted to make a modern wreath like the paper straw wreath I had seen on the cover of a magazine in the grocery line, like a star burst. So all I needed was hot glue, 2 six inch craft rings and manila rope from Home Depot. I just wanted to sandwich the feathers between the two rings with hot glue, so I spaced out the feathers on top of the first ring:
Then I put a thick ring of hot glue on the quills and added the top part of the sandwich:
Next, I trimmed the quills so there would be a hole in the center:
Last, I covered the top ring with the manila rope. Hot glue worked great:
I used a self-adhesive sawtooth hanger on the back ring, then ran a ribbon through it and hung it on the door!
These photos will gradually bring you closer to the wreath.
I’m ready to bring this Modern Pheasant Feather Star Burst Wreath inside and hang it on the wall! If only I had more wall space for art.
is there anything you cannot do????
Can I say the same about you, birthday marathon running girl!
That is GORGEOUS!!
Thank you, Kristen!
I have had pheasant feathers that Case brought me in a drawer for years! I LOVE this…I just wish you would come do mine for me! I know I can't pull it off…
I'll be right over, I wish! You CAN do it, Danni!
That looks great!!! You did an awesome job!!
Thank you, Travis!
Love that. YOURS should be on the cover of a magazine!
Wow! Best compliment ever! Thank you, Liz!
LOVE IT!! I really really want to try this! Did you trim the quills after gluing them down? And how? Thank you so much for this great idea! I have almost the exact door….love it from the inside, too! Thank you!
Thank you, Stephanie! Yes, I trimmed the quills after gluing the sandwich with very sharp scissors. I love it from the inside too, love the way the sun shines through the feathers! Send me a picture of your wreath after you finish, please!
That wreath is just lovely! I also love the mailbox….where did you find?
That wreath is just lovely! I also love the mailbox….where did you find?
Thank you, Jan! I put a link to the mailbox on the Tell it to your neighbor facebook page and on pinterest.
So pretty, Erica! And clever. Kinda like this: http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/11/diy-autumnal-garland.html#more
Erica, so so pretty! Unique, modern yet traditional…..love it.
My husband just brought me some feathers from hunting too . . . he was nice enough to leave the meat on the feather too! (blah!) Got that all cleaned up and per your suggestions (thank you) I will soon be cleaning them! I don't have as many as you do, but this did give me ideas on what to do with them! Thanks for your help.