Feather Breast Plate for Woodland Goddess

Feathers with beautiful textures and colors.  As an interior designer, I had access to many exotic products and one was borders of feathers.  These were feathers to sew on edges of drapery; feathers to accent exotic bed pillows; feathers to do almost anything clients wanted.  So when I retired, I kept some special samples (which have been discontinued now) and decided someday I would figure out how to use them.  Thank you Bargia for making them available! 

Yesterday I decided to try my hand at using one of the samples.  Feather jewelry intimidates me a little.  I’m afraid the feathers will come apart or fall out but these samples are sewn to a tape and look secure.  The sample feathers for this project are iridescent green with black edges.  The sample measures about 4” wide.  I looked through my beads and went to Bead-It (Prescott AZ) to see if there was anything that caught my eye.  I found a strand of beads that picked up the iridescent quality and brought them home.  Then I found some thin brass metal sheet and sat down to design. 

I love to do repousse and wanted to use it in the necklace.  I did not want to take the feathers apart since they were neatly sewn on a tape.  After experimenting and sketching a design, I made the brass plate that would hold the feathers.  I turned under all the raw edges and folded the brass in half to make it approx. 2” x 4”.  I carefully figured out where to drill holes and finished the raised design. Then I experimented with Black Max, ammonia and finally settled on patina by torch. 

The beads worked well with the feathers and brass.  As it often happens, the original design changed but the intent and the focal did not.  When I finished I knew this had to be a simple breast plate for a woodland goddess.  I can see her now dancing as the sun-shimmer brings out all the iridescence of the woods and of course, the necklace.