Feather Tree Fun

jalex

Long treasured and now highly collectible, feather trees were first produced in Germany in response to a concern for the conservation of woodlands. Designed to resemble the white pine trees of northern Germany, the perfect symmetry of these tabletop-size feather trees was very much preferred in many German households during the late 18th-century. The tradition of burning candles on trees also influenced the simplicity of shape and the sparseness of the tree limbs. Many Germans carried their feather trees across the Atlantic Ocean when they immigrated to the United States.

By the early 1900s, goose feather trees grew tremendously in popularity, directly in response to the conservation views advocated by President Teddy Roosevelt. By the 1920s, demand for feather trees led to the production of a variety of sizes, starting at a petite two inches all the way up to a 96-inch high version with 75 branches. Dyed green goose feathers were tightly wrapped around wire, and these branches were attached to a wooden trunk. Swan and ostrich feathers were also used to produce large -scale trees for hotels and large homes.

Today, feather trees are enjoying a revival for use as holiday decorations and celebrations. Our three-foot version is perfect for an Easter or spring centerpiece and can be brought out again come Christmastime. For a different look, the feathers can be dyed before being applied to the tree.

Materials:

200 or so soft biot goose feathers in six- to eight-inch lengths
5/8-inch dowel
white acrylic paint
wooden base
18-gauge floral stem wire
26-gauge wire
white floral stem wrapping tape
polyurethane adhesive
craft bond glue stick
handsaw
drill
scissors
wire cutters
needle-nose pliers
31 white ball-head pins
ruler
pencil or marker

Steps:

1. Measure and mark dowel. We allowed 24 inches for the tree trunk and added five inches for the wooden box base. Saw dowel with handsaw. Drill hole in base for dowel.

2. Beginning 1/2 inch from end of dowel, mark locations for branch holes on dowel, leaving three inches between each group of branches

3. Drill 1/16-inch diameter holes, approximately 1/4 inch deep. Drill one hole at center of the top end of the dowel For our 24-inch tree, we drilled three holes for the top two groups of branches, four holes for the next three groups of branches and six holes for the bottom two groups of branches.

4. Paint dowel and base. Glue dowel into base, using polyurethane adhesive. Set aside to dry.

5. Cut stem wire for branches with wire cutter. Make seven sets of branches and one top branch according to the following measurements:

- one 3-1/4" length
- three 4-1/2" lengths
- three 5-1/2-inch lengths
- four 6-1/2-inch lengths
- four 7-1/2-inch lengths
- four 8-1/2-inch lengths
- six 9-1/2-inch lengths
- six 10-1/2-inch lengths

6. Wrap floral tape tightly around each branch, leaving 1/4 inch bare at one end. Wrap several extra layers of floral tape at the other end of the branch and stick a pin in center. 8. Wrap biot feathers tightly around each branch. Start wrapping at the end opposite the pin. Begin 1/2 inch from this end, leaving 1/4-inch bare wire and 1/4-inch exposed tape. To begin each branch, wrap a 1/2-inch piece of floral tape around the bottom of the first feather. Using the tape as an anchor, wrap the feather tightly around the branch Use floral tape to secure the end of the feather. Continue wrapping branch with feathers, using floral tape as needed.

9. Use craft glue stick to secure tip of the last feather to branch. A straight pin can hold the feather in place until glue completely dries.

10. To assemble tree, begin at the top. Use adhesive to glue 3-1/4-inch branch into the center hole of the dowel. Allow adhesive to dry completely. Use needle-nose pliers to sharply pre-bend the bare 1/4-inch of wire at the base of each branch. Insert the bare 1/4-inch into the hole drilled in the dowel so that the branch is pointed straight up to the top of the tree.

11. Tightly wrap the bottom 1/4-inch of exposed floral tape and dowel with the 26-gauge wire. This part was left uncovered by feathers to keep the wire from slipping off the base of the branch. Use floral tape to cover wire, dowel and branch bases. Continue wrapping down the dowel, stopping at the holes for the next group of branches. Continue to add each group of branches into holes until all branches are in place. Finish wrapping dowel all the way to the base.

12. Gently bend branches into place as desired. Use damp toothbrush to reshape feathers as needed.

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