How Do You Make A Feather Tree?
Feather trees are a traditional alternative to real trees. They were first made in Germany in the late 19th century because of overharvesting of forests for Christmas trees. Real feather trees can be quite expensive; here is a way you can make your own small 3+ foot tree out of easy-to-get materials. • Bend the heavy gauge wire in half. Twist the rest around itself down the length of the wire. This will form the trunk. • Place the open end of the trunk in the pot and mark where the top of the pot comes up to on the trunk with permanent marker. You will not have any branches below this point. • Bend a loop in the tip of the lighter-gauge wire, and thread or glue the bead or pinecone onto it. Glue the end of the feather boa around it. • Wrap the boa down the length you want the branch, then twist the rest of the wire through the trunk and cut at the bottom of the trunk. • Repeat with each branch. Attach the top branches first and work your way down. • You should have one branch straight
A great Christmas decoration or year-round room display is a feather tree. Kids love to make these but adult supervision is required if using a glue gun. Thick tacky glue works just as well and is safer but takes a little longer to dry. Kids can assemble this project in a few hours, using supplies purchased at any local craft store. Follow these instructions for an afternoon of fun. Step 1 Roll a piece of stiff craft paper into a cone shape. Staple the edges together. Make sure the bottom of the cone is flat so that the tree sits upright and straight. For a more stable tree, purchase a styrofoam florist’s cone and eliminate this step altogether. Choose a size that fits the space you are decorating. Step 2 Use any feathers for the tree. Marabou turkey work the best and are readily available at the store. Start at the bottom of the cone and work toward the top. With tacky glue or hot glue, attach the quill end of each feather to the cone. Work all the way around the bottom to form the fi
