Creative Woodworks & crafts 2000-01, страница 47

Keep repeating this process to build each wing. There should be forteen to seventeen feathers on each wing. Leave at least nine feathers at the end for the tail.

Unfolding the tail

Turn the bird over so that it is upside down with the tail feathers on top and pointing away from you. The top feather in this position will be the anchor feather for the tail. Now bend the feather just behind the top feather to the left and interlock it as you did when unfolding the wing. Take the next feather and bend it to the right and interlock it with the anchor feather (see Fig. 5). Repeat this process with the remaining feathers until the tail is assembled. The tail is made up of five to nine feathers.

Spreading the wings with the tail

With the bird right side up and facing you, take a wing between each hand's thumb and forefinger. Spread the back of the wings apart (near the tail) and bring up the tail to keep the wings spread.

With the back of the wings held apart by the tail, raise the front of the wings into an upright flying position. Readjust the individual feathers so as to shape

each wing into a smooth interlocking unit. Trimming with scissors

Trim the wings with scissors so that they look like wings rather than fans (see Fig. 6). Start with the right wing and select the feather closest to the taii. Cut this feather off just above the groove. Cut the second feather (moving away from the tail) a little higher. Keep doing this, moving the cutoffs a little higher on each feather, until you reach the full length of the feather. There should be about three feathers on each wing which are not cut at all. The tail feathers on the chickadee do not need trimming.

Adjusting and hanging your fan-out bird

While they are still wet and pliable, adjust the wings into position so that the feathers tightly interlock and form a smooth curve in the wing. Examine the bird from all angles and adjust the wings so that they look as symmetrical as possible.

Bend the end of the pin into a small loop and then bend the pin into an "L" shape. Tie some string onto the loop and insert the pin into the body near the top of the wings.

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Fig. 1. Saw the bird to shape.

Fig. 3. Complete the carving,

Fig. 5. Fold out the tail.

Illustrations by Christopher Ayers

Fig. 2. Cut the feather strips and begin carving.