pheasant feather headband diy craft project ratatat seventeen years

I’m rather crafty, and I love feather headbands.  I enjoy making my own because I like having control over the size and arrangement of the feathers.  Also, I’m cheap and can’t rationalize spending on something I think I can make better.  My last headband was a peacock headband, which although easy, took over twenty minutes.  This weekend, I strayed from the usual art store and went to Michaels.  To my surprise, Michaels sells pads of pheasant feathers!  The feathers are already perfectly adhered to a canvas backing!  Baller!  I returned home with a couple of pads-o-pheasants, and dreamed up a silly challenge:  I would pick a song in my iTunes, and try to finish a headband within the  length of the song.

As a tribute to Ratatat, who I saw in Chicago last Monday, I chose “Seventeen Years” as my song challenge.  Yes, the song is FOUR MINUTES AND TWENTY-SIX SECONDS long (the title makes sense now!).  I made TWO headbands, to ensure that the process really came under 4:26.  S&D quality control, my friends.

Supplies:

  • Pheasant Pad by Zucker Feather Products (I swear this company must have a feather monopoly, because all the feathers I’ve ever purchased in a craft store have Zucker origins.), $2.99.  The feathers are pre-glued to a teardrop-shaped piece of canvas.
  • Headband from Forever 21, $0.75 (sold in a pack of two for $1.50).  Any headband should work, but I don’t like the plastic kind because those claw into my head.  The Forever 21 ones headbands are cheap, and the bows rip off easily.
  • Glue.  I bought Sobo glue, because I thought the name was funny.  I know, I’m a failure.  Super glue works very well, although I don’t trust myself with super glue, as I always end up with super glue on my fingers.  Hot glue gun glue should work too, although I’m not sure if the glue will adhere strongly enough.

0:00-0:10 Put the headband on your head, and envision feathers in your hair.  Make a mental note (or make tick marks with a pencil) to remember where you’d like the feathers on the band.  Squirt glue on the band.  By the time the Brooklyn rapper has finished his rap intro, you’ll be ready for the synthesizers (and to stick on the pad of feathers).

0:10-4:00 Place the pad of feathers on the glued-up headband, and press.  Pinch your fingers really tightly-especially the base and the top of the pad.  Well.  Make sure the middle is adhered well too.  “But  Tricia!  I am no octopus!”  Well, child.  That is why I have included two other pictures of alternate  sticking actions.  For example, you can use your belly to adhere the middle bit, WHILE pinching the sides.  OR, you could use a clip at the bottom, and pinch the top.  Hey, let the ideas flow.  Whatever method of attack that you choose, make sure you can dance!  It will make the process more entertaining- I promise.

4:00-4:26 Fin!  Time to gleefully revel in your WIN.  You are done.