On Eagle's Wings

Project created by Linda Pawlik
This sympathy tribute would be ideal for a person of religion or, for military tribute using a patriot ribbon.Ingredients:

• 36" Wire Easel

• Large oasis cage Grande Oasis cage

• 3 bunches leather leaf

• 2 pieces chicken wire 18" and doubled

• 2 hyacinth stake

• 10 pc 22g florist wire

• Design master flat black, october brown, dove gray

• 10 bracts solidago

• 1 montebresia

• 10 "green trick" trichelium

• 4 white fugi mums

• 2 white daisy

• Approx. 2 yards #40 acetate ribbon

• Sharpie marker

Steps:

1. Mount large oasis cage to easel at an angle
2. Mount chicken wire "wings" to sides of cage
3. Slide 2/3 of a hyacinth stake along middle of each wing for stability
4. Slide other 1/3 of hyacinth stakes through holes of grande oasis cage
5. Begin layering leather leaf along wings, using full length and starting at tips of wings, working your way closer to body with shorter pieces for feathers
6. Layer in leather leaf on backs of wings too, for better density and fill down and slightly bulging for breast.
7. Trim to desired size, but be sure to trim out any bracts that would stick out in front, too, and leave tips of leather leaf for tips of wings.
8. Bundle three or four pieces of leather leaf and fan out and trim stems short for tail.
9. Wire together and insert at bottom. Trim to liking.
10. Begin spraying paint. Cover with brown, then spray black on body and inner part of wings, leaving brown showing on 1/3 outer tips. Spray dove gray on very tips of wings and tail
11. Insert grande cage at top at angle. Spray individual largish bracts of leather leaf on both sides dove gray and let dry. insert the individual dove gray bracts into grande cage, facing down to replicate beginning of the tell-tale bald eagles white head.
12. Insert green trick trichelium around grande cage to design eagle head, visualizing the turn of the head. Spray several coats of dove gray to cover green.
13. Cut a piece of ¼” waterproof tape about 6-7 inches long and lay upside down on working surface. Pluck about 7 longest petals from fugi mum and lay evenly across tape. Continue doing this, using the longest petals. When you have finished a layer, cut another piece of tape slightly longer and lay across top of petals so that they are “sandwiched”. Using the extra lengths of tape on both sides of panel, attach to trachelium, starting at base of neck.
14. Continue this process, working your way to the crown of the head. Use cold glue to attach individual petals to entirely cover any waterproof tape showing. Use shorter petals as you get closer to the eye and beak area.
15. Spray montebresia black. Glue to eye area.
16. Bundle and trim 3 of the solidago bracts and wire all the way from tip to tip. Bend until shape resembles eagles curved beak and insert in foam or glue in place.
17. Glue daisy petals to fill in around beak and neck area.
18. Glue daisy center for eye
19. Wire 6 individual solidago bracts with thin gold wire. Bundle 3 together and wire. Insert under breast. These would be the talons. If no ribbon banner, skip the talons.
20. Using sharpie write desired message on ribbon. Gather end of ribbon and wrap a wire around it. Do the same on both sides. Hook wired ribbon ends into chicken wire and shape talons over center area.