Carved Totem Earrings

Carved wood dowels and feathers are used to create these beautiful earrings!

Supplies needed:

· Tools for delicate carving: utility knife, pocket knife, electric rotary tools

· A ¾ inch wooden dowel

· Feathers

· Jewelry findings: for feathers/leather, jump rings, earrings, head pins

· Needle nose pliers and wire cutters

· Wood stain/wax, and small amounts of craft paint

· Colorful seed beads

· Lots of patience and a steady hand

I started by cutting notches on the ends of the dowel. When finished, I have a flat tab with a hole. The totem will be too thick to attach a common jump ring, so I carved the tab with a hole, to give me a way to attach the finished totem to an earring.

I lightly drew a totem design on each end of the dowel. I did not cut the totem off the top of the dowel, since it is easier to carve the totem while holding the dowel. Using knives and rotary cutters, I carved the totems.

After my carving was complete, I cut the totems off of the dowel.

The totems looked too new, and the carved details were fading into the wood. I added a light dab of dark tinted wax (any wood stain will also work), and rubbed it into the grain. Using a tiny brush, I added a little color, accenting the eyes and crevices.

Metal jewelry findings were added to the feather stems. A jump ring was added to each totem. I cut the head off of a head pin, curled the end to form a ring, threaded a few colorful seed beads, and added the totem. Two feathers and the beaded totem were added to each earring.

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