David Dunkley – Canada

Birds of a Feather

Description

Mother Earth is crowned by the universal bird’s nest, the epicenter of beginning and birth, where new energy is born. Deep inside the comfort and safety of the nest, life commences.

Swirling externally, the opposing forces of nature attack the safety of the nest – of life itself, yet the balance and power of nature’s equilibrium creates a safe epicenter where life develops.

As a Milliner I viewed the challenge of equilibrium to be an opportunity to subdue the natural linear inclinations of Coco Ting Ting for the nest, which required fluidity and organic curvatures. Opposing forces, rigidity, and conflict, are tamed in harmony and balance.

Equilibrium reigns in this crown.

Materials

• 19 gauge white millinery wire
• Coco Ting Ting
• natural/nude colour tulle
• brown heavy/thick vintage cotton coat thread
• liquid adhesive

Techniques

• traditional two wired headband was measured and fitted to models head size
• overlapping wires are sealed with thread and adhesive
• wire is wrapped in natural/brown tulle (matching models hair colour)
• Coco Ting Ting piece or pieces are wrapped and secured with matching vintage cotton thread at its thickest strongest point to the wire headband
• Once secured adhesive is applied to wrapped thread to lock down and hold Coco Ting Ting in place
• Using the same piece (or pieces) of Coco Ting Ting they are bent into a decorative position and again secured into place with the same wrapping and adhesive technique – repeat, repeat and repeat
• Once the shape is achieved individual clusters of Coco Ting Ting are bent/shaped by hand and wrapped together creating mounts – these are then attached to the wire frame to create ‘fullness’ and complete the millinery