Alright, so I decided to give this "egyptian whoop bird eye" thing a shot. Saw some pictures, you know, looked kinda mystical and all that. Figured it'd be a neat little project to get my hands on. Not like I had a ton of other stuff demanding my immediate attention, so why not?
Getting Started, or Trying To
First off, finding the right bits and pieces was a whole adventure in itself. They say you need these specific, uh, "Nile Delta" reeds, or something fancy like that. Ended up just getting some thin crafting sticks from the local shop. Close enough, I reckoned. And then the "eye" part. I got some nice blue and gold threads, thought that would look authentic enough. The "whoop bird" feathers? Yeah, good luck finding those. I settled for some regular craft feathers I dyed myself with a bit of tea to make them look oldish.
So, I had my pile of stuff. The plan was to weave this eye pattern, kind of like those old protective amulets, and then frame it with the reeds, and stick a feather on it for that "whoop bird" flair. Easy, right? That's what I thought, too.
The Actual Messy Process
I started by trying to shape the reeds. The instructions I found online – and believe me, they were sparse – just showed a perfectly round frame. Mine looked more like a lopsided egg. Snapped a couple of 'em too. Patience, I told myself, patience. Finally got something vaguely circular.
Then came the weaving of the eye. This is where things really went south.
- The threads kept tangling. I swear, I spent more time untangling than actual weaving.
- Trying to get that iconic almond eye shape? Mine looked more like a startled potato.
- And keeping the tension right? One minute it was too loose, the next I was practically strangling the poor thing.
I must have started over like, five times. Pulled out the threads, straightened the reeds, took a deep breath. My fingers were getting sore. The cat, of course, decided my threads were the most fascinating toy ever invented, which didn't help matters.
After what felt like an eternity, I had something that, if you squinted hard and had a good imagination, kinda resembled an eye. The "whoop bird" feather was the last step. I tried to attach it artfully, so it looked like it was, you know, "whooping" or whatever that bird is supposed to do. It just looked a bit sad and droopy, to be honest.
So, What's The Verdict?
Well, I finished it. It's sitting on my shelf. Doesn't look quite like the grand, mystical artifact I had in my head. It's a bit crooked, the eye is a bit wonky, and the feather, well, the feather is just there.
You know, it reminds me of this one time I tried to assemble some flat-pack furniture. The instructions were all pictograms, looked super simple. But then you get halfway through and realize piece 'C' is actually upside down and backwards, and the little wooden dowels are made of cheese. You wrestle with it for hours, curse a bit, and eventually, you have something that vaguely resembles a bookcase, but you wouldn't trust it with anything heavier than a paperback.
This "egyptian whoop bird eye" felt a lot like that. It's one of those things that looks incredibly elegant and straightforward when you see the finished product online, or in a museum. But making it? That's a whole other story. It makes you appreciate the skill involved, sure, but it also makes you wonder how many failed attempts and snapped reeds are hidden behind those perfect examples. Maybe mine is just more... authentic to the struggle, eh?
Anyway, I did it. It’s an "egyptian whoop bird eye," my version, at least. And I guess that's the point of these little projects, isn't it? To try, to learn, and to have something to show for it, even if it's not quite museum-quality. Now, what to try next...
