Millinery

fuzzfly · **Joined:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:42 pm **Posts:** 253

Does anyone else use their birds feathers for millinery?

any people that know me will say I'm a very artsy craftsy person, dabbling in arts and crafts of all sorts. One day I saw a real nice feather from my Eastern Rosella and it dawned on me that I could use these feathers to incorperate into my bead work or just as an interesting feather peice on it's own.

I take a clip a small number of flawless finest quality feathers from some of my birds (mainly roosters and guinea fowl) during their natural moult or collect feathers that have fallen off naturally.
I make little hair peices out of guinea fowl feathers and rooster neck feathers, mainly as gifts for friends. They look great natural coloured, feather die spoils them and makes them look synthetic, roosters have fantastic natural colouring anyway.
I'm also starting a collection of flawless cock tail feathers to make a straw hat for the races

.

I've seen similar items in shops like Kliens incorperating feathers, beadwork and cheap silk flowers selling for up to $50! and on ebay for up to $200 for bridal peices!!

Just as an idea

. Paticularly for pheasant and peafowl keepers, you lucky ducks get all the best feathers.

Peacocks Australia · **Joined:** Wed Jan 02, 2002 9:14 am **Posts:** 310755

Hi Fuzzy_dragonfly, we sell all our Peafowl trains to a Lady in victoria who uses most of them for the Melbourne Cup.

Thanks
P.A :lol:

Tahir · **Posted:** Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:58 pm

i still need to find something to do with my peacock feathers

greenaus · **Posted:** Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:27 pm

Decorate hats.

I saw a segment on one of the morning shows (around the 9am-11am slot) around Melboune Cup time last year about decorating your own hats.

fuzzfly · **Joined:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:42 pm **Posts:** 253

There are some really good ideas on the net, even if you just google search under millinery. Peafowl feathers make great centre peices for hats and white peafowl feathers are great for bridal gear. I suggest buying some silk flowers, ribbon, beads and pearl chains and letting your imagination go wild.

Even just a tall vase full of peacock feathers in a bare corner looks great, much better then those aweful twisted sticks that seem to be in fashion.

Or if your fresh out of ideas sell a bunch of them on ebay, I've even seen blue peacock neck feathers for sale advertised as "rare", crafty people will jump at cheap quality feathers.

Kylie · **Posted:** Thu Apr 17, 2008 7:31 am

Maybe you could upload some pics Fuzzy_dragonfly :?:

Jeff Trescott · **Posted:** Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:18 pm

Yes my wife would love to see some pictures :-D

Jeff

fuzzfly · **Joined:** Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:42 pm **Posts:** 253

OK just as soon as I puchase a new set of batteries for the camera I'll post pics

. They aren't anything overly special though because I'm just starting to teach myself.
BTW I was at spotlight today, the avearage price of a bag of feathers is $6-$10, mind you more dearer feathers were a single large dyed ostrich plume but even the small ones were pricy for the quality and amount.
The selection is very small and the lady behind the counter said they were quite popular as they are used in a wide range of crafts from jewellery making to scrapbooking. For special feathers like phesant, rooster neck feathers, guinea fowl wing feathers you need to go to a specially shop.
Spotlight does have some very nice flowers and ribbons that can be used with the feathers. Hair clips can be purachased from any $2 variety store.

Ronda · **Posted:** Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:02 pm

Hi all, Firsly, I am amazed and pleased that the word millinery is still alive and well. Secondly, the shed feathers from Rag Curl Geese make fantastic fascinators etc. Ihave some if you're interested. Ronda.

Jeff Trescott · **Posted:** Sun Apr 27, 2008 6:59 pm

My wife said the same thing about the word Millinery. she is going to use out Pheasants tail feathers for her crafts, well when the male has a tail that is :-D

Jeff

AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

Millinery

Who is on the Forum