centerpiece rentals
Ostrich feathers will thrive if certain storage conditions are met. We have found that feathers stored between temperatures of 15-23°C (59-73°F) perform very well. In fact, the higher the temperature the better as it means there is less humidity in the air. Over time, humidity can damage the ostrich feathers which means their life span will be shortened. So, it is best to keep the room temperature as close to 23°C as possible.
That's the room temperature covered but, what should the ostrich feathers be stored in? Although standard card is often used for the storage of feathers this is not recommended because, over time, the acidity in the card can have an adverse affect on the feathers. The best way to store ostrich feathers is in an acid free cardboard box (PH neutral). These boxes not only prevent any acidity aging the ostrich feathers but also protects the feathers from other sources of damage; insects, dust, light exposure and over handling for example. These boxes are easily found on the internet and start from around £20.
Cleaning Ostrich Feathers:
Despite how well the ostrich feathers are stored they will eventually need to be cleaned. We will now outline a couple of methods as to how this can be achieved. If the feathers are carrying dust or other easily removable dirt then we would recommend brushing them. The best brushes to use would be a large artist's paintbrush (dry!) with natural bristles or, a soft baby brush. A soft brush is needed so that the plumage isn't damaged during the cleaning. Supporting the ostrich feather in one hand, brush in the direction of the plumage whilst applying a gentle pressure. After a few strokes the dust should be starting to clear from the feather. Take care not to apply too much pressure or brush against the plumage as this is likely to damage the feather.
Many people choose to clean their ostrich feathers using water. We would not recommend this unless it is really necessary. If it is necessary to wash the feathers then the following method should work. Clean each feather individually by rinsing it under lukewarm water, when the feather is damp apply a bit of baby shampoo to it and gently massage it into the ostrich feather by stroking in the direction of the plumage. With the shampoo rinsed from the feather, it can be left to dry overnight or a hairdryer can be used on its lowest setting. Using a hairdryer on the feather should take around 10 minutes. If the feather starts to lose any of its fullness, hold it over a pan of steaming water for a couple of minutes where the humidity should help get the feather back into great shape once more!
We hope this article has demonstrated how, by following a few easy maintenance tips, ostrich feathers can last for many years.
Sunday 31 January 2016
Ostrich Feathers Make Beautiful Centerpieces
feather centerpieces
Ostrich feathers accessories are becoming popular among people be it fancy costumes, festival accoutrements, soft toys, boas or wraps. The demand for ostrich feather fans is also increasing among dance troupes and other strange performers. Even Ostrich feather dusters are in demand as they are long lasting, highly effective, absorb and hold dust particles well. These dusters have excellent cleaning abilities but however they itself must be cleaned and dried to give long lasting effects. In order to clean these dusters they must be put in soap and water solution so that dust and dirt is removed properly.
Ostrich feathers make beautiful and attractive centerpieces as they are large and exotic so we can use different types of feathers of Ostrich like femina, floss, spads and drabs for making elegant centerpieces. Drab feathers are usually eight to ten inches long. They are flocculent and small and give lavish look to your centerpieces. Where as femina feathers are long and thick and give a broader effect to your centerpiece, spad feathers are eighteen to twenty five inches long and are quiet cheap as compared to other feathers and floss feathers of ostrich are fourteen to eighteen inches long and are quiet flossy.
The process of making an ostrich feather centerpiece is not very tedious you can make beautiful centerpieces at home and decorate your living room or other rooms. For making a centerpiece you can take either dyed plumes or dye them at home with the color of your choice.Apart from that you need other things like bouquet holder, an Eiffel tower vase or long neck vase and some floralyte for illumination.
After gathering all the required things we can start with the process of making centerpiece. First of all place the plumes from bottom to top in bouquet holder so that on completion it gives a palm tree look and do it with utmost care as ostrich plumes can break easily. Also take care that feathers when placed in the bouquet are facing upwards. Now take the vase and place bouquet holder in it carefully and add floral lights and glass marbles so that it gives a pleasant effect and looks like water when lit and with this exquisite centerpiece is ready.
Now days ostrich plumes centerpieces have created quiet a rage among fashion designers, bridezillas, stage performers, event management companies and even other people as they find it difficult to resist them from buying these exquisite plumes because of which the prices of these feathers have skyrocketed. Some people prefer white color ostrich plumes but obtaining different color plumes is not a fret as there wide range of color options available like Kelly green, emerald, forest, lime, royal, mint, peach, black, gray, gold, orange, red, cream, fuchsia, magenta, burgundy, blue, navy, yellow, teal, turquoise and purple.
Even farming of feathers of Ostriches does not harm the bird. The feathers of bird are plucked during molten season and during plucking of feathers the birds are kept under the supervision of trained handlers who try to keep the birds calm and pluck their loose molting feathers so that they are not hurt and after that these birds are set free unharmed.
Ostrich feathers accessories are becoming popular among people be it fancy costumes, festival accoutrements, soft toys, boas or wraps. The demand for ostrich feather fans is also increasing among dance troupes and other strange performers. Even Ostrich feather dusters are in demand as they are long lasting, highly effective, absorb and hold dust particles well. These dusters have excellent cleaning abilities but however they itself must be cleaned and dried to give long lasting effects. In order to clean these dusters they must be put in soap and water solution so that dust and dirt is removed properly.
Ostrich feathers make beautiful and attractive centerpieces as they are large and exotic so we can use different types of feathers of Ostrich like femina, floss, spads and drabs for making elegant centerpieces. Drab feathers are usually eight to ten inches long. They are flocculent and small and give lavish look to your centerpieces. Where as femina feathers are long and thick and give a broader effect to your centerpiece, spad feathers are eighteen to twenty five inches long and are quiet cheap as compared to other feathers and floss feathers of ostrich are fourteen to eighteen inches long and are quiet flossy.
The process of making an ostrich feather centerpiece is not very tedious you can make beautiful centerpieces at home and decorate your living room or other rooms. For making a centerpiece you can take either dyed plumes or dye them at home with the color of your choice.Apart from that you need other things like bouquet holder, an Eiffel tower vase or long neck vase and some floralyte for illumination.
After gathering all the required things we can start with the process of making centerpiece. First of all place the plumes from bottom to top in bouquet holder so that on completion it gives a palm tree look and do it with utmost care as ostrich plumes can break easily. Also take care that feathers when placed in the bouquet are facing upwards. Now take the vase and place bouquet holder in it carefully and add floral lights and glass marbles so that it gives a pleasant effect and looks like water when lit and with this exquisite centerpiece is ready.
Now days ostrich plumes centerpieces have created quiet a rage among fashion designers, bridezillas, stage performers, event management companies and even other people as they find it difficult to resist them from buying these exquisite plumes because of which the prices of these feathers have skyrocketed. Some people prefer white color ostrich plumes but obtaining different color plumes is not a fret as there wide range of color options available like Kelly green, emerald, forest, lime, royal, mint, peach, black, gray, gold, orange, red, cream, fuchsia, magenta, burgundy, blue, navy, yellow, teal, turquoise and purple.
Even farming of feathers of Ostriches does not harm the bird. The feathers of bird are plucked during molten season and during plucking of feathers the birds are kept under the supervision of trained handlers who try to keep the birds calm and pluck their loose molting feathers so that they are not hurt and after that these birds are set free unharmed.
Thursday 28 January 2016
The Business of Ostrich Feathers
feather centerpieces
Nearly 200 years ago, ostrich farming was started in the Cape Province, South Africa with a view to commercializing ostrich feathers. The ostriches in the wild were being hunted to extinction for their unique feathers, which were the fashion statement of the day. In order to be able to harvest the feathers easier, and without having to kill the birds, ostriches were rounded up and kept in pens, and thus began the wonderful tradition of ostrich farming.
As far back as the ancient Egyptian and Roman times, we see evidence of ostrich feathers being used in formal dress. In the days were embellishments to dresses were forced to be from nature, as synthetic goods were not yet in ready circulation, feathers were seen as a beautiful and lasting way of enhancing a dress. Flowers wilt, but feathers can last for many years with proper care. Ostrich feathers were very popular because of the sheer volume of each feather, and the strikingly dramatic black and white feathers.
All fashion seasons do come to an end. And unfortunately the ostrich feather trade dwindles to almost nothing at the start of the First World War. Not only was transportation of luxury items a problem, but fashions themselves were changing. Because of the shortage of material due to the war effort, dresses became shorter and simpler in design, using less extravagance. Another deciding influence in the changing of fashions was the advent of the motor car. Overly extravagant dresses did not fit into the restricted space of the early motor vehicles.
Although the ostrich farming industry has now shifted away from feathers as a primary revenue source, and although ostrich feathers are no longer selling at the exorbitant prices of yesteryear, there is still a viable market for feathers in the fashion industry as well as the utilities industry. Ostrich feathers are used by fashion designers, by florists, interior decorators and those in the crafts industries. There is also a large market for feather dusters. The options are endless. Ostrich feathers are not only versatile and striking as they are, they also readily accept dyes to make even more stunning designs.
Ostrich feathers are ready for an initial plucking at 7 to 8 months old. Then the mature crops of feathers are ready at 14 months. Maturity of feathers varies from one bird to another, with nutrition, health, general management and genetics being as important a factor as age. Two ostriches living side by side, following exactly the same management and diet can have variable feather growth. It is however important to follow good management from hatch stage, because the health of a chick now can greatly impact the development of his mature feathers a year down the line.
The feathers are classified as to length, sex of the bird, where the feather comes from, what it looks like and also whether it has been processed (e.g. dyed). The main classifications are:
Drabs - Body Feathers (natural or dyed, in different standard lengths) - From adult females or chicks
Blacks - Male body feathers sold as drabs
Male Wings - White wing feathers from mature males
Feminas - White Wing Feathers of the Female
Tail Feathers - Tail feathers of adults and slaughter birds
Spadonas or Spads - Chick wing feathers.
Floss - Soft body feathers
Blondenes - Light coloured body feathers
Bycocks - Transition feathers from body to wing
Slopes - Poorly shaped feathers
Ruggies - 5th and 6th quality feathers
Usually ostrich feathers are sold by the kilogram. Sometimes however the feathers are sold singly for non-industrial or low volume consumers.
Although the cleaning and handling of ostrich feathers is labor intensive, it is well worth every ostrich farming venture's effort to develop this market, if they are slaughtering in larger volumes and able to market on a commercial-scale.
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