Dried Flowers for Every Occasion

Feathers-and dried flowers from Shusters of Texas

Feather time

I can see using dried cones and pods, such as natural mahogany pods, spiral cones, asi spears, heart shaped badam, lotus pods, palm caps: forming a centerpiece; affixed to a bed of bamboo reeds and flax grass assortment in brown/Bordeaux/mango, and peacock feathers and swords, having these go up and down. Place on the front door of your home to with a Welcome sign. Just for fun, add an artificial bird or two and chirp your guests.

If you are lucky enough to have a home with an upstairs, try this. Take the natural grapevine garland, entwining it along the staircase banister, placing the peacock feathers at random spots. Mix in assorted color combination of brown Bordeaux mango of flax grass, all in mango, changing to natural coco loops. Sounds good enough to eat, as well adding a point of interest in your home. Attach all of the above in a manner (sort of slinking down the thru the grapevines,) with wire. Finish it off by weaving natural raffia along and among the entire content to the end of stairway banister, make into a large bow.

OOPS, the artsy person in me opened up a new page in my crafty little mind. Seeing as how I love collecting angels, painting angels, and creating angels, and I have angels watching over me, I had to find a way to use peacock feathers in the making of them. After a search on the computer, I found all the products needed for my little cherubs. Begin first by tying together three to five feathers (you may need to trim them shorter, cutting off at the quills), curly willow to form the body dress, fanned out, keeping the longer ones in the middle. Form the angel wings from gathered –up (bow style) grapevine garland. (If the vine is too stiff, soak it in water for several hours or overnight). You need it to be flexible enough to form the wings. What do we use for the head you ask? The natural papaver pod is perfect, coming in three sizes XL-L-M. I’m thinking the medium will work best (depending on how large your angel will be. Using a few short strands of natural colored raffia. I prefer the natural. Make a small circle from the grapevine. Heat up the glue gun. Follow this procedure- glue the body skirt to the grapevine wings next glue papaver head to the top of the skirt, cover-up the neck with a raffia bow. Attach a hanger to the back side of the wings.

Going for a faster simpler look; select a long picture frame ten by twenty. Cover the inside back with the burlap. Select three perfect peacock feathers (trim to fit inside frame) , place onto the burlap, bring two more shorter ones on top of these. Mix-in a grouping of chili peppers at the bottom end of the feathers, leaving them at different lengths. Finish with a flat mushroom sponge for the base, sprinkling some of the chili’s around it. Hang on wall, step back and enjoy.