I wanted to know if there are any resources for the care and storage of feather flowers?

I got some cheep ones that have served me well, but I have never known how to properly maintain and store them.

Thank you for any thoughts.

Andy

He doesn't post here on the Café very much , but the go-to guy on feather flowers is Richard Hughes. Hopefully he will see this topic and chime in. (see his work here: http://www.hughesmagic.com/ )


This video by Scott Alexander has some good tips on caring for feather flowers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGmBjsIm0F0

Highly recommend Richard Hughes' lecture notes. They are short but packed with RIGHT information. There is a lot of bad info out there, even in books, which can lead to damage (e.g. using steam). Following Richard's recommendations for storage, transportation, and use feather flowers will last the lifetime of the typical performer. Of course, the multi show a day professional will need to repair/replace more often.

Thanks for the info to both of you. I will look into that resource.

You should store the bouquets in a light plastic bag, like a dry cleaners bag they put over dry cleaned garments. Tie off the openings. Common bugs do feed off feathers. They should be stored upside down, hanging from a hook. Leave them in the open position.

If they get out of shape or the flowers get dust on them. Steaming is one way to clean them. Just boil water in a pot or tea pot and steam should clean them up. Be careful not to get the hot steam to close to the feathers. It will burn them and possibly catch fire. I never tired it, as they were not invented yet, but you could get a hand held garment steamer and use that instead of the boiling water. You would have more control over the direction of the steam.

You can store them in sleeve load gimmicks as well, Abbott's Magic sells them. But you would defiantly have to steam them and reshape the wires, if you do, if stored in this manner for a long period of time. The steam besides cleaning them, will also allow you to bring back the curve of the flowers.

Thank you Bill. I appreciate your advice. I got some Styrofoam to put the flowers in when not in use.

I am working on a blooming flower routine.

I got my flowers from a shop called the Mingus Magic Shop.

Great, Mingus Magic makes one of the best feather bouquets, You should ask them for tips on preserving their flowers. Oh, and they have the best prices around. Styrofoam does not help much in my opinion. They need to be hung upside down. Otherwise they will get to much dust and dirt on them. I learned the hard way.

Hey Bill I asked the question before I went. The owner gave me about the same as you did.

I had bought a plastic storage box to put them in to keep dust off of them. I have heard different thoughts on upside down or right side up. I might put some both ways just to see what happens

Thanks for your advice. It is always helpful.

Richard Hughes feather flower lecture notes (and DVD of his Magic Castle lecture) can be found here:

http://www.hughesmagic.com/catalog/misc/booksandvideos.html


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Thanks David I was able to order both of those. There was a lot of great info in there. Thanks to the other Café members that pointed me there earlier.