I’ve reached my COVID breaking point! For the first time since March, my husband and I went to dinner to celebrate our 30th anniversary. One it was our anniversary and two, I am getting quite sick of cooking! It was a challenge to find an open restaurant with outdoor seating but we did.
Not only did I get out for dinner but I went to a hardwood store to get some “exotic” woods for the wooden train we are selling in our new Etsy shop, www.cksartistry.etsy.com On the way I stopped Tanger Outlet Mall.
Other than the wood store, my outings were not much fun, but rather depressing and just plain sad. Hardly a soul inside the restaurant. I felt half dressed with no lipstick and very little jewelry. I was sporting one of my new feather necklaces! All the dressing rooms in every store that I went into were closed and all the mirrors were taken down. I couldn’t even see if I sort of liked it. One of the reasons I bought anything at all was because everything was deeply discounted. I am returning most everything I bought!
I am much happier at home shopping online and working on my jewelry! The feather collection is finished! Or it is for the moment at least.
I spent the last week up to my ears in feathers.
There is something about the allure of feathers. I admit I have a bit of a feather fetish myself.
Throughout history feathers have been used for adornment. Feathers first came into prominence at the beginning of the 16th century when men in prosperous trading centers began placing feathers in their hats. During the 17th century feathers became a full blown craze, when Louis XIV developed a taste for feathered hats. Feathers were shipped from all over the world and dyed in an array of bright colors. The King’s extravagant tastes helped establish Paris as the new fashion capital. By the time Marie Antoinette ascended the throne, feathers were already being worn by the rich French. She took it to the extreme with hairstyles 3 feet high topped with feathers! Even though Marie Antoinette lost her throne, and her head in 1793, the taste for elaborate feathered headwear did not die!
During the 1800’s feather adorned hats were a must have accessory for both upper and middle class European and North American Women. Sometimes they took it to the extreme, costing the lives of millions of birds, by incorporating a bird’s entire body, reanimated with glass eyes! Can we say creepy! This “Muderous Millinery,” was perhaps one of the first to inspire activists to protest against what was being used in fashion. The activist’ efforts led to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 in the United States and the 1920 Plumage Bill by the Royal Society for the Protection of birds in the U.K. Today the feather industry is mostly regulated. Feathers used in fashion are sourced from birds self-shedding and or a by-product of food production.
Feathers have a myriad of meaning and symbolism. Feathers are most often associated with freedom, transcendence, communication and spirituality. As we know feathers come from birds. Birds are free to fly the earth and the sky and go where they please, freedom!
In many cultures there is a belief that birds are the link between heaven and earth. Feathers are linked to mythical angels in Christianity, Judaism, and Islamic religions. Angles are often depicted to look like humans but with a pair of white feather wings. There is a saying that goes “Feathers appear when angles are near.”
A feather also represents strength, growth, hope! A feather teaches us faith and hope in ourselves and in the universe. We can certainly use a bit of that right now!
Until next time, stay safe, stay well!
ENJOY!!
cheryl