Feather Festoon Headbands

[Once Debauched]

Does anyone know where I can find these things?  I see them from time to time around the St. Louis Faire, but of course no vendors in St. Louis sell them.  I've stumbled across one site that sells them  http://www.dragonwings.net/StretchyHeadbands.htm, but was wondering if anyone has a site they have bought from or a vendor from faire that sells online too that they would recommend.

Or even if anyone knows where to find instructions on how to make them?

[gypsylakat]

well that particular vendor is the one I'm familiar with (I want to buy one, just don't have the extra cash ) and according to the site, they do MDRF (my home faire) and Scarby and AZRF... Lol that was who i was going to reccomend, but it would appear you already beat me to it!

[Queen Maggie]

I have bought from dragonwings in the past: many of their fans, some of their hair ornaments (which I wore for my son's wedding) and one of their most extravagant hats (Mother Lowe got a little crazy during October fest in '07 -;D I had permission from the AD!) I also know several people who own many of their feather creations. To a one, there's nothing but praise for their customer service, quality of workmanship, and the beauty of their styles. I cannot praise them highly enough.

[isabelladangelo]

I have bought from them before and had zero problems.  I know a lot of my Faire friends have bought from them and love 'em. 

I don't know about the stretchy headband of feathers but the hats, yes, those can be made.  The hats they sell are based off the german style like this:
http://www.wga.hu/art/c/cranach/lucas_e/5/09woman.jpg
http://www.wga.hu/art/c/cranach/lucas_e/5/01duke.jpg
http://www.wga.hu/art/c/cranach/lucas_e/7/04prince.jpg

I know there are a couple of good sites on how to make German hats.  I'll see if I can find them if you want to try your hand at making them rather than buying.

[mehan]

*raises hand* My name is Mehan and I am a feather addict... sigh...

I won't give you a running total,  but I will say that I called Debra and ordered my second hat during the off season and she was an absolute pleasure to work with - so don't dispair that she doesn't do a faire near you.   It did take a little bit of time to hear back from her, but that was because she was doing a show.  Once we connected and I ordered, everything went off without a hitch...

[Sitara]

Here's a link to the one I am familiar with.  I know they sell at MNRF and are of good quality.

http://www.geocities.com/fanladycynthia/Index1.htm

[LadyStitch]

There is some place at TRF that does these AMAZING feather head bands, crowns, hair pins, masks, fans, even cloaks.  I bought a fan from there 5 years ago, and got a feather head band/halo from them 3 years ago.  I use it on my muskateer hat.  When our store had a halloween contest I wore it, and a basic peasnt out fit. I won first prize with out trying.

I'm not sure who had them at scarby.

[Joyce "Delfinia DuSwallow" Howard]

As you can see my head piece in my profile is from dragonwings and so is the enclosed picture.I also have a headband from them too. Her quality is wonderful and she also does custom bands and hats. You won't be disappointed.

[Tygrkat]

Here's a link to the one I am familiar with.  I know they sell at MNRF and are of good quality.

http://www.geocities.com/fanladycynthia/Index1.htm

I purchased my feather headpiece to wear in my wedding this summer from Cynthia and Krystyna, and it is stunning! I sent swatches of the gown I will be wearing it with and they did an amazing job blending the colors to compliment it. They were great to work with and the piece they designed for me is exactly what I described and how I imagined it - I couldn't be happier with their work 

Their prices are quite reasonable, IMO, and once the piece was completed {they had to wait for an order of some feathers to arrive} it was shipped promptly. 


I just e-mailed my request and mailed a check to include the shipping and cost of the feather barrette, I'm not sure if they vend at any of the Faires near me so that was the best option for me.

[Once Debauched]

Yay!  Thank you so much! 

I'm always hesitant to purchase something like this without knowing if they are a reliable vendor.

Now to decide on colors!

[gypsylakat]

you know I was just sitting here thinking of a way to see if i could make one myself, because the debauched one mentioned it...... and then i got to imagining... is her workshop like a giant feather mountain? a strong wind blows and it's like a giant pillow fight? the feathers organized by colors so it's like a huge coporeal rainbow (but wait are regular rainbows coporeal?)

[tigrlily64]

I was thinking you could make one yourself, from a drugstore headband and a lot of feathers....But from the pictures, it seems much more complicated than that!  I think I've seen those at Bristol, so I'll have to take a look.

[gypsylakat]

I'll be investigating this at their shop at mdrf... must see the complicatedness. plus i want to try one on... although that bothers me... feathers would hold head bugs...

[Once Debauched]

Here's the plan... buy one you really really like then when you get the chance you make a pattern and make your own!  At least that's what I do with everything except bodices.  Actually, I'll be doing that soon as well - I hoarded enough material that eventually I'll HAVE to make my own!  lol

I don't yet have a feather mountain, maybe a hill or two.  Now if we're talking sea shells it's a different story!

[fortryllelsestudios]

re: making your own, it is really not complicated at all.  The feather hair garlands are very simply a floral hair garland using feathers instead.  Ive made dozens of them.  The trick is in the feathers you choose and how you put them together.  The best thing to do is shop online and find a variety of feathers that are soft with some curl to them, big turkey feathers arent going to work.  Next you make a trip to a craft shop.  What you are looking for is floral tape (I would use a color that matches the feathers rather than green unless your feathers are green, wrapped floral wire and if you want to add ribbon, then buy that too.

Floral tape sticks to itself, so thats how it works.  Determine the length you need to go around your head, then add a bit more.  Do not make it into a circle yet.  Keep it in a straight line.  Wrap the whole length with floral tape tightly.  Then organize your feathers into bunches.  These should be wire tightly together and then the wire should be wrapped with floral tape.  Then start about 5" from the end of the wire circlet and start adding a bunch of feathers every inch or couple inches with your floral tape.   When all are added you simply turn it into a circle, and then bend some hook ends to fit it to your head or hat.  Add ribbons if you like.  A good hair day is yours for a few feathers!

This doesnt deal with the stretch bands, that I cant tell you.  But this is basically how you make them, with flowers or feathers.    Easy.