How Do You Make Ostrich Feather Centerpieces?

Ostrich feather centerpieces add an elegant touch to any celebration, regardless if it's a somber retirement party or a lively masquerade ball. Most ostrich feather centerpieces use a tall and thin vase, known as a tower vase, to arrange the large feathers so that they arch up and out. They use long feathers, known as plumes, in the middle of the arrangement and short feathers, known as drabs or spades, on the edges of the arrangement. It's important to make sure your bouquet holder fits easily into the top of your tower vase before you try to re-create this classic centerpiece. Keep your plume and spade ostrich feathers separate. Place the bouquet holder in a small vase to help keep it upright. Take a small spade feather and carefully wrap the bottom "stem" of the feather with double-sided tape. Push the taped end of the feather into the bottom of the foam holder. Repeat process to cover the bottom rim of the foam with short feathers. Take a long plume feather and wrap the bottom ...  more