1584. The art of making feather flowers, though a very easy and inexpensive accomplishment, and yielding pretty ornaments for the mantel-piece or the chiffonier, is but little pursued.
1585. Many persons are under the impression that they can only be made from the feathers of exotic birds, and that these are expensive. But the following instructions will dispel this misconception, and remove the difficulty.
1586. Procure the best white geese or swans' feathers, have them plucked off the fowl with care not to break the web, free them from down, except a small quantity on the shaft of the feather.
1587. Having procured two good specimens of the flower you wish to imitate, carefully pull off the petals of one, and, with a piece of tissue paper, cut out the shape of each size, taking care to leave the shaft of the feather at least half an inch longer than the petal of the flower.
1588. Carefully bend the feather with the thumb and finger to the proper shape; mind not to break the web.