Today, ostrich feathers are commonly used as a decoration during important ceremonies such as birthdays, weddings and anniversary parties.  Their versatile and elegant nature makes them a perfect choice for centrepieces.  The feathers can be dyed in a variety of different colours which can be used to create elaborate and eye-catching displays.

Fashion designers have also used ostrich feathers in their clothing and accessories for many years.  The versatility of the feathers allow for truly unique creations.  I know of a lady who creates Burlesque clothing for a living and uses many ostrich feathers in her designs.  And, only recently Sarah Jessica Parker could be seen with an ostrich feather handbag in the Sex and the City movie.

Whilst they have their creative uses, ostrich feathers can also have their practical advantages.  During the early 1900’s the natural oils contained within the feathers were discovered to attract dust particles.  This led to a demand for ostrich feather dusters which originally were viewed as a status symbol but have become a popular household item today.  Those who advocate the use of ostrich feather dusters cite their ability to attract the dust into them without scattering it around the room!

With demand so high for ostrich feathers many people are concerned with how the feathers are obtained.  In the past the ostrich was mainly hunted for its feathers but thankfully many are now farmed humanly.  There are many farms in India and China where the birds are kept until they are ready to shed their feathers and, when they are the feathers are gently plucked by the workers on the farms.  Of course, there are unfortunately some farms where conditions are poor but for the most part the birds are well looked after.

At HandcraftedUK we work closely with our overseas suppliers to ensure that the feathers we obtain are from farms where the birds live in humane conditions and are not harmed for their feathers.

Please visit the following link if you would like to view our ostrich feathers.

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The free hand uses the tipper to strike the drum. Depending upon where in Ireland the Bodhran is being played, the style of the strike varies. The most common method of playing is the ‘Kerry’ style which will be the style we will explore below.

For the basic stroke only the smaller end of the tipper comes into contact with the bodhran. Hold the tipper the same way that you would hold a pen. Twist the arm gently from side to side (almost like you are shaking a tin) being careful not to bend the wrist. Make an arc movement with the tipper so that the head of the tipper hits the drum once on the way down and again on the way up. This is the basic stroke and, with practice you should be able to keep a regular rhythm, tone and volume.

With experience, the stroke can grow more complex so that during the ark movements the upper head can be used to add extra beats between the strokes. It may be beneficial to practice your playing with other musicians who can help you to keep in time with the music.

When using the bodhran to play along with music, the player must time their strikes to the rhythm of the beat. However, the make their playing more expressive the player can syncopate the weaker beats, add double pulses and take ‘rests’ between beats. There are many combinations that can be used for every song; it’s only limited by imagination!

To avoid risk of strain when playing the bodhran it is important that the wrist is kept straight when striking the drum. If it does start to hurt, stop playing and do some hand stretching exercises. If this still doesn’t relieve the pain then put the drum down for the remainder of the day and come back to it another time.

Please visit the following link if you are interested in viewing our bodhran.

You may find this tutorial of interest if you would like to advance your playing technique.

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Many people often ask me how Russian matryoshka dolls are made. With their fascinating artwork and construction the dolls have intrigued many of my customers. So, I thought it was time to share how the matryoshka are produced. And, you may be surprised at just how much work goes into each set!

The first preparations actually start years before the dolls are to be made. The tree from which the dolls are produced (usually lime, birch, aspen or larch) needs to be straight, without any knots and cut down in early autumn or winter, so it holds as little sap as possible. The trunk is then stored to allow it to dry which usually takes 2-3 years. During this drying the Russian dolls are carved to ensure that, once dry, the top and bottom half of each doll fit together perfectly. When the drying process has been completed the Russian dolls are ready to be grained and primed. After this, all the fun creative things can happen! The artist will first draw with pencil the eyes, face and clothing on each doll. When the drawing has been completed the artist will check their work to ensure it meets their quality standards. If not, the doll is then redrawn until the artist is satisfied. After the drawings are finished the artist will then use acrylic paint to complete the doll and give it its individual character. Occasionally, a pattern is burned into the doll before it is painted.

An artist at work painting her dolls

When buying a Russian doll the quality of its craftsmanship should be examined. Each doll should fit into one another easily and each half of the doll should require a little force to separate them. If the dolls do this then they have been well made.

There are thousands of different Russian dolls available around the world. Each with its own unique artist, character and feel. Please follow the link if you would like to see some of Russian Dolls stocked at HandcraftedUK.

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Early History

We should start by saying that the didgeridoo has not always been known by the same name. In fact, within the different Native Australian cultures that initially produced the instrument it was known by no fewer than 45 different names. The Yolngu people are one such culture that still produces the instrument to this day. Inhabitants of NE Arnhem Land, the Yolngu people know the didgeridoo by the name of 'yidaki'. The yidaki were made from a variety of eucalyptus woods including 'stringybark' and 'woolybutt'. The yidaki maker would examine many trees to find one that was perfect to make a yidaki; it needed to be naturally hollowed inside by termites. To check if the eucalyptus was hollowed sufficiently, the yidaki maker would hit the bark with his hand or a tool to see if the wood was suitably hollowed. If not, the tree would be left for a later date. Many Native Australian cultures used the didgeridoo during their religious ceremonies. The music from the didgeridoo was used to accompany singing and dancing during these rituals and, the instrument could only be played by men. The style of play was passed down from the generations and, this style is still difficult for the western player to replicate. Although women were not encouraged to play the didgeridoo they were able to do so in informal situations.

An example of some didgeridoos

It wasn't until the 1920's that the term 'didgeridoo' came into widespread use. Its origins stem from Herbert Basedow who was an Australian anthropologist that spent much time living with various Native Australian peoples. He is believed to have named the instrument after the sound that is produced whilst the instrument is being played.

The Contemporary Didgeridoo

It is only in recent times that the didgeridoo has become popular throughout the western world. As recently as the 1930's the didgeridoo was known only in a small area of the Northern Territory in Australia. It was improvements in infrastructure, transport and trade links that usage of the didgeridoo started to spread across the world, becoming a major instrument in the west only within the last 30 years.

Many didgeridoos are still produced using the traditional methods used by the Native Australians centuries ago. However, with its widespread appeal there have come new ways to produce the instrument. Some of the materials used to craft the modern didgeridoo are teak, bamboo, hemp, cactus and plastic. In fact, didgeridoos can be found in almost any material! However, many indigenous Australians believe only the native craftsmen have the spirit to produce a genuine didgeridoo and, this spirit is transferred into the instruments they produce. All other didgeridoos are said to lack this native spirit.

In 2006, the British Medical Journal asked a group of sleep apnea suffers (snorers!) to play the didgeridoo for 25 minutes a day over a 4 month period. The results showed that the group experienced improved breathing during the night and that their snoring had decreased. These improvements were attributed to the strengthening of their airways.

From a traditional instrument used by a few native peoples, the didgeridoo has stood the test of time over thousands of years. It has now become a popular instrument throughout the world and this ancient instrument has recently been shown to provide a very modern cure to snoring!

If you are interested in a didgeridoo then please take a look at our didgeridoo instruments.

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Ostrich feathers will thrive if certain storage conditions are met. We have found that feathers stored between temperatures of 15-23°C (59-73°F) perform very well. In fact, the higher the temperature the better as it means there is less humidity in the air. Over time, humidity can damage the ostrich feathers which means their life span will be shortened. So, it is best to keep the room temperature as close to 23°C as possible. That's the room temperature covered but, what should the ostrich feathers be stored in? Although standard card is often used for the storage of feathers this is not recommended because, over time, the acidity in the card can have an adverse affect on the feathers. The best way to store ostrich feathers is in an acid free cardboard box (PH neutral). These boxes not only prevent any acidity aging the ostrich feathers but also protects the feathers from other sources of damage; insects, dust, light exposure and over handling for example. These boxes are easily found on the internet and start from around £20.

White Ostrich Feathers

Cleaning Ostrich Feathers

Despite how well the ostrich feathers are stored they will eventually need to be cleaned. We will now outline a couple of methods as to how this can be achieved. If the feathers are carrying dust or other easily removable dirt then we would recommend brushing them. The best brushes to use would be a large artist's paintbrush (dry!) with natural bristles or, a soft baby brush. A soft brush is needed so that the plumage isn't damaged during the cleaning. Supporting the ostrich feather in one hand, brush in the direction of the plumage whilst applying a gentle pressure. After a few strokes the dust should be starting to clear from the feather. Take care not to apply too much pressure or brush against the plumage as this is likely to damage the feather.

Many people choose to clean their ostrich feathers using water. We would not recommend this unless it is really necessary. If it is necessary to wash the feathers then the following method should work. Clean each feather individually by rinsing it under lukewarm water, when the feather is damp apply a bit of baby shampoo to it and gently massage it into the ostrich feather by stroking in the direction of the plumage. With the shampoo rinsed from the feather, it can be left to dry overnight or a hairdryer can be used on its lowest setting. Using a hairdryer on the feather should take around 10 minutes. If the feather starts to lose any of its fullness, hold it over a pan of steaming water for a couple of minutes where the humidity should help get the feather back into great shape once more!

We hope this article has demonstrated how, by following a few easy maintenance tips, ostrich feathers can last for many years. If you are after some feathers for yourself then please take a look at our ostrich feathers.

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Africa is a vast continent with an immense history and numerous cultures. As such, there are also a great number of different instruments throughout the land. This article will introduce some of the most common ones and their place in African culture.

The Instruments

	Cabasa (also known as axatse or shekere) - The cabasa is an African instrument made from gourd and is covered with seeds or shells. It is played by striking on the legs and hands in different combinations. Hitting the top of the instrument produces a deep drum-like tone. Because gourds are used to make the instruments, and they all differ in shape, no two cabasas ever produce the same sound. The instrument is used in folkloric music, particularly by the Yoruba people of Nigeria.
	Agogô (also known as cowbell or gonkogui) - Like the cabasa, the agogô is an African instrument that has it's roots in Yoruba music. The two bells on the agogô differ in size; the smaller bell produces a high tone whilst the larger bell produces a low tone. The agogô is considered to be among the oldest samba instruments and is used in many Yoruba religious ceremonies. Through African slavery, the instrument was introduced into other countries and used in new religions established outside the African continent.
	Djembe - The djembe is an African instrument that emerged in the Mali Empire during the 12th Century. The drums vary in size but all have a skin covering which, when beaten with the hands in various rhythms, produces a wide range of tones. Many djembe drums are made from a single carved piece of wood and covered with a toughened goat skin.
	Juju - The juju is an African instrument made from dried palm nut shells and wood. The instrument is played very similar to a maraca with the shaking of one producing a percussive sound. Like many African instruments, the Juju is used during many Yoruba ceremonies. Today, it is used very frequently in Nigerian music.
	Talking Drum - The talking drum is a West African instrument which is shaped like an hourglass. Both ends of the drum have a head which is beaten with a stick. Tightening the strings of the drum can change the tone to such an extent that some tribes use the differing tones as a means of communication. The Talking Drum originated in the ancient Ghana Empire over one thousand years ago.
	Thumb Piano - There are hundreds of different thumb pianos on the African continent. The Mbira (left) is one such instrument. Constructed from hardwood and metal, the instrument is played by supporting the piano with one hand whilst using the thumb and index finger of the other hand to pluck the keys. Thumb pianos hold much religious and social significance in Africa. The Shona people of Zimbabwe have been using the Mbira for over 1500 years during their religious and social ceremonies.

The six instruments introduced above are just a few of the many that are used throughout Africa. There are literally thousands of different instruments used by hundreds of different tribes so obviously, we would be unable to cover every one of them!

African Instruments from HandcraftedUK.