Do you know where I can buy ready-made large feather wings in dark colors?

Wow! What an incredible job you do! I'm so envious! I really loved the tomato picture, by the way! I was hoping you could help me. I'm trying to locate a supplier or a seller of wings. I need a pair! I'm looking for largish (ala John Travolta's "Michael" --I won't go into how awful the movie was) wings. White will do, but I'm actually looking for darker colors, purple, gray or black. I do have some sculpture/art background, so I could probably manage myself, but would have no idea where to begin. Any information you may have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for making my day! Jodi

I know of no normal commercial outfit that makes generic wings for purchase, however, there are quite a few folks who do wings to order, particularly among the folks who do Costume Con, and who do Sci-Fi/Fantasy conventions. As I recall there was a workshop at the last Costume Con on how to do this (alas scheduled at the same time I was to give one of my own workshops). These things also have to have been made by each of the seven repertory theatres that have recently done "Angels in America", and you could likely get information on how to make them from the costume departments involved (ACT in San Francisco, Seattle Rep, etc.) The trick to a nifty wing is that it can open on cue, and this trick I picked up at the Costume Con just from asking around: You make a body-harness, belt, or corset-y base. attach two short lengths of PVC pipe to the back, going up or out at an angle. Then you cut another pair of lengths of PVC that will hinge to the first two. These second two should have a hole drilled into the top that can accommodate a heavy string or light cable knotted through the hole. These cables then thread down through the back-mounted pipes, around the harness to the front, and then are tired together and attached to a stirrup. This stirrup then dangles below the skirts of the costume an inch or two above the feet. When the wearer wants the wings to lift he/she puts a foot into the stirrup, and steps down onto the floor. This pulls the cable down an inch or two, causing the hinge to bend the outer pipes out straight (or up, depending on the angle you have built your hinge). On top of this apparatus you can build wings of cloth, feathers, plastic, etc, whatever suits your fancy. The key is getting the base to go from dangling wings to open ones. I haven't ever had to do this, but I saw several sets of wings at Costume Con 15 that were built this way, and they all looked impressive and were stable for movement. Once a foot is in the stirrup, the wings stay up, even while moving around. I don't recall who gave the lecture at CC15 on wing making, however I suggest you surf on out to the CC15 site, and contact one of the coordinators of that event to get hold of this person if you would like someone else to make wings for you. I hope this is useful. -- ---Tara

Guess what? I went to a croquet tournament today where the two requirements for admission were a bottle of champagne and white clothing. While there, I saw that one of the attendees was wearing lovely white goose feather wings. I said "great wings" and she said they weren't made but bought from a catalog online! What is more they can make them to any color to order... They are a harp catalog that also carries wings. These wings don't move, but they look truly nice.-- ---Tara

Dear Tara, Thanks so much for the information! It was very thoughtful of you and I think that I may be ordering the wings. Again thanks for thinking of me! Jodi ---- "Ideas are like the stars: we never reach them, but like the mariners of the sea, we chart our course by them." --Carl Schurz