We are connoisseurs of craft at our place. I scour the discount stores for all the cool stuff - glitter, stickers and tinsel. Feathers are a real favourite for Big Sis and I recently uncovered a stockpile of $2 tubs of multicolour feathers! I was delighted with them, as was Big Sis (and Little Bro for that matter) - but as a sat down to decorate some cardboard tiaras I made the mistake of examining them closely.
I had naively assumed that craft feathers would be acrylic, probably manufactured in some elaborate feather making machine. However, on closer inspection I determined that they probably once originated on a live bird. I then checked where they were made and saw it was China. Now, I don’t imagine those birds were kept free range, leading happy and healthy lives before their feathers ended up in the dye pot! And where were the rest of their little bodies destined? The mental image I conjured of this kind of craft farming was not pleasant, also the words “bird flu” flashed through my mind as I looked over to see Big Sis tickling Babies face with a particularly long pink feather!
My horror reminded me of the moment on The Simpsons when Homer finds the organised crime bosses milking rats and selling it to the school! With a shudder I snatched the feather from Big Sis and said in an overly firm manner - “Not near faces!” She looked at me wide eyed, replying - “But mummy the feathers are so beautiful!”
One day, I imagine we will be sourcing our kids craft activities from free range, organic craft farms. Local, of course, to cut down the craft miles ;). But seriously, the poor birdies! Not near faces Big Sis, please, not near faces!
feathers, kids craft
