This beautiful raven black set will be hitting the stage soon with @roularoulette! Although the feathers are black, their exquisite patterning and iridescent qualities still play through.
The set feathers 80 35″+ and 100 27-35″ lady am feathers across 12 of my flute staves.
Set features 200 35″+ lady am center tails (lightened and then dyed grey) across V-stave set.
All 6 feet of natural beauty just landed with @cervenafox!
The set feathers 180 35″+ lady am feathers across 8 of my scallop staves.
I have an extremely small stash of these feathers and am the first one called when my supplier gets new stock in. So you’ll see a few more throughout the year, but each set is of course very special!
Set features 12 flute staves in vermilion 170 lady am center tail pheasant feathers. Size is about 38″+ at center.
These two sets may be the only I make this year featuring the lady am center tails. I hoarded these feathers when my supplier was thankfully able to secure some for the project I previously posted. However, this year, they are completely sold out globally. Especially with carnivale, festivals and fashion demands at an all time high post pandemic, the feather industry is not likely to be able to meet demand for years as farmers that moved on to other industries are not likely to return.
Faux options are in the works, but to be honest… I’m up against the same competition for getting the material feathers. Companies focused on supplying thousands to large scale festivals don’t yet have capacity or methods for servicing artists that need a couple hundred. But stay tuned… I’m persistent!
Set features 10 flute staves in vermilion 170 lady am center tail pheasant feathers. Size is about 38″+ at center.
These two sets may be the only I make this year featuring the lady am center tails. I hoarded these feathers when my supplier was thankfully able to secure some for the project I previously posted. However, this year, they are completely sold out globally. Especially with carnivale, festivals and fashion demands at an all time high post pandemic, the feather industry is not likely to be able to meet demand for years as farmers that moved on to other industries are not likely to return.
Faux options are in the works, but to be honest… I’m up against the same competition for getting the material feathers. Companies focused on supplying thousands to large scale festivals don’t yet have capacity or methods for servicing artists that need a couple hundred. But stay tuned… I’m persistent!
Follow @adelewolf for more on the journey of her new routine that feature these fans. The flight path from idea to stage is not always straight and easy. It takes a lot of persistence and commitment to your vision!
This set is features lady am center tails custom dyed in 3 colors on my V-staves.
Fans are an expression on stage and these done for @chloethecocaine have significant meaning. Chloe started working on this concept with her mum, the last one before her passing.
I particularly love roses (my garden is full of them) because they seem to explode with all the beauty the world can make, but have thorns that can literally slice you open. They are the greatest metaphor for the lives we live. Happy to have been able to help create these in honor of someone so special to Chloe.
Chloe credits @missmaplerose and @frankiefictitious for their help and inspiration.
This piece took a team to create.
@katrina.inprogress created the vector. @coating.specialties_3311 did the powder coating.
@donna.touch made the vinyl templates, V-staves and assembly.
@letterslinesanddesigns_jross laid down the incredible airbrush work.
Last year was truly a blur! This is yet another set done for @cervenafox that I apparently forgot to post.
The set feathers 180 35″+ lady am feathers in blue and 80 short in black across 8 of my scallop staves.
New ordering process for pheasant is available on my site at DonnaTouch.com/pheasant and hoping to have feather inventory available again in the coming months as they are seasonal.
Life got busy and forgot to post this gorgeous set done for @rebel_rose_revue!
On my V-stave staves in black, this set features 250 35″+ lady am pheasant feathers in two shades of green.
@missjoliepapillon is my poster child of conversions and upgrades!
Not sure how I forgot to post this set, but I completed the assembly for her last year. She already had my flute staves for a while and had done a DIY. Already a big set, she aquire more feathers that fit her costuming theme. She sent everything over to me for a rebuild.
Especially for my pheasant sets, on my site I make recommendations to help you get your set now and plan for expanding later. Avoid planned obsolescence and invest in material that will shine with you for years to come!
Don’t fall too hard in lust for these as they were done last year for @steph_sugar_! I can’t even get these feathers (hopefully) for a couple more months.
On my V-stave staves in black, this set features 130 lady am center tail pheasant feathers just their beautiful, natural color.
300 lady am on 14 flute staves
Set features 14 flute staves in fireside copper, 100 40″+ lady am and 200 25-35″ lady am pheasant feathers. Size is about 46″ at center and 92″ wide.
If I had to name this conversion for @dottiemayduitt, I’d call it bright and happy!
Luckily, Dottie had the 200 lady am sidetails (a mix of 27-30″ and then 30″+). This was a perfect amount to do across 8 scallop staves. I used the shorter feathers on the front so they’d add to the density without breaking up the look of the longer feathers. These are ready again to pop off any stage!
Get in the sultry mood with this set done for @jean_heart5678!
I was lucky to secure the 160 35″+ and 80 short lady am sidetails (red is darker in-person) from @happinesscathy late last year. If you’ve been following along, there is quite the feather shortage right now. I’ve been able to secure a few more bundles for this year, but if you’ve already got your pheasant fans… consider yourself very lucky!
If I had to name this conversion for @dottiemayduitt, I’d call it bright and happy!
Luckily, Dottie had the 200 lady am sidetails (a mix of 27-30″ and then 30″+). This was a perfect amount to do across 8 scallop staves. I used the shorter feathers on the front so they’d add to the density without breaking up the look of the longer feathers. These are ready again to pop off any stage!
This set was imagined by @thejensenloren as a unique fan take on a venus fly trap!
The emerald and red plumes are from @fancyfeathercom, the venery reeves from @thefeatherplace and at the core are my 3-prong staves. The movement on these is light and swift. Perfect for attracting and devouring any audience!
Catching up on some project highlights from last year still.
@colette.collerette was actually in Chicago and was able to bring me her pheasant feathers that she needed on new staves. It was a lovely meeting on my back deck in the late summer when I think I was 8 months prego. Pop goes the baby and then I was able to get back to this conversion!
The set features long black zebra tails, bleached ringneck and short black ringneck on my V-staves in gold.
This is the last commission that went out to @friskywhispers just before baby. Phew!
This set features 8 scallop staves with 100 35″+ lady am sidetails from @happinesscathy. The natural markings of the feathers really set off this dramatic set!
Got this set out to @pyrrhasutraofficial just in time for a big event!
This set features 12 flute staves with 200 27-35″ lady am sidetails in mix of 3 different reds from @happinesscathy. Unfortunately my photo setup doesn’t do a great job of capturing the variation, but the different shades catch the light slightly different making them appear more dense and dynamic than a single color would.
A lot of awesome is packed into this commission for @tout.dlou!
Tout d’Lou came to me with a hand fan design from a comic book that she hoped could work as a base for pheasant fans. I looped in my design partner @katrina.inprogress to get the design and proportions of the front overlay staves. I then adapted my V-stave as the back stave for the feather attachment. The shape of the design makes for a really clean, hidden quill final look!
The final set uses 6 doubled staves (front gold bar and back fireside copper) and 150 27-35″ sidetails in color #74 from @happinesscathy (which literally look like gold). Although the result is clean and simple, a lot of experience and planning goes into new concepts like this!
Mega set across 14 flute staves (they are not so bright red) with 200 lady am sidetails in red and natural. Each fan is about 42″ at center and almost 80″ wide.
Incredibly unique pheasant set I did specifically to show off how we can achieve a light or pastel color. These are 30-35″ zebra feathers that had to be carefully degraded at #RainbowFeathers. The cream are what they look like after that process and the light teal is after dying. This set is on 6 scallop staves and uses 140 feathers. The extra processing of course adds cost, but it’s the only way to get light colors and downplay the natural black markings.
The fans feature 148 35″+ lady amherst feathers from @happinesscathy on 12 flute staves. What makes these beauties an oopsie-project? I had ordered the wrong feather color for another project. Only solution is really to build a fun set of fans!
These natural beauties just arrived to @rheagenk!
This set features 100 27-35″ lady am pheasant feathers across 6 scallop staves in heavy black metallic. A great flirty size for just getting started incorporating pheasant, some quick whipping moves and small venues.
Unfortunately my build recap photos aren’t going to be great until we have things better setup after the move, but this is the first set to go out that was completely built here. Small progress!
When @chanelledemai came to me and asked if I could recreate her acrylic pheasant staves out of metal, I initially said no. I don’t copy anyone’s work, I even guide performers to unique color combos when they ask for something similar to something I’ve already created. But she proved to me that she in fact was the original designer of the staves. After working with Hot Fans for her set, they went on to sell her design to others. Because she was the designer and it is so central to her costume, I agreed to make the set. This design will not be available from me for any other orders.
If you have this design from Hot Fans, please just know where it came from. If you are considering purchasing from them, know that there is durability and creative risk in what they sell. The allure of a cheap price should not be enough.
But here’s the thing… this isn’t an issue of an international company not respecting creative ownership. This happens within our own community. I now know of several live traces of my custom designs. This is hurtful not only to me as a creator, but to the performer that provided the creative direction and paid for that work.
I have posted and continue to share build information to educate and inspire fan builders. As others come into the market leveraging my innovation as a starting point, do your due diligence to ensure you are getting orginal work and that your collaboration is protected.
All that, but the real star of this set is the fact that we pulled off this complex two color powder coating treatment!! This is very difficult for a home shop, but we’ve figured it out now. So proud of this design for this new innovation!
My feathers are continuing their performance journey on to new stages with @bellasincle!
If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I don’t get attached to material. I regularly sell off my own, personal props if I’ve moved on from the routine. But these fans represent a lot!
— These pheasant were the first I purchased and I honestly didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I learned later that their were so many pheasant types!
— The feathers have been on at least 4 stave sets. They were my own personal tests (the heaviest type to with with) to make sure what I was creating would even work well for other performers.
— I continue to find better ways of layering and building. It took more hours and hours, but it’s why I rebuilt these again before sending them out.
— Weilding these fans took strength and practice. Taking them to the stage was like having a super power. It’s that rush I know my fellow fan dancers perform for!
— While I still have a few sets that I’ll be holding on for a little longer just in case, selling these off is one step closer to admitting I’m no longer the performer I used to be. So it’s for the best that they not be hoarded in my closet for years!
On my tiki staves, the fans have about 160 40″ venery reeves pheasant feathers. The set is about 4ft at center and 7ft across. Just wait and see what @bellasincle creates with these!
This very large set will be swooshing across the stage with Ginger Watson soon!
This set is on 14 of my flute staves (option that collapses down the most narrow for travel) in sparkle green and 250 35″+ lady am feathers in color 49 from @happinesscathy. They turned out quite grand!
This set was a long time in the making for Lucy Luxe!
The set features 300 35″+ lady am pheasant feathers (color #3 @happinesscathy) on a custom structure. The gloss black middle component was designed by her husband! I was able to adjust my V-staves handle cutouts in peacock pink to snuggle right into the design. The set doesn’t open/close because of the design complexity, but feels very secure when bolted open. Can’t wait to see how Lucy blings these out!
These giants should be hitting the @werqtheworld international tour this week!
Each of the two fans are about 4ft at center and 6ft across. Using 20 flute staves (stave style that colapses the most for travel) in copper jacket, there are 480 35″+ natural lady am feathers mounted from @happinesscathy. These are designed for two dancers but are big enough to be separated into 4 total fans.
These fans will see more of the world on tour in just a few months than I’ve traveled to in my lifetime! Thankful for the recommendation from @asiaoharaland and the opportunity with @vossevents
Striking natural set done for Kitty KaPowww!
This set closely matches Sidetail 4 on DonnaTouch.com/pheasant but we are able to upgrade the length on the feathers to 35″+. The set features 104 feathers across 8 scallop staves in copper jacket. A great set to hit the stage with now and easily upgrade if needed later.
This deco inspired set was snagged quickly by Samson Night! Head to his profile for a fun picture that had to be taken minutes after they arrived.
The amazing front plate design was done by Katrina Monreal. In fireside copper, it’s backed with glitter vinyl. Three additional staves hold the 27-35″ lady am sidetails from @happinesscathy. The staves do collapse behind the front plate for easier transport.
Great for smaller stages and can be upgraded later. Both sets feature about 90 27-35″ lady am sidetails from @happinesscathy on 6 of my scallop staves.
The design of the double layered stave structure was done by katrina Monreal. The plate and peekaboo staves can easily be rhinestoned. The set has 120 zebra 30-35″ from @happinesscathy.
Only love for this stellar color combination fine for Jezebelle Red. Only thing better is their sharp and swishy sway movement!
Built on my 8 of my scallop staves — which create a more seamless circle — in fireside copper, we’ve got a mix of 200 25-35″+ (in colors #40/#41 and #89) sidetails from @happinesscathy.
These dramatic beauties just arrived with Jonah | Chocolate Showboy in Paris!
As a feather negotiator, I listen to the requests, but have to talk it over with the feathers and then let the performer know if they’ll comply. This is true for dye colors, layering and structural elements. Thrilled with results of our negotiations for this set!
Built on my 8″ flute staves — the most compact option for pheasant for travel — across the 14 staves we’ve got 160 35″+ (in natural and color #89) with about 100 black sidetails from @happinesscathy.
Today seems like a good day to break the internet with Maple Rose fabulous pheasant fan project!
First… a reminder. Awesome stuff like this takes time!! This set took 5 months from commission to delivery. I know I make this stuff look easy, but truly custom work requires time for all the pieces to come together. Maple was an exceptional client for understanding this upfront.
The design of the double layered stave structure was done by @katrina.inprogress. The shape of the piece and colors have special meaning to Maple. I tested the structure, laid out the attachment points and completed the assembly with the 160 zebra 30-40″ from @happinesscathy that were expertly dyed at #RainbowFeathers. While it was important to get the design right, ensuring the structure was strong and allowed for various handholds and movements was equally important.
The only thing more impressive than this set is the amazingness Maple will create with them!
Rescued these feathers for Cervena Fox from broken staves.
We did these so fast so she could get back out to preforming with them, I forgot to write down the specs! But the set features 8 scallop staves and 140+ center tails feathers. Luckily the feathers were wired on the orginal staves, so they were easy to pop off and move over. These lighter, stronger and better performance quality set has already hit the stage!
This upgrade was done for Layna Emerald. We added two flute staves to the existing set with 80 feathers, recoated all the staves in gold bar and then I rebuilt them using 150 sidetails (40 27-35″ and 110 35″+ side tails) in color #47 from @happinesscathy. That’s 240 total across this set!
Commissioned by Eva Devore, these just arrived to her in Australia!
Pulling from deco inspiration, the custom, articulating stave set (in Gold Bar) was designed by Katrina. I tested the structure, laid out the attachment points to accommodate (140 zebra 30-40″ in color #41 zJones) and assembled. I know Eva has plans to embellish these further!
This project took several months from design, testing, cutting, coating, feathering, assembling and shipping. It’s a one-of-a-kind, meaning this is Eva’s design and it will not be recreated for any other performer!
Enjoy this rebuilt upgrade done for Ruby Mimosa!
Her orginal set with ringneck feathers. Well I acquired those back from her (future cool project with them coming soon), we added two flute staves, recoated all the staves in fireside copper and then I rebuilt them using 180 sidetails (90 27-35″ and 90 35″+ side tails) in color #89 from @happinesscathy. These are ready to hit the stage in an even bigger way for years to come!
