Stuff It!!

Yep, its that time of year.  Turkeys everywhere will meet their destiny on dining room tables in all there golden, crisp glow as if they were sunbathing for the years prior to their fate.  I'm not willing to understand where the rest of the turkey goes before it hits the trucks destined to a market near you.  The feathers, feet, etc, etc. where does it all go?  So, that brings me to taxidermy.  I am big on it, admittedly, just look at the picture above.   I don't try to hide it nor do I fear PETA lurking around a corner when I buy it, rent it or use it for a prop.  Here's the deal.  Animals are beautiful creatures, well, not all animals.  I'm not keen on the creepy crawly types or the miniature furry ones with long tails that scurry.  Scurry, that alone is a frightening word.  Anything that scurries or slithers is not my kind of beauty.  Whew, okay, back on track.  Where was I, oh yes, using taxidermy.  I remember a party I did at a country club in an pretty conservative suburb.  We put taxidermy pheasants on each table.  They stood stoic, well, frozen really in their place as they stood tall on the table's center.  It wasn't an easy sell, trust me.  It was finding the perfect bird.  It was sample after sample for the taxidermy artists to find the cleanest, realistic, colorful birds.  Once this was achieved, the sell of taking chances happened then, with rebel cause, a yes was uttered from the clients mouth.  In all, the guests loved it.  The client loved it.  I loved it.  It was an unexpected way to make a complete look without overdoing it.  Before then and up until now, I continue to push a taxidermy element onto table's or during a styling gig.  It always remains unexpected.  It gives life to a table in a very still life way.   These creatures are literally frozen in time.  Remember that childhood game "Statues"?  Its like that, only no breathing or blinking or you're out, out in the yard if the animal is still showing signs of life.  Fear not brave people! Its okay to plunk a stuffed duck, chicken, peacock or pheasant onto a table's center.  Pssst: its even better if the table is long rather than round.  Combine the taxidermy with fresh flowers, found objects and your best china and you will create a table scape unlike none other.  And, when  your guests first sigh or shake their heads, watch them make eye contact with the reclaimed  animal which sets before them and soon they will be telling all their friends what a great table it was and they will more than likely set one just like it at their next party.  Furthermore, when that turkey comes to the table on Thanksgiving Day all stuffed with bready mush, you can turn to your neighbor, who was placed their for conversation purposes, and tell them how much better it would have been to see the actual turkey stuffed and fully plumed holding court on the buffet.  And for those who are critics to the design of taxidermy, well, I must say: Stuff IT!!!