Chicken Feather Flowers

My Aunt Verna made all the flowers for my wedding, including my bridal bouquet, out of chicken feathers. My future husband’s parents, whom I did not meet until three days before our marriage, were living in Chicago and when they heard of this plan it definitely gave them pause! They knew their eldest son was marrying a farm girl from Oregon, and I can only imagine the visions of chicken feather flowers that might have passed through their minds. My future mother-in-law offered to pay for real flowers herself if money were the problem. When that offer was declined, she said that she would at least buy her own corsage and would purchase it at a floral shop before the wedding reception. I assured her that she would love the chicken feather flowers and eventually she acquiesced, though undoubtedly with some trepidation.

My Aunt Verna, oldest of my mother’s three sisters proclaimed for as long as I can remember, that she was the only one of the four sisters who had no talent. I later realized that to her, the word “talent” meant  musical talent—all of her sisters played piano, or sang beautifully, or played a mean accordion. As I watched her develop her own amazing talents in cake decorating (she also made my wedding cake), become a Book of Mormon expert who designed intricate “Book of Mormon Time Lines,” and also learned how to dye, dry and arrange chicken feathers into gorgeous displays, I was constantly impressed by her interesting and unusual talents. She had also developed the wonderful talent of good humor which was severely put to the test as she cared for three of her adult daughters as each in turn died of serious illnesses. I was the recipient of one of the many cartoon books she compiled for family members. She clipped her favorite cartoons out of the newspaper or magazines and then cut out pictures of my face and glued them into the cartoons, providing some hilarious moments as family members viewed them over and over.

No bride was ever happier with her wedding flowers than I was. The white, light pink and dark pink “flowers” were nothing short of spectacular, and I still don’t know how she managed to make rosebuds out of  feathers! I even overheard my new mother-in-law exclaiming about their beauty as friends passed through the reception line, saying with obvious admiration: “Jani’s aunt made these flowers out of chicken feathers! Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?” I hope Aunt Verna realized before her passing how she had brightened this world for so many with her talents.

Anatomy of a Talent

Some thirty years ago when I was just beginning a quest to find and share my own talents I read something that truly inspired me. It was written by Vira Judge though I have never been able to find if, or where, it was published. She was speaking of a woman she knew who felt she had no talents:

            A woman I know . . .

            Liked to hear poetry.

            Enjoyed reading it.

            Read it aloud to others.

            Seemed to develop a style of reading that others enjoyed, and was asked to read it often.

            Found herself thinking poetic thoughts.

            Used poetic phrases.

            Began to write poetry.

            Took classes and studied poetry.

            Her poetry was enjoyed by others.

            She taught a poetry-writing class.

            She began to write lyrics for music.

            She was asked to sing her lyrics.

            She was asked to sing with other groups.

            She found a love for and enjoyment in singing.

            Through lessons and practice she developed her singing ability and received recognition for it.

            She was asked to write poems and songs for special events and tried to print them in an attractive style.

            She took lessons in calligraphy and practiced it.

            Soon she was asked to hand-letter posters and programs.

            She became familiar with a drawing tool and experimented with sketching.

            She found she had a knack for sketching and drawing.

            She took lessons and practiced, and soon she was really drawing.

Sis. Judge noted that, “This woman who thought she had no talent, developed the ability to write poetry, prose and lyrics, sing, do calligraphy, and draw.”

My Personal Quest

When I decided I wanted to write music, as a 38 year old, I had nothing to recommend me except a love of music, an average ability to play the piano, and a couple of years studying music at BYU.

I only knew I wanted to add to the simple music of the church and wrote down the private goal that I hoped one of my songs would be sung in Primary someday. I envisioned nothing beyond that. The next years were just a gradual progression with my talents where I  simply accepted callings in the church that helped to advance my talents–writing music for the ward roadshow, a theme song for Young Women, a temple song for the Primary, etc.  This helped me overcome some of

my shyness about putting my music out there, and positive feedback helped me to acquire some needed confidence.

Looking back, my progression was much like the woman mentioned above:

            I wrote simple poetry as a child and a school teacher encouraged me.

            I took piano lessons from my mother and became a church organist.

            I wrote a poem and set it to music in high school.

            I took music theory and composition classes at BYU.

            I wrote original music for our ward road show.

            I published my first song and it had success.

            I published more songs and recorded an album of music.

            I received requests to speak to church groups about my music.

            I overcame fears of speaking and singing and did both on my programs.

            When people heard the stories behind my songs, they encouraged me to compile them.

            I wrote a full-length book, “The Stories Behind the Songs” which was published.

            I eventually auditioned to sing in the Tabernacle Choir and was accepted.

            I recorded one album on which I sang the vocals, “A Song of the Heart”.

            I wrote music for three full-length musicals and toured with one of them.

            I studied hymn writing and published four volumes of hymns for choir.

            Following our senior mission I recorded my album in Spanish.

            The Tabernacle Choir recorded three of my Primary songs.

I am still undoubtedly a person of average talents but by taking advantage of normal opportunities that are available to most of  us, especially in the church, my life has been full and rich and satisfying beyond what I ever dreamed it would be.  Our talents have been given to us for a wise purpose known to God. “To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby.” (D & C 46:12)  In developing our talents, we don’t need to be better than everyone else, we just need to find our niche and make a contribution. We show gratitude for our gifts by

magnifying them and using them with an eye single to the glory of God. Our talents give focus to our lives,

bring us happiness, and are the means by which we serve others.

Watch for New Opportunities

After our new baby passed away in 1968 a friend in graduate school offered me her free cake decorating course to help me past my grief. I had zero interest in decorating cakes, but her offer was so heartfelt, I felt I must  accept it. Much to my surprise, I was hooked after the first class, and went on a cake decorating binge for every occasion in our family. I even decorated two weddings cakes! When the instructor, Dora Speth, moved from our city there was no one to teach the next class of beginners and I volunteered! It’s good to keep an open mind about what talents we might enjoy! I’m sure I will never be able to make flowers out of chicken feathers but I continue to watch for opportunities to develop new talents that will add interest and fun to my life.

Janice Kapp Perry: composer, author and lecturer.