Feather Bonanza

Most days David and I go for a three mile exercise walk through the woods. During the cooler spring and fall days we substitute that for a session of cleaning the woods. We pile our pick up truck high with dead fall and bring it down back to an immense brush pile we've been building for years.  We love the neat woods and it helps with the exercise program.

This week, as I was directing David in backing up the old pick up, I noticed some feathers on the ground. I then realized there were a whole lot more than a few. Apparently there had been a recent kill on the edge of our brush pile and all that remained was a scattering of feathers. Not sure if I ever mentioned it before but as we walk, I collect feathers (and seed pods, and pine cones, and sticks, and stones, and birds' nests and robin egg shells and......). We gathered all the feathers and I used some for a tiny arrangement.

I can't identify most birds from found feathers but these had a few very distinctive patterns including the  black spot on brown and the white tipped with black swoop. Anyone know what bird this was?

The feathers were a perfect addition to the drilled stone vase given to me last Christmas from my sister and brother-in-law. At first the feathers were too tiny and just slid into the hole but then I considered using brown rice as a filler.

A perfect solution to holding the feathers in place! Like the vase? I love it. Check out the collection available in Maine granite from the Portland Museum Store.

When I find a feather I always collect it. I don't find them often, and rarely in a quantity like this. For years I have stuck every feather into a pitcher I have (now two) which create a year round, never need to water, arrangement.

I have a lot of turkey feathers! And a few other interesting ones a well. But the point is, I always have a collection for when a need a feather or two for a project  - like my birds' nests ladder from a few weeks back.

Previous Posts of Interest:

• Birds' Nests Ladder for Entry
• Birds of a Feather • Book Pages
• Paper Craft • Bird's Nest Tutorial
• 
  

© 2013 Ashbee Design, Marji Roy

********************

Sharing this post at some of these link parties. They are worth checking out for other ideas.

Motivate Me Monday, Mop It Up Monday, Alderberry Hill, Metamorphis Monday, Tuesday Treasures,Today's Creative Blog, A Bowl Full of Lemons, Not Just a House Wife, The Inspiration Board,Romancing on a Dime, DIY Dreamer, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Transformation Thursday, House of Hepworths, Craftberry Bush, Jennifer Rizzo, One Artsy Mama, Craftionary, Flaunt in Friday, Tater Tots and Jello, Show and Tell Saturday, DIY Showoff, I Gotta Try That, Kathe With an E, The Girl Creative