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Wilderness & Wellbeing BLOG

My name is Tom Smallwood and here you will find my posts and those of guests, on the positive effects of time spent outdoors.

6 Days Wild - Q is for Quill

June 6, 2017

Q. What do you do for 30 Days Wild, when it's absolutely hammering down with rain? 

A. Watch one of our webcams, was the response from The Wildlife Trusts.

Not a bad idea to be honest and one we may well resort to soon, but Emma and I have a few clever ideas in our locker and today we decided to capitalise on some things we found whilst on our mini adventure on Day 4 - P is for Paddling.

Whilst walking to the river the other day we came across the remnants of a goose. Presumably the majority of it was on the inside of a fox, but what remained was very useful; large feathers. We have been looking for large feathers for a while, with half a mind to make some large Native American headdress. However, inspired by last week's visit to Dove Cottage and the William Wordsworth Museum we decided to have a go at making a quill, because it started out as something wild, right?

And This is how you make a feather quill pen:

The materials: goose feathers, ink, knife and ... ahem YouTube video.

The materials: goose feathers, ink, knife and ... ahem YouTube video.

Cut the feather diagonally. 

Cut the feather diagonally. 

Clean out the inner membrane.

Clean out the inner membrane.

Now cut a straight edge.

Now cut a straight edge.

Cut a slit down the centre.

Cut a slit down the centre.

Cut a concave curve near the end, on either side of the nib.

Cut a concave curve near the end, on either side of the nib.

Now make 2 small diagonal cuts to make the nib as narrow as you want.

Now make 2 small diagonal cuts to make the nib as narrow as you want.

And this is what it should look like, although this is a very wide nib.

And this is what it should look like, although this is a very wide nib.

And it works!

And it works!

Now, as is so often the case in this silly land, it has turned into a perfectly sunny evening! Don't forget to tune in tomorrow and well done Emma for taking all these brilliant pictures!

As always let us know what you think in the comments below, on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. 

Tags 30 Days Wild, Writing and Blogging
← 7 Days Wild - R is for Robin5 Days Wild - S is for Snake →

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