what's brown and sticky?

The answer is of course: A Stick.

I have been channelling my inner Tudor scribe, and making paintbrushes from feathers. You can see a video showing how to do it, demonstrated by a man in a fetching Tudor hat, here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x17BA33-7gs

I was going to try making a quill, but making a brush seemed more interesting. They used to be used for painting illuminated manuscripts, and I can vouch for the ultra- fine line you can make with them. I can't imagine how skilled the scribes would have been to do that kind of work in low light, and probably with frozen hands (and feet)...

As for handles, we have plenty of hazel in the hedge, and Mr P tells me that as I cut live twigs the wood will shrink on to the feather and hold it even tighter in time.

I bound the end of the twigs with thread, and I think the finished result has a nice rustic Japanese look to it.

It feels as though I should be making paintings of Mount Fuji, signed with one of those little red seal thingies (hope that doesn't say something rude in Japanese)..

I got carried away and made a whole lot- love the one still sporting a leaf, shame it won't last!

My favourite is this one, which is good for painting cats.

I do still have a big peacock feather, and a friend recently gave me a magnificent swan's feather which is just crying out to become a quill, so that ought to be my next project.