Naturally Molted Feathers at QuillnAros

Soon to be listed in QuillnAros. Naturally molted Scarlet and Blue and Gold parrot feathers.
The Scarlet Macaw tail feathers run from 9" to 13" and the Blue and Gold feathers are wing feathers~these particular ones are 8". All are voluptuous and colorful. The large tail feathers will probably sell for $10 a piece. So stop by and check these out!

From Rio~Scarlet Macaw

From Sumo~Blue and Gold Macaw

Paper Marbling Technique Used on Parrot Feathers

Marbling feathers came first.  Marbling paper came second. I first figured out how to marble cockatoo and African Grey parrot feathers and then I decided to use my extra sheets of Western handmade paper to clear the tray, and go on to the next choice of color. Big surprise though, I also love marbling paper. The fun part is that I also enjoy using it as wrapping paper when I send out my feathers.

Paper Marbling Technique Used on Parrot Feathers

I have been making paper for many years, Japanese and Western. The difference is that one is made with a flexible "su" and the other is made with a rigid mould. In the next few months I will have access to my printing press and I shall be creating, with my antique typefaces, wood type, just gorgeous gorgeous cards and such. Illustrating with letterpress and typography is my very first love. I meticulously went to "going out of business" auctions on Printer's Row in Manhattan. Sometimes it would be one drawer of type, sometimes three drawers of type, and that is where I bought my Vandercook Proof Press (I couldn't fit that purchase in a cab) for $225.00.

The Drawing Balcony of QuillnAros~Owls Happen, Raptors Happen, Bats Happen

My second floor studio is actually what I call a shelf, others may think it should be called a loft~ (hay!)  and if you ever feel like jumping you will land on top of a giant bird cage on the first floor and probably get your ass bit by a Blue and Gold macaw.

Recently I had a window replaced and now I can see the backyard garden.  More light available! This is a very small area where I have bookcases with all my "how-to"or "IDIOT, do it this way!" books, my plant books, raptor books, bat books and on the railing all my cactus and other plants that most people don't want to be in the same vicinity with.  It is a magical little place where there is room for my pedestal table, bentwood bar stool, my 70's swing chair and all my drawing and painting utensils.

Marbled Feathers vs Marbled Paper

First came my love of setting metal type, that lead me to making Japanese Washi and Western paper,
which lead me to marbling parrot feathers, which lead me to marbling paper.

No photoshopping here, color is bright enough to rock the dead

QuillnAros' Plant Life~ Perfect Candidate for the Little Shop of Horrors

When I acquired this plant, it had about 5 pods hanging down and looked very exotic. Alot of times when something is so exotic, it just won't stand up to a non exotic person taking care of it.  Well, I guess it loved being outside this summer~now triple the size, it may start eating the leftovers in the refrigerator.

QuillnAros and Sylvie the African Grey Parrot Expressing Her Opinions

This is employee #3, Sylvie the African Grey. She is a rescued bird, probably over 40 years old (I can't tell how old she actually is because she doesn't have teeth~but she does have a sharp beak). She keeps her opinions to herself, but I can almost see what she is thinking, probably because my mind works the same way. Sylvie has a phone book near her main perch.  She can hide behind this, or tear the pages whatever. Every time I bend over to change her floor papers, she stands above me and drops spit balls on my head. I can imagine her mischievous nature, and exactly what she thinks of me

This is Sylvie looking innocent

This is Sylvie looking guilty~yep it is the same photo

These are the spit wads that missed!

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The Back Garden from my New Window~A Papermaker's and Parrot Owner's Autumnal Garden

Probably I breathe a sigh of relieve that the garden is winding down~I leave all the grasses alone so that the birds have something to eat and foliage to hide behind in the winter. For the rest, I will whip out my machete and start hacking  (last foliage pick up is October 31st).

This is the first garden photo with an areal view, I can now look at the back garden from my 2nd floor studio. What a pleasure!

When my print shop was up and running I loved printing cards for the Solstice and Equinox. So in the meantime, I will print a quote in my blog.



Winter is an etching, Spring a watercolor,
Summer an oil painting
and Autumn a mosiac of them all.

Stanley Horowitz
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