Recent content by Woody girl

I've already made a start on my goals. Learning to prepare sinew thread Making my kit more ecco friendly ie less plastic Learning how to do my own knife sharpening Learning wilderness first aid Planting a wild garden full of medicinal and other wild plants that are good for bees and...

Only two weeks , my broken foot took six to heal properly. And that was a simple fracture of three bones in my foot. No operations or pins. Don't try and rush it, or things won't heal properly. Be patient. I know it's hard, but needs must. Use the time for crafting, or learning a new skill...

What you need to do, is befriend someone who culls deer. That's how I got mine. Though my friend lives in Suffolk, so sends it to me. He's good enough to dry it before sending too. If you can find a local butcher who sells venison, it's worth asking if they can put you on touch with their...

I'd like to have a go at making one of those tension trays. They dont look too difficult, I just need some willow, I'll have a chat with my local basket maker next week, get some willow , and have an attempt at it.

I knew it was used as backing on bows, but didn't know linnen thread was used for bow strings. That's very interesting. It never realy occurred to me to think about how bow strings were made in the distant past before modern materials became available. Thinking about it, of course a bow...

That's usefull info for those, who, unlike myself, can get it for free from a friend who culls deer professionally, and saves it for me. Our "new" local pet shop which used to be fantastic, and affordable,is now a pretentious coffee/high quality and expensive pet shop. I (and most of my...

Orange tip butterfly by the pond, havn't seen any the last couple of years, so was chuffed to bits to see it. So excited its back:red:

Yes, I've been making nettle cordage since our local hardware shut down, I can't buy normal garden string without a bus journey now, so I'm making it to use in the garden for tying up things that need it. I do find it needs replacing more often, but its free, and gives me something to do on days...

Most of my lengths are about 3 or 4 inches long, some are less. I guess that's those little muntjac legs though. :) I've made roughly about 8 yards worth so far.

Thanks for that interesting info FD. Wonder why they call it cat gut rather than goat, or sheep gut tho? What have cats got to do with it? Or is that a silly question with a perfectly sensible answer?

Thanks, I have no idea what cat gut is to be honest. I do know cat gut was used for tennis rackets at one point in time. I think it is a more natural fibre, but not from poor luckless lickle puddy tats! (I hope) I just thought it would be good for a bow string as it's very strong, but its just...

Oh gosh! What a bummer :( You shouldn't try to fly you know. :) Hope you heal fast and can get back to the iron age asap . Take it easy and let yourself mend properly. Xx

Just twisted it by hand as I would have done with nettle cordage. It would make a nice bow string I reckon...if I could get it more even. Still, I'm happy enough for a first go, with the consistency. I still have a few more sinews to process, so I shall see how much I can make from those...

The other problem with a see through shelter of any type is that tools can be seen, and dissappear, as there is no security at all. also very very hot in the summer. I had an igloo type one that was unbearably hot in the summer, killed all the grass inside, and didn't last long at all. Waste...

One of the things I enjoy doing is making cordage from different materials. Untill recently, I have been experimenting with plants, having acquired some raw deer sinew, I have spent the last few weeks making sinew cordage. I plan to use it to sew up a pair of home made moccasins. The...