Making a Feather Cloak : a Test Valley Tales activity

The story of the feather cloak begins with a visit to a wintery wood near Amport with Susan Merrick and I, her camera and her dog. ​We found the most marvellous mossy tree that was the perfect backdrop for a photoshoot and we fell about the woods pretending to fly with invisible wings and playing out the characters of bakers daughter and old woman.

Digital Artwork by Susan Merrick 2021, an illustration for The Bakers Daughter of Amport Woods by Amanda Kane Smith

We decided Susan Merrick would illustrate the story of The Bakers Daughter but it really captured my imagination too.

So when I was brainstorming ideas for a creative activity that would be eye catching and also simple the idea of the feather cloak was born.

As you may have guessed there is a significant bird or two in this particular Test Valley Tale by Amanda Kane Smith.

Why A Feather Cloak?

1. Because, it's much easier to imagine you have wings if you also have feathers!

​We did ok in the woods flapping our arms for the camera and tripping over the undergrowth. But by making something, we are making visible what is imagined and inviting young and old to come and play.

2. Because I was asked to create a workshop activity that anyone could join in with. And I thought it would make a bigger visual impact if everyone came together to make one thing through small any-one-can-do it actions.

3. ​Because I wanted to demonstrate the fun you can have with the stories. Props, objects, locations, and drawings can act as real fuel for the imagination and through those things you can bring the story off the page, out of memory, and into your immediate experience.

As kids this is what we do all the time - play!

As adults we can find that playfulness again through creativity.

You can come add to the spectacle of the feather cloak by decorating a feather on Andover High Street with me this Friday 27th August '21

We started building the cloak in Romsey, now it is Andover's turn!

Don't miss the amazing Oral Story Telling at Four Fun Fridays 2021

If you haven't heard Amanda tell her stories in person you are missing a real treat. I encourage you to come along and experience it yourself on the last Friday in August. We'll be on Andover High Street from 11am

further info.
Project Website: www.merry-go-roundstorytelling.co.uk/testvalleytales - go here for book and podcast
Instagram: @testvalleytales @maijaliepins
My Test Valley Tales Artwork: thedreamforest.maija.co.uk/testvalleytales