Our Art

Quills

The quills of the porcupine are only useful at certain times of the year.  They are plucked from the porcupine very carefully one by one in the spring for as the summer progresses they become full of an oily fluid. 
The detached quills are cleaned and sorted according to size and then dyed various colors.

Natural dyes were obtained from various flowers, roots, ferns, berries and bark.  These have been supplanted over time by commercial dyes. 

Once readied, the quills are attached to the birchbark.   As they dry, their positions become fixed.  Many different techniques are used to affix the quills.  Different designs can be obtained by folding the quills and sewing them flat or by affixing them in loops and then trimming them into a pile-like texture known as tufts.  The stitches can be laid in parallel lines to embroider flowers, animals, shapes or solid backgrounds.  The quills can also be sewn in stitches radiating from a single centre to make intricate star-like patterns.   Variations on the techniques and textures along with the use of dyed quills for color, allow craftspeople to produce an infinite number of beautiful designs.

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