The Twelve Gifts of Christmas

Inquiring readers, During this month of holiday celebrations, Laurel Ann and I will be offering the Twelve Gifts of Christmas. Some of the gifts will be giveaways, others will be free offerings online, and still others will be great gift ideas for you to give to others. None are expensive, but every gift will have a special relationship to this blog, us, or Jane Austen. Today we offer directions for making your own quill pen and berry ink.

Gift Number Six:

Berry ink ingredients:

½ C. Ripe berries (blueberries, cherries, blackberries, strawberries, elderberries, raspberries, etc.)
½ Tsp. Vinegar
½ Tsp. Salt

Fill a strainer with the berries and hold it over a bowl. Using the rounded back of a wooden spoon, crush the berries against the strainer so that the berry juice strains into the bowl. Keep adding berries until most of their juice has been strained out and only pulp remains. Add the salt and vinegar to the berry juice. The vinegar helps the ink retain its color and the salt keeps it from getting too moldy. If the berry ink is too thick, add a tablespoon of water. Store in a baby food jar. Only make a small amount of berry ink at a time and, when not in use, keep it tightly covered. (Recipe: Vinegar Institute)

Quill pen ingredients:

A large feather, as from a goose or swan (find your own or purchase one from a craft store)
Craft knife
Paper
Paper towels

Use a craft knife to cut the tip of the feather at an angle. Carefully, cut a slit in the tip. Dip the feather into the berry ink. Dab the end on a paper towel. Repeat as needed. Now, write just as Jane Austen did.

• Make a quill pen, with illustrations.

• Make your own paper (The steps are time consuming, but the practice is economical and green!)

View our other gifts in these links:

• Gift Number One

• Gift Number Two

• Gift Number Three

• Gift Number Four

• Gift Number Five
  

Posted by Vic (Jane Austen's World) and Laurel Ann (Austenprose)