Avian Podiatry and more on leather

Avian podiatry......diagnosis and treatment of bird foot disorders... After considering options and responses I've decided just to forget the feet on nuthatch. I am only fascinated with it's feet because when this little bird LOOKS like it is walking down the tree trunk , it is actually sidestepping down...which I find that remarkable...

But Robin and others mentioned using wire for the feet and I think that is an exciting solution and by the time I finish the series of 12 birds I'm sure I'll use that suggestion...

And more on leather... Since I am still looking for my bag of metal sun buttons for my daffodil block, I decided to do some other suns. On the left I painted a cheap plastic button and the right is a polymer sun....both painted with alcohol inks and glued to leather... When I did the masks I painted the leather with acrylic paints and it worked great. This morning I painted the leather with alcohol inks and the leather absorbed all the color and is very washed out...so I will finish them with acrylics later today. Need to do more detail on faces after they're sealed and then I will put an antique wash on them...