yup, i was collecting materials when i was a kid like no one's business. i had squat for money and my first 'vise' was a pair of my dad's vise grips; and i was raiding mom's thread and getting chewed for that. oh the collection of dead animals i had. from feathers to fur, i had a little bit of everything. hackles were hard to come by, and years ago i bought a bunch of capes from india, and used them for years. recently i pulled the trigger and bought some metz capes, and oh what a difference that makes.
i am still always on the lookout for materials. i went to fix a guys phone one day, and walked out with a bucket full of pheasent tails and other desireable feathers. when i pass a squirrel on the road, the cable cutters collects it's tail. definately visit the craft store, although by the time my kids finish picking out things, there is no money saved but it is great to see them use their imaginations to creat things.
