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Sandhill Cranes: Woodburning a Way to Remember
Although the sandhill cranes have not yet migrated to Florida, every once in a while you see a solo bird who never flew back north with the others. The solitary crane saunters on someone’s front lawn,...
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Trillium kurabayashii in Florida? A sign for the New Year?
It’s December 30, 2013 — close enough to the New Year. With a warm 70F today, we walked one of our favorite hammock hikes in Central Florida. While there was lots of color in the hammock with lichen,...
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How I Make Native American style flutes: Presentation for Bell woodturners
Starting off the New Year, I presented in January to the Bell woodturners group on how I make my Native American style flutes. The flute I make is in the woodland style; it takes several days to make....
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Turning the Native American style flute
After posting about showing the Bell woodturners how I make the flutes, I thought it a little ironic that I didn’t turn a flute at the woodturning group. There are, afterall, several steps to making a...
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Corkwork, Spool Knitting, French Knitting, Lucet … What do you call it?
When I was a kid we called it “cork work” and I had a kit with a red, yellow and blue spool. The red spool was long and thin with 4 nails at the top. The blue spool had eight nails in the top, a very...
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You need a Kantele
The kantele is the Finnish national stringed instrument. Originating from the Baltic Sea area several Mediterranean countries have a variation of the zither-type instrument in form and name. In Russia...
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Lessons learned from making Branch flutes
I remember very well the first three branch flutes I’ve made. After that, only selective memory. Sycamore Branch Flute In Oct. 2010 I was out cycling and rode past a team cutting down three...
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Mulberry Native American Flute
Mulberry is an interesting wood to work with. Although it is quite hard, when it is kiln-dried it cuts, sands and cooperates well with my flute-maker’s intentions. I just finished making 3-4 mulberry...
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Finding Wood for Musical Instruments (& more)
“Where do you get your wood?” That’s a question that I’m often asked, as someone examines a flute I’ve made or emails about a kantele on my blog. The answer is – almost everywhere. A regular source of...
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Shellac creates attractive appearance and durability
Making flutes involves making decisions. What kind of wood to use. What key to make the flute in. How to add to the flute with pyrography (woodburning), wraps or inlays. All of those decisions make...
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August e-Newsletter highlights travels that influence my musical instruments
At the beginning of August, I emailed my August e-newsletter to my mailing list. So you may already have received it. If you haven’t received the newsletter and would like to read it, please click on...
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Turning, burning and creating at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
Turning then burning miniature wooden vessels — not to mention turning over lots of ideas — made for a great week of study at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. My workshop was Woodturning and...
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Sending September e-newsletter before Flute Haven
I wanted to send out my September e-newsletter before I was caught up in all the activity of Flute Haven, Sept. 8-14, in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. As an Invited Flute Maker, I’ll have my flutes and...
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We’re jamming at Flute Haven 2014
Flute Haven 2014 is in full swing in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. We’ve participated in flute circles, performed at local venues, and attended workshop sessions. As an Invited Flutemaker, I’ve enjoyed...
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Wormy Chestnut, Wild Cherry: Car full of Wood from North Carolina
A musical visit and a car-full of wood were part of my drive home from Flute Haven. I stopped in North Carolina to visit with Kay and Dottye and that turned into music making, wood moving, and story...
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A flute to brighten any day
One of the greatest joys of my new career as a musical instrument maker comes when I hear back from those who play one of my instruments. Sometimes the feedback is immediate; sometimes I can see all...
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Faerie Doors make Magical Gifts
Finally finished a batch of 20 Faerie Doors today and had a lot of fun doing so. Each one is very different. The natural wood doors are dyed to let the grain of the spalted magnolia and sycamore trees...
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Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday special prices on wooden kanteles
Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday provide me with two reasons to offer specials — because I operate a small business that offers online shopping. I’m offering special prices on a selection of my...
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Glam Craft Festival offers holiday shopping fun
The Glam Craft Festival will be brightening the holiday season on Sunday, Dec. 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the historic Mustang Hangar near the Gainesville Airport. I’m one of more than 60 artists...
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Thank you for buying at Christmas Craft Festivals
Thanks to those who came by my display at the Glam Craft Festival last Sunday and made a purchase! I really enjoyed jamming with those who bought my handmade flutes or kanteles, as we tried out the...
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