Back in the Studio Again

A few days ago we returned from exhibiting at the 40th Annual Scottsdale Arts Festival in Arizona. The weather was perfect, around 70 to 80 degrees and sunny, and the crowds were in good spirits.

We drove for over 13 hours on Wednesday to get to our friend’s home in Phoenix. The long drive left me pretty worn out, and the Thursday set-up day was harder on me than usual.  I was exhausted by the end of the day and slept real well that night. That helped. From then on, and even on Sunday’s tear-down, I was better rested and in better spirits. Unfortunately, on the day we left Phoenix  (Tuesday), my back went out. It is now almost a week later, and it is still healing. Ouch!

Shortly before I left for Scottsdale, I had my recent  and newest pieces professionally photographed. It had been over a year since  my last photo session, so I had several pieces from last year to get photographed. Photos of all my newer pieces will soon be on my website.

Coming up next month is the Baulines Craft Guild Spring Showcase, at the 600 Townsend Atrium Gallery, San Francisco. The Gallery is next to the Concourse Pavilion. Show dates are April 19th through June 30th, and the reception is April 22, from 5:30 to 7:30.

Back in the Studio

After a few days of trying to recuperate from my back problem, I bit the bullet and went back to work in my studio. The amount of work I have to do is almost overwhelming. The main project right now is a commissioned cherry and redwood dulcimer. The other day I sanded down the top and back and cut out the soundholes. I also started working on the head piece. I finished the pawns (seen in previous postings), but I  still have 15 more chess pieces to carve, plus 31 turned chess pieces with simple carving for the first (prototype) chessboard I made last year. And just two days ago, I decided, why not turn some checkers too. I can turn them as a group on one long piece of maple, cut them, hollow the backs a little for stacking kings, then carve small faces on the top, in that unique, dare I say it, “whimsical” Ron Cook style.

I’m still working on (slowly) the Chapter House Portative Pipe Organ, and I’ve started on another dulcimer, made completely out of salvaged white oak. My back still hurts just thinking about all the work. Plus, there’s another zither repair heading my way, and I still have an old cheap Weisenborn clone that I need to finish up. Work, work, work!!! Oh, and I have to finish my article on the Pennsylvania German scheitholdt I restored. Whew!

So, until my next posting, onward and upward…