I've started two opossum criddles this month, a 4/4 size and a 1/4 size. For the 1/4 size I am using some maple I've had in the shop for years that doesn't have as much figure as I'd prefer, but it will still look good. I will be accessorizing it with persimmon, and I sure hope my son will want to learn to play it.
I will also showing a young man how to build a mandolin and maybe a guitar, too. His school is involved in yearly competitions in academics, sports, arts and crafts, and one of the categories is wood carving. He won this category in 2014 with a violin he made in my shop under my watchful eye, and is hoping to do well at the competition next spring with a mandolin and guitar. Like a violin, almost all the parts on a mandolin are carved on to one extent or another, so it can be entered in the wood carving contest, but the guitar may be a different story and need to be placed in another category, but we have some time to figure that out.
In July, I will be starting training for a part-time real job, and I'll make some entries on my progress.
The Damascus Artisan Expo went okay. This is it's first year, and I will be happy to participate in it next year, but events like this need to heavily promoted in order to attract more buyers. It's fun to demonstrate crafts to the public and answer questions, but emphasis needs to be made on the fact that we are also there to sell. This event needs to be nurtured and I hope for greater attendance and sales in the years to come.
I will also showing a young man how to build a mandolin and maybe a guitar, too. His school is involved in yearly competitions in academics, sports, arts and crafts, and one of the categories is wood carving. He won this category in 2014 with a violin he made in my shop under my watchful eye, and is hoping to do well at the competition next spring with a mandolin and guitar. Like a violin, almost all the parts on a mandolin are carved on to one extent or another, so it can be entered in the wood carving contest, but the guitar may be a different story and need to be placed in another category, but we have some time to figure that out.
In July, I will be starting training for a part-time real job, and I'll make some entries on my progress.
The Damascus Artisan Expo went okay. This is it's first year, and I will be happy to participate in it next year, but events like this need to heavily promoted in order to attract more buyers. It's fun to demonstrate crafts to the public and answer questions, but emphasis needs to be made on the fact that we are also there to sell. This event needs to be nurtured and I hope for greater attendance and sales in the years to come.