Days 56 and 57: My First Build is My First Repair.

The main work today and yesterday was on my scroll-head peg box. And I must say that I love doing this. Today I said that there is no real pressure on me to do well so I'm working hard and good things are happening, like finishing the first dulcimer and loving to carve. Of course god balanced me out with dropping my instrument and breaking it. I'll get to that one. Dwain reminded me that I'm not doing this to eat yet, either.

These past few days in the shop have been great. Dwain gives me a lesson in what he does, and I'm expected to reproduce what he did. Most of the times I can-ish. I definitely need more practice, but I'm enjoying what we're doing. So the practice will come as I make instruments.

Dwain does a demonstration with whatever tool he uses, and uses so many! He'll show me how he use a chisel or gouge throughout a process. And if while he is doing so he has to use another tool--this really always happens--then he shows me how he uses that, too.

This is a great way for me to learn because I get to see what the end is and work backwards if I get stuck on something. This doesn't always work, though, like when I cut off the marks I was supposed to follow. But I didn't realize it until I needed the marks. I was already committed by that point, so I just finished it up. I had to ask Dwain twice to listen to me talk him through what I'm doing so it was right in my head. He never complains, and he is a really good listener. Sometimes that leads into another demonstration, which also happens a lot! There really is so much to learn. I could be here for a year and would never be bored.

So Dwain demonstrates on the one that he is working on--which is different in size and some embellishment. And I have to keep those differences in mind plus consider that the wood that I used was a bit bigger than one that is normally used for this instrument. But that just keeps things interesting. Dwain did have to twice draw lines on my peg box so I would get it. Then I work on my piece and he goes and drops his thang, like putting in these abalone dots--can I use all that in this sentence?

So my peg head is really pretty. It is not straight, and some of my curves have slight corners. But it is the first time in my life I've done anything like this. What does this mean for my artwork other than my dulcimers?

I'm really focused on being here now, so I've not been doing much else in the way of art. But I have been playing more these days. Just tonight I played and sang for over an hour. I'm as bad as I was when I started, but what a great way to spend time and learn about the dulcimer!

Of course now I have to match the other side to this one. I started on that today, but I didn't get too far. It was raining lightly just after 4pm, so I decided to get home so I didn't have to ride through the rain and the traffic. It barely sprinkled as I rode, and the sun was shining, a lot! It was just like FL. So I'll pick that up tomorrow.

Today we also opened up my first instrument. It really is funny and wonderful that my first build is my first repair. It was a bit hair raising because the little guy really has nice tone. Of course, I'm not doing anything new to it, but still; you get it. Using a palette knife I did not cut it open as much as work the fish glue apart. This was a great lesson because I got to see how one of my machines comes apart. Now, if someone else drops one of my instruments I'm confident that I can fix it.

The impact that happened in the great drop separated two of the three braces, which is exactly what was supposed to happen. This way the machine doesn't get broken beyond repair. The glue simply lets go and waits to get reconstituted and stuck again. It'll be dry by the morning, and I'll restring it. I'm so excited to get it home to play!

So I was carving away for two days. Dwain said that this can be a seven hour process, but I cannot see that yet. I will have to practice this a lot, so I hope people are interested in buying my dulcimers. But this got me to thinking about pricing. I'm being trained by one of the best there is, my instrument when drops and doesn't break irreparably, it sounds great, and looks really pretty, soo why wouldn't somebody want one? So I'm working up a price sheet so that Val and Dwain can look it over too, as they are both important for this, although Dwain did say it is non of his business. And while he knew that he was training his competitor, I ain't that yet! Did you see what he said there?!

Today was full of treats, and one of the great ones was that I got to watch Layla take a bath. His momma was spraying him with a bottle and he would get in that for a few squirts, and then he would dunk himself in his bath. It was really remarkable to watch, so find a dirty parrot if you've never seen this!

We talked a bit about products and other business stuff. I keep saying this, but this is some of the most important information that I am getting.

 And when the work is done I get to sit on the porch and do my homework, which is to blog, research products or information, and think about the wonderful life that I have with Val, Dwain, Gretchen, Noel, and the others with whom I'm sharing this time.

And I guess I'm eating really well, too!