Playing and Learning In NC

It is summertime, so it is time to get Kicking Boots going again. Plus, I spent the weekend down in NC with an amazing builder and his wonderful wife, Virginia, who are visual and performing artists--although they are self-proclaimed parlor performers!

I got to spend time with Virginia in her gardens. She has a capital G green thumb! It is inspiring to see a family grow a good portion of their food. When we are less transient I will try to grow the vegetables that we love to eat. Thank you, Virginia, for the inspiration!

Their house is in the mountains in NC, a stone's throw from GA. It is nestled in the mountains, and a really comfortable place I've not been to in a while!

Ken has retired from building (http://kenmillerguitars.com/), and he is getting rid of some of the stuff that he used for his trade, like tools, wood, etc. And I wanted to see some of the materials that Ken is getting rid of.

So I got to look at some wood that was way too expensive and too exotic to come home and live with me--at least for now. But I did get to spend a lot of time with Ken and talk about building instruments.

I got lessons in setting the action on instruments and lots of suggestions on building. I shared some of my hopes and dreams, like making an instrument using no glue! I talked him through my ideas, and he gave me some constructive criticism. Plus, he made me rethink some ideas because they just would not work!

I spent time in his shop, where I looked at some of his tools that I need to engineer because I want to make ukeleles along with dulcimers and gourd banjos. I got to see how he does what he does in building. He explained in great detail what I didn't understand.

Beyond that, Ken let me survey the tools that I'd need. I made detailed drawing of what I don't have or didn't understand, like this side bender. While I'm not confident that I will bend the sides using heat because I think I will cold-mold my instruments. But I will bend the bindings instead of using kerfed ones.

Ken also showed me his plans for the ukeleles that he builds. While I definitely appreciate the fact that he would share so much, I will use a combination of plans that I've gathered, which I think will be the best for my instruments. But one thing that came out of this sharing session was that any builder who would not share what he does and how is not a builder worth trusting. Dwain said something very similar, too, and I respect him and Ken very much for saying so--the teacher in me agrees. Throughout my career as an artist I've always been open and honest with anyone who asks for advice or questions about how to do a thing. I will continue to do so while building.

And we got to jam! They tolerated my ability--or inability--to play.

I left with a lot of advice and suggestions, and I did leave with some gorgeous wood!

I went through so much wood that I couldn't afford and is well worth the price Ken is asking! I did come home with a set of butternut, or white walnut. As those of you who follow me know, I want to build my instruments from the same log--as much as possible. So there is enough white walnut for this. Plus I got some bubinga, black walnut, and a secret pink wood that will make its way into an interesting machine!

And I did get some other woods, some I would never pay a wood dealer for--like ebony for nuts and saddles for my dulcimers, of which now I have enough for a bunch of instruments. And look at the figure on this wood!

Then, on my way home I decided to just take back roads to get home--no map, no gps, just head mostly north. I was driving and ended up in this road going through this valley where the Ocoee River lives. There is a dam and some really great rapids. Now I don't white water raft, but if I did I'd have found a wonderful place to put in a raft!