I've barely had time to stop and reflect, but it has been a full year since I moved my shop into the Wing Building.  So far, so good. From the mild perspective of mid-September, I'm looking forward to a productive fall and winter.  In fact, my waiting list has grown to a year, and I'm planning some changes to the web-site and ordering protocol.  You may see a few "under construction" signs on the site, and it is likely that I'll stop taking new orders for the winter, to catch up and keep waiting time for delivery to 6-12 months.  The priority in the new system is to keep me at the bench, not at the computer, so we'll start with new photos, a FAQ, and a snazzy new contact-form to streamline estimates and quotes.  Thanks for dropping by...

     I've barely had time to stop and reflect, but it has been over a  full year since I moved my shop into the Wing Building.  So far, so good. From the mild perspective of mid-September, I'm looking forward to a productive fall and winter.  The mild weather means I can open my windows to the breeze off of Lake Champlain, and though the weather is beginning to change, I've still got a couple of months biking to the waterfront before the snow flies (then I'll ski down).

     My waiting list has grown to a year, and I'm planning some changes to the web-site and ordering protocol.  You may see a few "under construction" signs on the site, and it is likely that I'll stop taking new orders for the winter, to catch up and keep waiting time for delivery to 6-12 months.  The priority in the new system is to keep me at the bench, not at the computer, so we'll start with new photos, a FAQ, and a snazzy new contact-form to streamline estimates and quotes.  Thanks for dropping by...

A big thanks to everyone who turned out to play tunes at this year's Art Hop.

I just thought I'd share some photos from the Cleary Family Farm, owned by my brother and belle-soeur John and Lauren Cleary.  This old hard maple tree finally fell during the winter, away from their 19th century Italianate farmhouse thankfully. 

Exposed in the break is some of the flame figure which we luthiers are constantly searching for in the the quest for tone and beauty.  Whether this tree will actually spawn any instruments will remain to be seen as the density and quality of the figure and the expense of sawing need to be carefully considered.  Also, a tree such as this on a historic working farm, undoubtably contains hardware--fencing nails and wire and possibly old sugaring spouts, which lay in wait to damage the harvesting saw.