This is a video from 2008 of my Uncle Gene (who made the violin) playing it. This was the first time he had seen our combined efforts in person. I think you’ll recognize the song…
Posted tagged ‘handmade’
Handmade violin makes debut
April 3, 2009Etsy — so much to do!
January 23, 2009So far, I’ve had some great reaction to my Etsy thoughts. Thanks to everyone who commented. I have to admit that I haven’t done much research since my last post, and I should start here. Oh, and I should finish those trivets that I’ve been working on since December — so that I can sell them! A look at some of the competition trivets: wood and otherwise. I guess that means I should get back to work.
To do list in no particular order:
I really have been working!
set up Etsy shop
finish trivets
check into shipping
read Dos and Don’ts
??
Hand made violin — the back
January 12, 2009Here’s a look at what I did with the back:
First, the penciled design
The beginning
It took my quite some time to work out the top
Almost ready for the base color
The home stretch
The final artwork
Handmade violin — the front
January 8, 2009Pics of the front both in progress and the finished look.
Just the penciled lines of the design. Yes, I use tracing paper!
Working on the design
Almost all of the design has been stained.
The design is mostly done, and I've started the base color.
No more design to work on. Just the base.
The front is almost done. I did the sides and past the purfling at the same time.
There's the front!
Here’s a link or two that might be interesting:
Inlaying the purfling — a video
Handmade violin
January 6, 2009My first musical instrument project was a violin made by my Uncle Gene. He had decided to quite making them, but was kind enough to add one more to the list. He even sent along a book called Violin Making to help and inspire. I remember being terrified that I would ruin his beautiful craftsmanship with my crazy stain designs. I went through many design ideas before I settled on something that I thought would work. (I’d still like to make something based on the f-hole, maybe next time.) 
Here’s a couple of pics before I did too much damage:
The drum project
November 4, 2008While I wait for the coffee to kick in, and the lines at the polls to go down, I can blog.
This summer my husband and I decided to build a drum for him. We took an oversized floor tom (or maybe it’s a small bass drum on it’s side) and made it into our version of a cocktail kit. He did all the research and ordered all the parts, I helped measure and drill the holes, and then the staining. He spent time while I played with stain adapting the new bass drum pedal. He had to change it to hit the bottom side of the new drum.
Stained Woods: Art by Tina Hanagan, Bloomington, IN 