DON'T FAINT...THE NEW WEBSITE IS UP!

Check back for updates like sound samples and
other pages in the days ahead!

I put my eggs into a couple of show baskets this month, so letting the sawdust and chips fly as I finish up some new stock. Thought the natural scree of shavings was rather artistic, myself, from the jointer I set on top of my 13" planer. One day I'll have a bonafide shop and space to not piggyback the tools...in this case, the near-100 pound planer is not fun to constantly move around, so it served a dual purpose for some quick jointing...


SATURDAY OCTOBER 10
26th Annual Church Street Fair (LINK)
Waynesville, NC
downtown, Main Street
10a - 5p

High-quality art show that I wish were a 2-day show but instead is a one-day wonder. Ugly Boy Flutes is booth #29 very close to Mast General Store (on a line to the famed Whitman's Bakery), easily identified by the two 6-foot tall turquoise kokopelli figures that guard the entrances. I wish it weren't so, but it looks like showers are likely all day, so bring rain gear. The one day you want dry is the wettest of the week...c'est la guerre!

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SATURDAY/SUNDAY OCTOBER 17/18
2nd Annual Arts & Crafts Fall Festival (LINK)
Tryon, NC
373 Harmon Field Rd.
10a - 5p, both days

This is my former stomping grounds and where family lives...QUAINT area to explore, and while it is not a huge show, there are some neat artists in the region. The Tryon Arts & Crafts building has a wonderful museum and shop, as well, at one end of the Harmon Field area. Fall colors should be doing their thing, too!

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Insofar as new flutes, I'm stocking up on half-pipes in myriad keys as the economy has created a higher than normal demand for that less-expensive style...uncompromised sound quality, just in a unique design that won't roll off a table! There is one 'bagpipe' drone available, an unusual design...and the Green Heron will have a special display as well (hoping a discriminating collector might want to adopt it!).

Cheers, y'all!

(click on pics to enlarge)


Here's another one of the 5 flutes I turned in Tuesday for jurying, and one of my all-time faves: my Great Blue Heron flute, that is now part of a Charlotte school's museum. They graciously loaned it back to me for a couple of weeks...always a thrill to see an old 'kid' of mine and take it out for a whirl!


The body is Quilted Maple from the Pacific Northwest, capped on both ends with Madrone burl. Black Walnut was used around the finger holes...to put those in, you tune the flute, then drop a 1/2" drill bit into the center. Add in a 1/2" plug of your wood of choice, sand to the barrel, then redrill the original sized hole in the center and fine-tune. Makes for a nice touch.

The block is a single piece of Poplar, carved and burned to it's final shape. I didn't have taxidermy eyes back when I made this so I painted inserted beads. When I get into fragile territory like the breeding plumage off the back of the head, I impregnate it with a watery superglue to strengthen it.


The inlaid dragonfly was made with Turqouise and Lapis for the body, and crushed Abalone and Aluminum dust for the gossamer wings. The Heron and Dragonfly make a nice totem tandem. (FYI, the holes below the dragonfly are simply tuning holes)

(CLICK PICS TO ENLARGE)

"THUNDERBIRD"
mid G modes 1&4
figured Black Walnut body
(birdbeak design)
inlay: Turquoise



Block: Claro Walnut "Thunderbird" with Turquoise

Bold player this one, and fresh off the press. Not available for sound samples or sale until September 1 (out of town for judging); email for more information.

DELIVERY DAY!

I think I could tweak and tweak and tweak myself into trouble with flutes...the more you look closely, the more you can see you want to diddle with, seeing things that 999 out of 1,000 would never ever see! Alas, gussying up the 5 flutes to take to Asheville Tuesday for judging later this week,for potential membership in the Southern Highland Craft Guild.

Too, the day has been a squirrely one that I won't go into detail about...except to say when you're looking for a break for things to slow down so you can catch your breath, that's when a bevvy of other things flare up like a California wildfire! Can I get an "AMEN!" from the choir???!!!

For now, I'm posting detailed pics of just the freshly finished Green Heron flute (low E), complete with carved creek and trio of Grandfather rocks. The body is figured Black Walnut, and the block is a single piece of Basswood (plus the glass eyes).

(click pics to enlarge)




What's peculiar about photography sometimes is how certain colors don't translate exactly; while the Heron's head looks rather light and blue, it's grayer and darker...tweak as I might I couldn't get a great match, but you get the idea!

Lastly, I took a group shot of the 5 show flutes I'm turning in:


From top to bottom they are:

1. "Praying Hands" (mid F#) in Papua New Guinea Walnut, Dogwood and Bloodwood

2. "Jonah and the Whale" (low E) in Makore with a Galilean boat of Peruvian Walnut

3. "Great Blue Heron" (low E) in Quilted Maple, burl caps, dragonfly inlay and Poplar head

4. "Green Heron" (low E) per above

5. "Thunderbird" (mid G) in figured Black Walnut and Claro Walnut T-bird w/ turquoise

The top 3 flutes are already in private collections, and generously loaned for this review. The bottom two are new but won't be for sale until early September. Email me for more details on either.

Carpe diem, y'all!

QUICK SHOW NOTICE
Sat. June 27 & Sun. June 28
MAGGIE VALLEY, NC
"Pretty Crafty" grounds, Hgy. 19
9am - 6pm both days

Drop by if you're in the area and try out some cool new flutes!

NEW WEBSITE UPDATE

The old website ( www.UglyBoyFlutes.com ) recently became 'toast' and the new one should be up in a matter of days.There is a front page up for the moment with one of my favorite songs that plays on it, a song on which I multitracked all the instruments. You can replay it manually at the bottom of the page.

Thanks for your patience!!!