The Viola Adventure

I've been busy gouging, planing, scraping and generally making a woody mess. Here's an update.

I'm hoping to have the sides (strips in front) the right thickness (1.1 mm) to bend them and glue them onto the mould by this weekend. The front (the light piece in the centre) is not far from being finished on the outside. I've cut out the neck and scroll and am ready to start carving it. Lots to do, and with the Mister working busily on his guitar, it's keeping me motivated ... no, keeping me obsessed.

All in all I'm pleased, and particlurly with how much easier everything seems after having made the violin.

As The Pickles Cool

I made pickled beets this morning with the beets CG's Mister gave me yesterday. As the pickles cooled and Froggie pushed the last jar into place, I reflected on my week.

Yesterday we were at CG and the Mister's cottage. We had lunch, a birthday cake, blew bubbles and watched PC's daughter doing her Dolly Parton show. We had a merry olde time swimming and generally goofing around in the lake. Four of us swam across the lake (CG, PC, Andrew and I) and then having done that we turned around and swam back refusing offers of a ride in the row boat.

We're just that good.

PC showed me his new pan flute and let me try it. I was able to find most of the notes of Oh Susanna on it, but not without a bunch of mistakes and I have no idea what notes I was using. He did a demo and is doing really well. Very impressive.

The Mister has been busy working on his guitar all week. This picture shoes the neck with the truss rod channel carved out and the truss rod sitting in there. He's finished that part now and is carving the peg head as I type.

Earlier in the week we went and visited some family. I got to see all the grand kids. I didn't think to pull out my camera while we were with Lex and the Smurfs. We had supper with Gryper and the Missus, then later we went to Grandson the First's first ever hockey game. He is the one skating towards the camera to the left of the goalie. He did really well, scoring his first goal early in the game.

This is Grandson the Second and I cheering from the stands. I took this picture, although it looks like the work of a professional.

Just before the game ended, we headed home and got there at about 11:30. I stayed wake and chatted with the Mister all the way, surprisingly enough.

Over the course of the week, I've been bashing away on my viola, it's coming together nicely. I'll post pictures of that when the work I've done seems more obvious

All in all, a great week.

I Have A Blister, I'm So Pleased

Odd title, I know. After three years of working in it, I finished my violin (except the varnish) and now I've started on my viola. I thought that after having made the violin and understanding the process, the viola would go more quickly. Seems that it's true. On August 10 (Monday), I glued the front of my viola together.

I started to make my mould (for the sides)on Wednesday, I perfected it on Thursday. Friday I cut the front and cut the back to size (I'd only cut it close, should have cut it out properly before I started the rough arching).

Today, I worked on the rough arching of the front (right side) and got a long way with it.

Afterwards I took it inside and hung it up on a cord in the window. With the light on it I realized that it already is starting to look great. I have a blister on my thumb from the gouge and the thumb plane, but I don't care. It was worth it.

Kudos to My Invaluable Helper

Now that I'm back from my classes, I have to give credit to an amazing helper, without whom making my violin would not have been possible.

Who helped put the fingerboard in place? Froggie.

Who helped me to get the bass bar glued into exactly the right spot? Froggie.

Who helped clamp the front to the sides and back? Froggie.

Who helped the Mister to plane the front of his guitar properly? You guessed it, Froggie.

Who was right there ensuring that the Mister made the mould for his guitar perfectly? Froggie again.

Now that my fiddle is at home, where do I find Froggie? On the hanger making sure I've hung my new fiddle properly. What a guy!!

^^^^^

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