These are pictures of my very humble studio where all the Gila Mountain Dulcimers are built!
These pictures were taken even before the paint was dry after I remodeled. Take a good look as it has never looked the same since. Someday I will take pictures of the studio with all the sawdust and dog hair stuck to everything that has a side to it!!! Notice that the curtains are nice, bright stark white.....
This first picture is of the west wall of the studio.
You can see Dragon Dulcimer #1140 on the bench, all glued up, waiting to be power-sanded. Then it will be hand-sanded before applying the finish and painting details. When it is done it will be shipped to Fresno, California!
This is the west corner of the studio.
This studio is a conversion from two bedrooms and a bathroom which I ripped out and re-built. There was old carpeting that had to go along with a couple of walls. It is nearly complete except for finishing the bench tops with formica (or should I use granite?) and adding a vaccuum exhaust system.....and more tools. One can never have too many tools, dulcimers or Pekingese I always say.
Enjoy your tour!!
. . . and this is the southeast corner
. . . As you can see, I am not quite finished building this bench. Sometime in-between building dulcimers, I plan to add a formica top to both of my benches (I am still trying to decide if I should use granite). The hold up is that I can't decide what color! (You can see by the way I have painted the shop that I like lots of color!)
. . . and then the north wall
. . . You can't see the rack of clamps on the left. Leta says I have more clamps than anyone she knows! But the problem is, I need more . . .
The studio looks really clean, ey? That's because I just got done painting it and I wanted to take pictures of it because it will never look like this again . . . until I paint again. Keep in mind that the curtains are a nice, bright stark white. You won't see this again!
. . . and then the east wall
. . . The red door leads to the finishing room where I apply the finish before putting on the hardware and setting them up before shipping. That room is an embarrassment in itself and so I haven't taken pictures of it yet! It also houses cardboard boxes, shipping supplies, a stock of cases, more wood, sewing machines, fabric, paints, anything that won't fit in the shed, and you-name-it . . . someday I will get organized!!!
. . . and what studio is complete without a helper. This is Gandy (Real Name: Gandalfe the Black Dancer, named after Gandolf the Grey, later to re-appear as Gandolf the White, in the movie, Lord of the Rings) who refuses to leave my side and with whom I consult as to how many hours I should spend in the shop as opposed to how many hours I should spend getting hugs! (He was still a child at six months old, at the time this picture was taken, just entering puberty at a whopping 14 pounds!)
. . . and this is the Gandy Dancer again with his co-conspiritors, Guinevere and Samwise. On the left is Gandy as a youngster, and the three of them when Gandy was a couple years old and had made a family for himself.
He is a little discusted now that he has to share his bed. (Read more about the Peke Family)
I hope you have enjoyed your tour of my humble studio. Soon I will get more pictures, perhaps of dulcimers in-process and the "forbidden" finishing room if I ever get it finished!! If you are ever in the neighborhood, stop on in for a chat and a cola. Gandy, Guinie and Sam will give hugs back to you! Be sure to watch the video below to see the exterior remodel and interior tearout of the rest of the house. More to come soon! (This will open into another window. Turn up your volume to hear the music.)
