They Were Born 2 Weeks Ago!

[zero rc]

dakota, these shots are great! the details of each piece only makes them shine even brighter! im totally digging the last one and the inlay is awsome! i also noticed that each seems to have a diferent wood thingy on he top! very nice touch! the last one even looks like a little dog!( am i seeing things?) each one has its own distinct charm and beauty, the details are awsome and i hope we get a chance to hear them sing!!
VERY good stuff!!!

[KMA Dakota]

Originally Posted by zero rc

dakota, these shots are great! the details of each piece only makes them shine even brighter! im totally digging the last one and the inlay is awsome! i also noticed that each seems to have a diferent wood thingy on he top! very nice touch! the last one even looks like a little dog!( am i seeing things?) each one has its own distinct charm and beauty, the details are awsome and i hope we get a chance to hear them sing!!
VERY good stuff!!!

zero rc,
Thank you so much for the kind words. I really love making these darn things and to hear their sound the very first time is amazing! Each is a little different!

You're right on the Walnut/Maple flute, the Reed is special in a way. I tried to shape it like my picture of the Howlling Wolf. It's hard to see but the wolf's mouth is pointing up with the ears to the side. I guess my playing gets the area dogs going just like that. Ya got to puck fun at yourself too, not just my friends at Camel!!

I'll see if I can do any kind of recording tonight. We'll see!

dakota

[JuDiThA]

KMA, What beautiful work! These are fantastic. What a gift to be able to make these and play music. I really like your pics that you took with available light. Very well done!
==Judy

[KMA Dakota]

Originally Posted by JuDiThA

KMA, What beautiful work! These are fantastic. What a gift to be able to make these and play music. I really like your pics that you took with available light. Very well done!
==Judy

Judy,

Thank you so much! After the first of the year, we are going to try to get some Sun Light spectrum florences for the RV and maybe a portable reflector and a new Flash we can share. Right now we are very limited to the very, very basics. Camers with their built in flash, Fairly cheap tripods, a remote trigger and the stock 18-55 lens and one 75-300mm lens.

So you can see, we do the best we can with what we have. Laycey and I have talked and thought about making extra flutes to sell so we can buy more camera equipment. Its a funny feeling, maybe selling a flute. It's kinda like selling a baby! Well, not just like selling a baby but I get attached to each flute as I make it. Hearing that first note is like hearing a baby's first cry. I gives me goose bumps!!

Judy, you and your family have a very special Holiday and be safe. Dress warm so you don't get chilled from the 32 degree night we just had!!!

Got to run now to the wood shop. I am making my cousin and his wife a special Cross for Christmas. Millie just had a heart attach and is now home recovering. Her father was a minister so I wanted to make them something special to them. I pray I succeed!

the very best from Dakota and Laycey!!!!!!

[wdavidc]

What kind of wood are they made of? I would be interested to hear what they sound like.
Does your right hand go on top? because right hand goes on bottom for clarinets and most other wind instruments.

[Bunny N]

I finally did it. I got out the tripod and posed for myself. Here is the picture I promised you Brother Bear. I hope you like it. It was taken with existing light.

Blessings to you and Laycey. Happy Holidays.
Little Mischief

[KMA Dakota]

Originally Posted by wdavidc

What kind of wood are they made of? I would be interested to hear what they sound like.
Does your right hand go on top? because right hand goes on bottom for clarinets and most other wind instruments.

Most of the flutes I make are made of Cedar! I love the feel of the wood when I am working with it and it smells great!! A big plus for me is Cedar gives such a very nice, easy and smooth sound. Very mellow sound. I have made flutes from Maple, Oak, Black Walnut, Pine, Redwood and Poplar. I am looking for some Diamond Willow now and hope I can find some for both Flutes and Walking sticks.

I am not formally trained for woodwind instruments so I do things a little backwards I guess. My right hand is my top hand and I think only because it feels nature to me. I played a B flat Tuba and 4 valve Recording bass and the valving for those is right handed. I am a bit of a mess through, I shoot rifles and shot guns left handed but a bow and hand gun right handed!. I am pretty much ambidextrous and can do a lot with either hand. Just my funny make up. Nothing Normal about me!! Sorry!!

Thanks for looking in and commenting. Take a look in the music stores under Native American Music and you will find some wonderful Artists there!! I am not in their league in any way, shape or form. I play for me and How I feel at the moment and how my surroundings are affecting me.

Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year!

Ken A. a.k.a. Dakota (Brother Bear)

[KMA Dakota]

Originally Posted by Bunny N

I finally did it. I got out the tripod and posed for myself. Here is the picture I promised you Brother Bear. I hope you like it. It was taken with existing light.

Blessings to you and Laycey. Happy Holidays.
Little Mischief

Bunny,

You look so natural with that flute, like it is part of you! I told you that was your flute, I was just the one who brought it to life and you are now the one to keep it living!

Laycey and I wish you and your family nothing but good things for 2008. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Blessings to all from a Friend from the North Dakota Plains Little Mischief!

Brother Bear

[ljh34465]

these are beautiful - have been meaning to comment. You can tell by the photos that a lot of TLC went into their creation.

Technical question - how do you create the "hollowness" internally.

Don't know if you watch tv, but Survivor visited the Shaolin Temple - made me immediately think of Grasshopper #1

Have a great Holiday Season.

GH#2

[KMA Dakota]

Originally Posted by ljh34465

these are beautiful - have been meaning to comment. You can tell by the photos that a lot of TLC went into their creation.

Technical question - how do you create the "hollowness" internally.

Don't know if you watch tv, but Survivor visited the Shaolin Temple - made me immediately think of Grasshopper #1

Have a great Holiday Season.

GH#2

GH#2,

I start by cutting two lengths of wood into stips 1 1/4" Wide by 30" Long and 3/4" thick.

I match the wood grain as best I can to get the effect I want or I will angle cut and glue pieces together to get the shapes and effects I want.

I then set up a Rotor and table with a 7/8 or 1 inch Round Cutter so I can cut two grooves in the wood lengthwise. One Long and one short. I don't make the groove all the way through, I leave a block near one end that is approx. 13mm or 12 inch. This allows me to chuck the flute in a wood lath so I can turn it to diamentions or the final shape.

After the grooves are cut, I then glue them together, drill the basic finger holes and air holes.

Not real difficult but you have to pay attention to details and be pretty careful with your work!!! I try to get Laycey to take some pictures of the next go around. Right now I am make up some cedar Crosses for the holidays. I like to use up my scrape pieces and the cedar makes beautiful crosses. I'll post a picture of the one I made for my 2nd Cousin and his wife for Christmas.

Hope that helpls explain little. Maybe I can take a picture of my flute blue print for you.

GH#1

[KMA Dakota]

To GH#2 and All Other Interested Parties!

I am attaching a picture of an flute in the Key of E and the Diagram I used to make them. I apoligize for the quality of the print here for it is not very good. I am just not set up to duplicate things like that on short notice. If anyone is interested, I can do the diagram again and try to make it much clearer so if you want to try a flute, I will add instructions. The more the Merrier!!!

I've also attached a picture of the Cedar Cross I made for my Cousin and His wife for a Christmas Present. I try to use up all the scarps from making my flutes and I make crosses from the scapes. You can also see a small cross on the left I am working with. The symbol of the fish is some parts I cut from the bigger cross if you look close. I'll put a hole in the top like the bigger cross and make a beaded necklas for it so it can be worn if someone wants to.

Well, there it is. Another insite into this Hollow Wooden Stick Blower named Dakota.

God Bless and Have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

[oldugly]

Ken, You are an amazing talent. Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and Laycey. May our paths cross some day.

Frank

[KMA Dakota]

Originally Posted by oldugly

Ken, You are an amazing talent. Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and Laycey. May our paths cross some day.

Frank

Frank,

That would be our honor!! Thank you for the good wishes and the compliment and let me return the saluations.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! My God 's blessings be with you and yours!

Ken A. and Laycey (Annette)

[ljh34465]

Thanks, Ken,
Really nice looking stuff - have never played with a lathe but what you said about routing and gluing makes sense - I was visualizing a horizontal drill press with a REALLY long bit for creating the inner chamber

You guys have a Happy Christmas and Merry New Year
GH#2