A Good Day

I had a wonderful day yesterday. Nothing too special about it but my new shop ( http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6255486    ) had only been open for 1 week on Etsy and I made the front page!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28488923@N05/2887640935/in/pool-etsyfrontpagers


I also found out I am in the Autumn Gift Guide!

http://www.etsy.com/gift-guides/autumn/67



It got me a few sales and I headed back out to my shop to create a some more pieces.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6255486&section_id=5650437


All in all it was a fun day and it made me happy. It  comes down to the little things and for those I am grateful.

In my shop where I make ashiko drums, I try my hardest to use scavenged and recycled woods. I also try to use up every scrap of wood in some way so nothing goes to waste. I had been pondering what to do with all the tiny bits left over from making shakers. Here is what I came up with and I have been having a wonderful time doing it!

Etsy Buy Handmade SplendidPendant

You can also check out my drums and shakers here.

www.slaphappydrums.etsy.com

Have a wonderful day!

New and Unique Ashiko Drums

I recently created a new batch of drums, and although each one is slightly different and unique in its own way, I was particularly excited about a couple of them.



The first is this eye catching 18" ashiko. It is made with recycled flooring and has a variety of woods including oak, maple, tigerwood, ipe, walnut, and hickory. The wood itself is beautiful but what really makes this one stand out is the head. My friend Anne who does my tie dyes for me created this head awhile ago and it just sat in my back room waiting to become a drum. It's silly but I just couldn't find inspiration in the pattern so it waited and waited......sad little drum head.

I originally headed this drum with another tie dye head but there was a weak spot in it and a small rip developed. So off with its head! I grabbed the first tie dye I saw to replace it and it was this colorful one you see here. Great job Anne! It really makes the drum. I love it!










The second ashiko is our standard size of 24" and has a fish skin on it. We get these skins occasionally but not as often as we like. It is a much thinner head than a goat skin and has its own unique tone to it. This is a wonderful sounding drum!

Again the wood is a variety of recycled flooring with great dark and light tones throughout. Ooooooohhhh shiny.






To see a few more pictures of these drums and the rest of the ashikos I just made visit my Etsy site at

www.slaphappydrums.etsy.com

Thanks for looking and have a SlapHappy Day!

Sale on Etsy

There are some drums I have had for awhile and though there is nothing wrong with them I am dropping the prices today!!!! Two reasons for this:

One: I need to make room for my next big batch of drums and

Two: If I sell one today I will not have to go vend at my local market tomorrow in 100 DEGREE WEATHER!!!!

I love my market but wow would I rather stay home in a cooler environment.
So what do you say. Want to give a drum it's forever home?

Take advantage! Check it out!!!
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5530148&section_id=5582162

summer life

It has been a crazy whirlwind of a summer so far. I have traveled, been on a cruise, gone to a wedding, seen my newborn nephew, vended my drums, have had deaths in my family, am looking forward to another new nephew, finally got to go fishing and now sit here with a pulled muscle in my neck. At least I think that's what has happened so far. I am still reeling. It seems that the whole rest of my summer is planned out as well and even up to the holiday season toward the end of the year. But I must focus on one project at a time. So here is the next great adventure for me.

This Friday, July 18th, some wonderful Eugene artists and I, in coordination with Oregon Community Credit Union, will display our handcrafted items at an outdoor event to benefit Relay For Life. If you are interested and have a bit of time please come take a look. You will find us from 10AM to 3PM at 2880 Chad Drive. Here is a map of where we'll be at. http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Eugene&state=OR&address=2880+Chad+Drive

Until then I think I might actually take a couple of deep breaths and slow down. For a day or two at least, while my neck and shoulder heal a bit. Maybe even enjoy the view.

My New Nephew

I just got back from out East where I got to visit my nephew Andrew. For my parents, he is the first grand child and therefore my first nephew. It was amazing to meet and hold him. I didn't want to put him down. Can't wait to visit again but in the meantime I have some great pics to look at.

Custom drum order

I have been making drums for awhile now and still love what I do. I get really excited, however when I get to try something new or different. I was asked by a guy who had purchased from me in the past if I could somehow honor the hiking trip his son took in the form of a drum. The ideas started flowing from each of us....inlays, colors, woods.....but we finally settled on the idea of the map drawn on the head of the drum. I had done art on drum heads before but never to this extent. I think it turned out pretty well and I had a lot of fun in the process. A new door opens for me in the custom made drum world.