Today's Catch

Today's Catch! It's what's for dinner and dinner and.....dinner.
Yesterday's catch was two catfish about 19" and 22".

This is the first music video I have made. The guitar I am using is a 3 string fretless, handmade, slide cigar box guitar. This is the first piece of music I have ever improvised and the first instrumental I have ever played.
I have only been playing since Feb 20, 2012. It's not even close to perfect but it was fun.
The video (taken by my wife Cathy) is the Red River Crossing about 20 miles west of I-35 in southern Okla.
Hope you like it.

New Bookcase From Recycled Materials

Cathy and I just finished our recycled bookcase.
Doors from, Habitat for Humanity, store (50 cents each!).
2” x 12” lumber from big box store (15 dollars). Using the “good” ends of water damaged shelving (free). Feet made from fence post tops (3 dollars each). Miscellaneous hardware (free. I have over 300 pounds of misc screws, brackets etc.). RECYCLE WHEN POSSIBLE. Not only do you save money but you get the satisfaction of making something with your hands. No special tools were required. Hammer, screwdriver, saws are all we used.

R.I.P Cowboy Sculpture

A car sped across the lawn at the Fine Arts building at Murray State College and destroyed one of my sculptures.

Happier days for the Cowboy.

Poor old "Shiftless Cowboy" in a pile and a box after being struck by a car.

The sculpture was knocked off it's base and the stone it was mounted on was broken.

What I Have Been Making Lately

Many of you have inquired as to what I've been up to the last month or so. I have been taking a computer break to work on some guitars and stuff.

Here is 

THE TWO BIT RASCAL

This is a slide played, electric, 3 string blues guitar. It was made from a cigar box and some other recycled junk. I tried to give it some Art Deco, 1930's retro, depression era styling.
It's called "The Two Bit Rascal" because it is the colors of our cat, Rascal, and there is a 1930 Standing Liberty quarter inlaid in the headstock.

ZANE'S DRAGON
This is an electric, Cigar box guitar that my wife and I built for one of our Grandsons 13th birthday. it is played with a slide. The only actual guitar parts used in it's construction are the tuners and strings.

My wife ,Cathy, made the Dragon . The wings spell out his name. The dragon was burned into the wood then painted with acrylics.

The Headstock features a Dragons eye that has a inlaid piece of Tiger Eye.

MISS MONEYPENNY

This is a dulcimer type instrument made from an old copper tea kettle. Since it is a tea kettle I thought it would be nice if it had a U.K connection so I named her "Miss Moneypenny". I found the 1944 penny and inlaid it in the fret board.  She rings nice and bright.

She's made from an old teakettle and assorted junk.The kettle was black and fuzzy with grime when i found it. An all night bath in vinegar and salt water brightened her up.

Tuners are eyebolts dressed up with some gromets.

Snow Princess

My cat, Princess, in the snow.

Southern Fried Turkey

One 13 lb. turkey, plus 4 gallons of hot (325f.) Peanut Oil and 45 minutes of your time....Equals.... the tastiest, juiciest,turkey you have ever had.

My son-in-law, Clint Wallis, is truly a master chef of all outdoor cooking.

Elephant Face Jug In Progress

Here's an Elephant face jug in progress. He's taking some pesky birds for a ride. He doesn't seem all that happy about the situation. I was just in the mood to make some Elephants .

Princess Helps Build A Slab Roller

I'm working on a video showing how to construct a slab roller . Princess decides to help in this out take. Check back in a couple of weeks for the full video. Hopefully, without Princess.

Frankensteam, bio-mechanical electrical monster thingy.

Frankensteam, Steampunk jug.

FOR SALE ON EBAY

Winter's Coming

Soon, old Winter's effect will fall upon the land leaving a barren and desolate landscape. This old, earthy skull jug is just a reminder that nothing is permanent.

Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year.  I still love spooky stories and, "things that go bump in the night".  For me, nothing is more fun to make than a skull , creature or goblin.

This jug was sculpted mostly by pushing the clay out from the inside. The glazes and underglazes came out especially nice. The inside is glazed with a lead free stoneware glaze and is suitable for any liquid you would care to put in it. An antique hand-blown glass marble is the eye.

FOR SALE ON EBAY

Dapper Dan

Dapper Dan, Steampunk Man.
I spent several years doing junk sculpture so this guy is kind of a natural extension of that process except he is made of clay pieces instead of metal.

FOR SALE ON EBAY

Frankensteam Jug In Progress

Another Steampunkeroo.
Frankenstein, The original "Junk Yard Dog". I struggled with him until I realized that he should be all grungy and cobbled together. When finished he will have wires from the insulators to the terminals on his neck.