Sitting here in LaRoche sur Foron, France, and about to travel to Ancona, Italy, I realize that Cremona is essentially on the way and we have free time. A no-brainer. Ted, Sharry, Dan and I will stop in and take a look at the Cremonese Strad that my last two or three fiddles were based on. It's kind of like cold calling for a salesman-knock and hope. Great adventure.

Currently there are two new fiddles waiting for homes as Lasley & Russ Violins in Downtown Ballard, Seattle. They are the darker two in the picture just below this entry.

Fiorenza is halfway through the varnish process. The figure of the maple is more prominent now and it's time to put some color on, just as soon as the previous coat of varnish dries.

A closer look.

This is an adaptation of the Alberti clamp that prevents the weight of the clamp from pulling the bass bar, or whatever else you might be clamping, out of the alignment you intended. 

First view of the first fiddle tags.

Home from the mean streets of New York City after three days of hotels, airplanes and a media feeding frenzy. Everything went well, no unpleasant surprises to deal with. Now back to violins and music.