“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” Charles Caleb Colton (1780-1832)

“The greatest thing you can do is surprise yourself”. Anonymous

Both of these quotes resonate with me this month. Life seems to be all about raising the bar, on a daily basis. When I developed the website, I also built a whimsical rock garden, as what I felt to be a pleasing backdrop for photographing my flutes. Since that time, my cat pee’d on my neck while I was asleep in bed, so sooner than later, my little rock garden will double as a nifty gravesite for ‘Cisco the wonder cat’. Anyway, over the last year or so, I see that many other flutebuilders are now providing a pleasing photographic backdrop for their work as well. What used to be a linoleum floor, or the dining room table, has given way to propping up the flute in Grandma’s rosebush, or next to some potted cactus. Cute. I am also seeing more right-brain effort to explore building this instrument as playable art. This is good. From my perspective, I see a lot of woodworkers now attempting to create art, while I’m an artist trying to create a flute. It’s sort of like trying to reach the same goal from two different directions. I like to think my work has been influential in this regard…….but then I also like to think I’m the King of Denmark on occasion.

Friday, the 23^rd of November is known around here as black Friday. All flutes will be marked down 10%, and remain discounted through Christmas. Those of you who are already members of the Querencia Woodwind family know what that means. ….woo-hoo.