My new baby! (not the one in my belly ;) )

[LilCreekster]

I have to laugh now, cause I always refer to my mando as my baby, and with a real baby on the way it's a bit confusing hahah.

Annnyhow, after much anticipation and drooling over photos, my new mandolin arrived. It was made (wonderfully http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif ) by Skip Kelley (no NOT Michael Kelly hahah) I am sooooo pleased with this mandolin, it was WELL worth the wait! It has an amazing sound, and to think it's brand spankin' new with this BIG voice... man, I can't wait to see how it opens up over the years! Amazing sustain, very balanced highs and lows, just a REALLY nice mandolin. It has a varnish finish, which is a first for me, also I decided to go with a flat fretboard. The neck is perfect for my hands and it feels like the mando I was meant to play! Now I have a lifetime ahead of me of becoming a worthy player for the instrument!!

http://www.greenandgray.net/kelley11/front.jpg

http://www.greenandgray.net/kelley11/back.jpg

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[LilCreekster]

And a few more pics...

http://www.greenandgray.net/kelley11/3q.jpg

http://www.greenandgray.net/kelley11/headstock.jpg

http://www.greenandgray.net/kelley11/full.jpg

[Jim Hilburn]

Great job, Skip!
Tell me how you did the loops in the L's in the inlay.

[jasona]

Congrats on all counts Heather! It looks great, like its got a ton of music in it

[banjomanva]

beautiful instrument

[fatt-dad]

I love the sunburst and it really looks like a great mandolin!

fatt who's-hard-to-please dad

[Rob Grant]

Beautiful mandolin Heather.

Beautifully designed websites too. Very pleasing to the eye and ear!

[Dan Adams]

Creek!

Great to see you made the leap! You've been through a few post with so/so mandos. Glad to see you made it into the custom market! Congrats on both babies!!! Dan

[Stephanie Reiser]

Very nice, and congratulations times two.
I've been waiting all summer to see these pics. I especially love the color and the finish. Thanks for sharing.

[ronlane3]

Heather, That looks awesome.

[DryBones]

where is the cover for the tailpiece? Love the color..beautiful!

[mad dawg]

Very nice Heather. (And I imagine it was great not having to wait nine months for this baby! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif )

[AlanN]

Skip is da man.

[ShaneJ]

That is one beautiful mando!

[LilCreekster]

Thanks everyone! I am thrilled with it http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif I'll make sure Skip sees the compliments (if he hasn't already!)

It's nice to hear folks like the color, I love it too! I sent skip a bunch of photos and like a paragraph long description of what I wanted color-wise and he stepped up to the plate and delivered (go Skip!)


where is the cover for the tailpiece?

Oh it's around hahaha. If I decide to keep it on I'm going to get it engraved with a lil design I did! (any of you ever done this?? I think it'd be cool!)


You've been through a few post with so/so mandos

I must say... that I am actually really grateful to have generally had better mandos than my playing ability! I started off with a nice Elvenwood Legend and shortly after upgraded to my Weber Yellowstone (which I have really loved having & playing!)

Thanks to a supportive hubby (and other hobbies which are pretty cheap hahaha), I've been able to have some very nice instruments.

I've always liked the idea of a handcrafted, custom instrument and it's been a dream since I started playing to have one. Now to break this new baby in http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[mandoJeremy]

That is a really great looking mando Heather. The breaking in is the fun part! Enjoy.

[Skip Kelley]

Thanks to everyone for all the compliments. I could not have done it without Gods blessing! Jim, I had the Kelley inlay cut by Depaule inlay. I just don't have the patience for inlay. Hats off to guys like you who do such a wonderful job with it! Heather I am thrilled you love the mandolin. And by the way Alan you are da man! What an awesome picker!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[ShaneJ]

Skip, is your finish technique a secret? If not, what stain and finish/technique did you use? Looks hand-rubbed rather than sprayed on. I love the colors too!

[Stephanie Reiser]

Heather, Can I make a suggestion? If you haven't sold the Weber yet - don't. The other new baby is going to grow rather quickly and will want to emulate mommy playing the mandolin. You can let him have the Yellowstone and teach him to play. I taught my daughter how to play the guitar, and to this day she loves playing and it is one more thing that we share.

[Skip Kelley]

Thanks, The stain is hand applied as well as the oil varnish. No secret here, just a lot of elbow grease!

[AlanN]

I've played one Kelley F-5 mandolin, which was sold out of a store in Fuquay Varina to Tommy over in Duncan. A fine mandolin, good punch, well-made. The pix above are simply gorgeous and if it sounds anywhere near how it looks, it's a keeper for life.

[Lane Pryce]

Heather that is an awsome mandolin!!The finish is so slick it looks like its wet.I know you are one proud mama!!!Its a real cannon too isn't it!!!Congratulations. Lp

[LilCreekster]

Heather, Can I make a suggestion? If you haven't sold the Weber yet - don't. The other new baby is going to grow rather quickly and will want to emulate mommy playing the mandolin. You can let him have the Yellowstone and teach him to play. I taught my daughter how to play the guitar, and to this day she loves playing and it is one more thing that we share.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif Wellll, I would love to if I could ;) but unfortunately I can't afford to keep both at this point (especially with a 3 month leave of absence coming up, riiiight around property tax time! haha) BUT... I do have a starter mando that would be perfect for my son. I don't think I'd give the kid a $3000 mando until he was a bit older hahaha.(It was about that anyhow, it's been a while and I don't recall the exact cost- mental block? haha... I think Webers prices have gone up since then as well)

But, I definately plan on exposing him to playing and having music be a part of his life. I've kept my guitar too, so who knows?

Either that or he'll pick up mando at 5 and whoop my butt by 6 hahahahah.

[delsbrother]

Or if you're lucky, he'll want to play drums! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Darrell

[8ch(pl)]

Lovely mandolin.

[Joe Mangio]

Be careful of the chemical effect of the vinyl from your stand and that nice varnish finish.

[mandopete]

Beauteous!

[csstanley]

Skip, another fine piece of wood you've put together.

Heather, great choice of builders. Skip is an alright fella and its obvious he puts together a fine mandolin.

[AlanN]

Had to do a double take, this thread is OLD! But the mando looks lovely, as is to be expected from this builder.

[csstanley]

L I B, Alan, your right. Didn't even notice the date. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

And I'm quite sure things haven't changed with the quality of the builder.

[otterly2k]

Is nobody else wondering if the OTHER baby has arrived yet....???

Any news, Lilcreekster? When will we get a nice pic of the actual baby in the mando case?

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[LilCreekster]

Hey Everyone!!!

Wow... where does the time go?? My little one was born on Nov 29th, he's now 4 months old! I LOVE being a mama, BEST thing in the world, noooo question! Man, these lil things are time consuming though, hahaha. I am lucky to get 15 minutes to hop in the shower... so you can guess how much playing time I've been getting! But as he gets a bit older and is starting to watch what I do, I'm hoping to get some regular playing time, even if it's short. This first year seems pretty mommy-intense, so it's a good thing I love it!

I had a great CD of all my mando favorites that I played the day(s) I was in labor, so he was brought into the world right ;) We listen to music A LOT, and I started music classes with him at (get this...) 6 weeks old http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

And of course, being my son, he has a website!

www.RohanDunnigan.com (http://www.RohanDunnigan.com)

Well, I'd better get back to work (I work when he naps haha) Here's a pic I took yesterday:

http://www.rohandunnigan.com/pics/jlrd1.jpg

I miss playing & I miss having free time to read and post on the cafe! Hope everyone is doing well, I'm sure I make my way back over the next few months.

:)HeatherD & baby Rohan

[Lane Pryce]

Glad you and your family are well. He is a handsome lad too. Lp