Flutes displayed below are presented as representative examples of my previous work. Nothing on this page is available for sale.

These designs were derived from ideas and imaginations of myself, my friends and sometimes if I'm lucky enough, from customers themselves.

Every now and again - if one is especially fortunate, opportunities sometimes come along to make a difference using materials that are meaningful in someone's life. The following three flutes represent the culmination of a recent collaborative project involving a new friend.

The story behind this board ... "This piece of Cherry wood was cut and milled from a tree located in the vicinity of Tama, Iowa – not far from the tribal lands of the Meswaki Nation.  In about 1976, with cherry from this tree, I had a charming cherry railing built in my first home. This one last beautiful piece of cherry wood was the only board not used in the construction.  I loved this piece – I kept it - I knew that one day it would turn into something “special”.  After a relatively short stay with my parents, this piece has traveled with me most of my adult life - passing through Iowa, Illinois to Virginia, South Carolina, Saint Simons Island, GA and finally to Florida – at least 7 moves more than 40 years on the journey. With Dan’s help, its beauty and its destiny are now clearly made manifest."

Flute 342 is Iowa Black Cherry. The tenon mouthpiece is Wisconsin Beech and spalted Sycamore. Tuned as an A4, this 3/4"-bore flute is about 17 7/8" long. The block features a Cherry wave (aged interior) with a Mother-of-Pearl (MOP) inlay dot on Beech / Sycamore / Cherry / Eastern Red Cedar. Decorative elements on this flute include wood burned and carved sea grass fronds reaching from the artificially aged bore end to the lower finger holes. Three smaller fronds are inlaid around the flute using Sleeping Beauty Turquoise and common Opal (mixed with white PearlEx). Three 1/4" Mother-of-Pearl inlay represent rising bubbles and match the dot on the block.

All of these flutes are finished using polymerized Tung Oil, Platinum Blond Shellac and acrylic Lacquer before being hand-rubbed using pumice and rottenstone.

This is a 7/8"-bore flute tuned to the key of F4. It is about 22" long. The flute is constructed of Iowa Black Cherry paired with Wisconsin Yellow Birch. The composition mouthpiece includes Yellow Birch (vertical) // Dogwood / Cherry / Dogwood. The Dogwood came from a tree which grew in our daughter's front yard. The Yellow Birch grew at another friend's property in eastern Wisconsin. The block has a Corn ear carving (Cherry with Yellow/Cyan aniline dye and painted/wood burned kernels) on a base of Dogwood / Yellow Birch / Eastern Red Cedar.

Using corn as a theme came about in part because it seems we both spent time working in Iowa corn fields as boys. De-tasseling may be a necessary task, but it is an especially grueling job. Especially for small people who must gently bend the corn stalk to reach the tassel. Summer temperatures and humidity are usually high in Iowa and there isn't much breeze making its way between rows of tall corn plants. Memories of this work are still vividly fresh many, many decades later.

Flute 357 is made of Black Cherry and spalted Sycamore. This flute is tuned as a G4 and has a 7/8" bore. It is about 20" long. The composition mouthpiece is spalted Sycamore (vertical) //  Cherry / Sycamore / Cherry. The block has a Turquoise cabochon in Sycamore on a base of Sycamore / Cherry / Eastern Red Cedar (sides dyed using aniline wood dye).

The flute was artificially aged using a solution before aniline dyes were applied to the lower 2/3 of the flute body. Four inlay dots (Sleeping Beauty Turquoise) are placed in the Cherry at the bore end. Two on top, two on bottom.

When one acquires new flutes. There may be an opportunity to add important accessories. This flute stand was crafted using a Red Elm cross-section (aka "cookie") which was part of the same wood collection used for these flutes. The seven post holes are all 1/2" diameter. Five of the posts were made using 1/2" Oak dowels. Two 1" posts have 1/2" oak pegs inset, glued and pinned using 1/8" aluminum rod. These and two other 7/8" posts (similarly configured) support larger flutes. This photo shows one 5/8" bore flute, three 7/8" bore flutes, one 3/4" flute and two 1 1/8" bore flutes as examples of the stand in use.

This is a 5/8"-bore flute tuned as a C5 (#351). It is Sapele with a wood burned (simulated) mouthpiece and rings. The block has an Opal cabochon with burned sun rays on Black Cherry, Black Walnut and Eastern Red Cedar. $219

Wisconsin Apple wood in the key of E. White Ash /Camatillo (rosewood) / White Ash / Black Ash mouthpiece. The block has a Redwood burl Bird (Hawk) on Apple / Camatilo / Eastern Red Cedar. 24" long with a 1" bore. Finished using polymerized Tung Oil, Ruby shellac.

Teak (Camphor / spalted Maple mouthpiece) flute # 354. A4, 3/4" bore. Simulated direction holes using Cherry Laurel inlay dots. Spalted Sycamore whale carving on the block.

The White Cedar for this flute (# 303, key G4) was reportedly harvested in the Okefenokee headwaters area. The Eastern Red Cedar used for the mouthpiece and the block came from the Osceola National Forest area many years ago (with authorization). ~21 5/16" long; 7/8" bore. A gray streak - possibly spalting, runs about 7" along the underside of the flute at the bore end.

The Eastern Red Cedar used to make flute #284 was harvested - reportedly with authorization from the National Forest Service, by Mr. Ray McAtee of Lake City, FL. I was given some of this material in 2007 and so, under special circumstances have gifted flutes made from this tree. The mouthpiece is Spalted Sycamore and Mahogany. The end cap is Sycamore. Both were attached using a tenon construction method. The block features a spalted Sycamore / Osceola Eastern Red Cedar Drum (White Cedar/Eastern Red Cedar beater) on a base of Mahogany / spalted Sycamore / Eastern Red Cedar. Among many noteworthy accomplishments, Mr. McAtee served as the Native American Chaplin for the Florida Prison System and used drums in his ministry within prisons. Tuned to the key of G4, this 7/8" bore, 21" long flute was finished using polymerized Tung Oil and Ruby Shellac.

An Indian Rosewood flute (5/8" bore; #288) with an Ambonya burl and figured Myrtle mouthpiece. The block has an Ambonya burl half-circle on Indian Rosewood / figured Myrtle / Eastern Red Cedar. Kingman Turquoise inlay accents decorate the body of the flute and the block. About 17 1/2" long, this flute is tuned as a C5 (high).

Mulberry with a mouthpiece of spalted Sycamore / Pink Ivory. The block has a Mulberry figure on Sycamore / Mulberry (thin) / Eastern Red Cedar. Flute 311 is an F# with a 7/8"-bore. About 22 1/4" long.

The wood used to make this 1 3/8" bore, low B Eastern Red Cedar flute (# 252) came from a local tree felled by Hurricane Irma in 2017. The mouthpiece is Claro Walnut and figured Myrtle. The block is an Eastern Red Cedar bear with Turquoise heart-lines (Kingman with Lone Mt. nuggets) on figured Myrtle, Claro Walnut and Eastern Red Cedar. The decoration below the nest is a bear paw print inlay below nest. It consists of: Pennsylvania Jet, Black Pipestone and Common Opal with added pigment. The pad has a mosaic of Mother of Pearl bits with a Kingman mine Turquoise matrix. A small Hurricane mark is wood burned on the underside of the bore end.

Length: 29 1/8". Distance from the mouthpiece to the bottom finger hole is 20 1/8". The largest finger hole diameter is about 0.4" (10.3mm) and the spread between holes is 33mm (1.45").

Figured Maple (green aniline dye with acrylic paint), closed-end "Mallard" flute. Peruvian Black Walnut mouthpiece and a block representing lake-side grasses. 3/4" bore, key of G#. Overall length is 25 1/8". Flute #142.

Masur Birch is not a particular species of birch. Rather, it is a grain pattern or figure most commonly seen in Downy Birch and Silver Birch. Often harvested in northern latitudes such as Scandinavia. All I know for sure is that the wood is quite beautiful.

Masur Birch (flute # 233) in the key of A (3/4" bore). Padauk (thin) / Blue Mahoe mouthpiece. The block has a Viking hammer (Gabon Ebony, Padauk handle, Pecan wrist loop) with an Opal cabochon on an Ambonya burl, Blue Mahoe and Eastern Red Cedar base. Decorative elements include three Malachite inlay "X" figures and wide band at bore end with Lone Mountain Turquoise nuggets (above holes, between holes and below holes). About 19 1/4" in length.

Flute 268-2022. Key of G. First flute of the new year, this one is special. Made of Florida, old-growth, river recovery "Midnight" Cypress, it features a curly Mango and Black Walnut mouthpiece. The block is Curly Mango on Eastern Red Cedar with a Healing Sun (Sleeping Beauty Turquoise and Malachite) with an inlay Black Walnut dot. This flute was tuned using 432 HZ as the reference rather than 440 Hz.

spalted Maple with a Calico Elm mouthpiece. The block has a English Walnut and California Black Walnut bear on Maple burl and Eastern Red Cedar. The 3/4" bore flute (#266) is about 18 7/8" long and has a sweet voice.

Finished using polymerized Tung oil and Platinum Blonde shellac.

The Black Walnut used to make flute #212 came from Wisconsin. The Sweetgum used in the mouthpiece came from a friend's tree in Highsprings, FL in 2007 or so. The Dogwood was obtained from a tree I cut down after it died in my daughter's front yard. The canoe was carved from a piece of wild Florida Cherry burl. I was thinking of early traders and explorers in Wisconsin when I came up with this block design.

The decorative elements include a cabochon (domed top, flat bottom; about 0.3" in diameter made by a local gem cutter) of iridescent Opal with two inlay figures (top, bottom) filled with common Opal and mother-of-pearl chips. Another two are filled with Kingman mine Turquoise (left and right sides)
Key: G; bore: 7/8"; length: 21 13/16"

November-themed flute gifted to my sister-in-law in 2020. #223. Key: E
Flute: European Ash (highly figured)
Mouthpiece: Buckeye burl \ Florida Dogwood
Block: Dogwood "angel's wing" on Buckeye burl with a Dogwood / Eastern Red Cedar base; blue Topaz faceted stone mounted within touching wing tips.
Flute decoration: Chrysanthemum with five faceted Citrine (yellow-gold) stones below nest; Wood burned, Prisma colored blossoms and stem.
Finish: Polymerized Tung Oil and Blonde shellac.

Flute # 209 - Spalted Pecan with an Eastern Red Cedar / Madrone Burl mouthpiece. The block on this 19 3/8" long, 5/8" bore flute has a Dogwood bear extending forward on a Madrone burl and Eastern Red Cedar base. Tuned to the Key of A, this flute has a strong voice.

Padauk flute body. 7/8" bore, key of G. English Walnut / Black Birch tenon mouthpiece. Block: Ebony stylized bear on figured English Walnut / Padauk / Eastern Red Cedar base. Decorative elements: Bear paw prints - claws, toes and pad outlines are common Opal and white shell inlay; pads are wood-burned; an Indian Black Star Diopside cabochon is inset into the flute body above finger holes; a diamond-shaped white Opal cabochon is inset above that; inlay side stripes consist of  Pennsylvania Jet with common Opal and white shell featuring bits of Abalone mother-of-pearl. Flute 218/2019. This was the last flute of the decade. Crafted in collaboration with and for an amazing flute player.

Black Walnut burl flute with an extremely beautiful Ambonya burl mouthpiece and block. Key A. 3/4" bore; 17 1/2" long. flute # 205

Flute # 201 - Cherry with a Wisconsin Black Walnut tenon mouthpiece. The block has a Florida Cherry burl figure on Black Walnut burl / Eastern Red Cedar. The flute has a 5/8" bore and is about 17 3/8" long. Tuned to the key of C.

Ceylon Satinwood with a curly Mango and Gabon Ebony mouthpiece. The block has a Pink Ivory "moon" with wood burned flying Herons in a curly Mango / Ebony / Eastern Red Cedar base. This flute features a Great Blue Heron figure with stone inlay (Pipestone, Malachite and Turquoise) with wood burned accents. 183/2019. Key: F; Bore: 7/8" Finish: Polymerized Tung Oil, Blond Shellac and Lacquer.

Basswood flute (# 156-2018) with a Red Maple mouthpiece. Key: E. The block on this 1"-bore flute has an Eastern Red Cedar nub in a circle of Alaskan Yellow Cedar mounted on layers of Red Maple / Alaskan Yellow Cedar / Eastern Red Cedar. The galaxy-themed decorative elements include paint and metallic powders. The flute was finished using Polymerized Tung Oil, Ruby Shellac and Lacquer.

Curly Bulbinga (bored) with a Redwood mouthpiece. The block has a Redwood bear on a Redwood and Eastern Red Cedar base. Decorative elements consist of a sinuous track of inlaid 'dots' of solid ivory, common opal dyed yellow, red coral, black pipestone and green malachite. The bird is a free-form track being traveled by a bear. The flute was finished using polymerized tung oil. Flute 029/2010; 3/4" bore; 19 1/2" long; Key: B

Florida river-recovery old-growth "Midnight" Cypress; spalted Magnolia mouthpiece. Block is Magnolia on Eastern Red Cedar with a bit of Minnesota Birch bark. A wrap of Birch bark is attached to the body of the flute. Bear claw inlay at base. Key: F#; Bore: 7/8"; Length: 21"; 086/2016

Figured Black Walnut with a Maple mouthpiece. The block is a Black Walnut figure with Ebony and Maple dots. Malachite inlay vine. The body features Malachite inlay vines with Pink Ivory (a wood) and Olive wood flowers. F#; Bore: 7/8"; 21" long; 083/2016

Blue Stain (beetle-kill Lodgepole) Pine with a California Buckeye burl mouthpiece. Two blocks were created for this flute. A stay-at-home block is a stair-step shaped piece of Thuya burl simulating Machu Picchu ruins. The traveling block has a thin piece of Buckeye burl with Kingman turquoise inlay on a wood burned leaf shape (pictured). Decorative elements mimic designs commonly found on Polish ceramic wear. The flute actually was taken to Peru and reportedly impressed the native guides who were accustomed to transverse flutes but hadn't encountered a Native American style flute.
058/2013; A; Bore: 3/4"; 29 " long.

Redwood with an Olivewood and Redwood Burl mouthpiece. "Knotty" bore end. Woodburned decorative elements. 7/8" bore; 22 1/2" long; F#; 106/2016.

Pecan (from the Cymplify tree in Gainesville, FL) with a rosewood mouthpiece. Dragonfly inlay figure (Malachite, coral, Kingman mine turquoise). 074/2014; G#; 3/4" bore; 19 5/8" long.
The flute stand in the background is Camphor.

Figured Myrtle with a Madrone burl \ spalted Tamarind \ Eastern Red Cedar mouthpiece and block. 
177/2019; Key: F#; Bore: 7/8"; Length: 23 1/16"

Closed end Kentucky Coffeetree - Great Blue Heron inspired flute. The mouthpiece is
curly Mango. The block is a Gabon Ebony figure on curly Mango and Eastern Red Cedar. The "topknot" figure is Gabon Ebony with curly Mango. The beak is painted using a bronze metallic color. Flute 179/2019; Key: F#; 7/8" bore; about 28" long.

This 3/4" bore Camphor flute is tuned to the key of G. Mouthpiece is Poplar and Manzanita burl. The flute is just over 20" long. A camphor carving perched on a manzanita block mounted on a base of camphor, manzanita and eastern red cedar serves as the block.

Decorative elements feature Kingman mine turquoise and red coral inlay. Woodburned details enhanced the inlay and carving work.

Four coats of polymerized tung oil were followed by three coats of orange shellac.

This F#, 22" flute was created using Blue Mahoe brought from Jamaica so it could become a flute. The bore end cap and mouthpiece were created using Claro Walnut, Manzanita burl, Alaskan Yellow Cedar and spalted Maple.

The block contains layers of the same woods. Inlay dots on the top and mouthpiece end of the chimney-style block. The owl was carved from a shell collected on a Florida beach. It rests on a carved Black Walnut branch. The second block at the bottom is a reclining manatee playing a flute.

The stand (Buckeye Burl base featuring a Blue Mahoe manatee, Eastern Red Cedar and Camphor rest) and the block shown at the bottom of this image, were entries in the 2011 Musical Echoes flute-making competition. Manatee was the completion theme. The whimsical manatee rests on a Black Walnut "rock" while playing a flute carved from Tasmanian Blackwood with a turquoise chip block. The waving seaweed fronts are malachite-encrusted rods.

Wisconsin Black Walnut with a Florida Holly and spalted Tamarind mouthpiece. Block has a Bloodwood shadowbox containing a modern knapped arrowhead on a base of Florida Holly, Black Walnut and Eastern Red Cedar. Stone inlay with a wood burned arrow design is located at the bore end using common opal (fletching), pipestone (shaft) and red coral (arrowhead).Flute: 186/2019; Key: F#; Bore: 7/8" and a length of 23".

This C# Alaskan Yellow Cedar flute is just over 26" long. It features a mouthpiece of Minnesota Willow. Kingman mine turquoise is featured as free-form inlay vines with cabs, a button and chips derived from the same turquoise.

This 1 1/8" bore "D" flute was created with Cherry harvested from Keystone Heights, Florida. It features a rosewood mouthpiece and end cap.

The upper most simulated direction hole - located just below the nest, consists of a 1/2" rosewood button with a 1/4” Paua Abalone shell button. The remaining three simulated holes contain white pearl, red coral and deep blue Azurite. Vines, representing life’s tendrils, are white pearl with coral. The primary design elements on this flute consist of two “healing hands” of white pearl that are positioned towards the bore end of the flute. Spirals in each palm are red coral with white pearl. The fingers and palms of each hand almost, but don’t quite touch. Cradling the sweet music that will be forthcoming.

The flute's surface was aged using ebonizing and caustic solutions before polymerized tung oil and orange shellac were applied. The final finish was applied by hand rubbing powdered pumice and rottenstone with mineral oil.

The bird is Cherry between two pieces of rosewood on a base of Eastern Red Cedar. Four rosewood plugs are flush mounted within the Cherry strip. The focal point of the bird is a Paua Abalone shell within a spiral of white pearl and red coral. Two white pearl buttons in recessed holes are visible from either side of the bird.

This flute and the Black Walnut stand with additional pearl inlay, were commissioned as gifts for a very special friend.

An 11.5," 1/2" bore high E flute composed of dramatically grained English Walnut with an Ambonya burl mouthpiece and end cap. Inlay design on the bird is a 'tree of life' symbol. It and the circles on the flute itself, are filled with Sleeping Beauty turquoise, brass and a single chip of black obsidian in the upper element. The stand is black walnut. The 'holster' flute bag makes it easy to keep this little beauty handy for easy playing whenever the mood strikes. This flute was created exclusively for Ray & Cathy Richter who specialize in high grade walnut (www.familygrade.com)

This 7/8" bore flute is constructed of Mulberry and is tuned in the key of F. The bird is made of Locust Burl, Birds Eye Maple and Cedar. A pair of Manzanita bears overlook a stream and lake composed of Turquoise and Malachite inlay. A dragonfly adorns the side of the bird facing the mouthpiece.

Decorative designs on the flute itself include a tree of life symbol featuring several different types of inlay stone behind the nest; a stone inlay medicine wheel in front of the nest; pairs of wood burned Mulberry leaves with a single berry on both sides of the flute and finally, a woodpecker in flight who appears to be focused on the lowest finger hole. The leaf and bird designs were drawn by the flute's owner.

This highly figured Camphor flute is 19 7/8" long and is tuned to the key of F.

A stylized dragonfly (red pipestone with Kingman mine turquoise chips) is positioned between the third and forth finger holes. A Red Tail Hawk maintains vigilant outlook from the top of the camphor bird. The flute was finished using polymerized tung oil (sealer and high lustre), orange shellac and spray lacquer before being hand rubbed to a final high-gloss finish. The flute has a delightfully bright voice.

Completed in July 2007, this Spalted Sycamore flute with a Black Walnut mouthpiece, is tuned in the key of G. The unique muli-part bird consists of a Black Walnut stylized wing with an underlayer of Eastern Red Cedar. It has Ebony and Turquoise inlay design elements on top

This D# California Buckeye burl flute, is about 12.5" long. The end cap is made of Padauk and Koa. The mouthpiece repeats the Koa and Padauk sequence and then adds two sections of Maple burl separated by Manzanita burl. This flute was finished inside and out with several Tung Oil base coats. Six coats of exterior shellac and hand rubbing completed the project.

This bird sits flush with the leading edge of the TSH or true sound hole. It has a recess or chimney that only goes up as far as the Maple burl layer. As a result of this construction method, it was possible to play this flute in a very strong winter wind a few miles south of the Canadian border in an early November evening. If you've every played a flute where the slightest breeze stole your music, you'll understand how surprised I was to discover there was no need to 'duck and cover' to get great sound from this loud voiced little flute on that brilliant night.