Video of the Ukulele Festival Vincenza 2009

Il Festival delle Ukulele Italia era FANTASTICO!

Just got back from the Ukulele Festival in Italy. It was so lovely! Great catching up with lots of our ole' ukulele friends and making new ones. We had big fun with Ukulelezaza & Yannik from Les Mecs du Noord. It was also really wonderful to meet Aaron Keim of Bean Sprout Banjo's and Yan Yalego. Oh, and let's talk about Miss Maria Bicchierri! She's all kinds of beautiful and boy what a voice. Her boyfriend, Remigio from "The Hot Gipsy Trio" is such a joy to watch perform. Has the biggest, most mischievous grin ever! Unfortunately at this time i have no photographs or video of these folks but i did receive these photographs today from a swell guy named Diego. This is Marko & i (The Uke Box) opening up the fest on Saturday night. Grazie Diego!
This is just a small selection of all the amazing people we experienced in Vincenza. You know what i've noticed about the uke performers, players and enthousiasts? They're such a divers and multi-talented group. Film makers, writers, artists... Seems like they are bursting with creativity and embarking on the most innovative projects. Very inspiring.

The city of Vincenza is gorgeous by the way. Many of the town buildings dating from the mid 1500's. But boy, was it hot. It was Mississippi hot. I'm just not used to the hot anymore after so many years in Holland. Thankfully, the Italians make the most delicious Gelato or Ice Cream in the world. Delicious way to cool down. There is one specialty they called a Trufffel Gelato, if i remember correctly. Chocolate ice cream and expresso. Good Golly that was yummy.

The orgnization of this festival was tops! Bravo to all the people from Aquila Corde for a wonderful event. A special "Grazie Mille" to Francesca, Mimmo, Carlo, Beppe and Daniele for the good care. I hope you're all having a good rest with your feet up and a big damn Gelato in your hand. Ciao Amigolele's!

These Doggies (+Fleas) are going to Italy!

This weekend the Italian Ukulele Festival will be held in Vincenza. Marko & i will be performing and we will also set up 'The Jumping Flea Market'. This is our musical market stand where we sell ukuleles, toy accordeons & homemade musical gifts.

Since the Ukulele Festival in Belgium i've been very busy re-stocking our market. I've just finished up these two sock doggies and their ukuleles. Their ukes are tuned up and they are ready for the trip!

If they don't sell in Italy (surely they will, look how damn cute they are! Click on the image to ZOOM.) then they will be availble online via My Etsy Store.

*Note: Traditionally, When tuning the ukulele there is a little phrase one sings which goes like this: "My Dog Has Fleas". I have no idea where this comes from except to say that "Ukulele" means "Jumping Flea" in Hawaiian. When i was little i assumed my mom made it up.

Flowers by the Number

Look at this...The newest edition to the Paint By Numbers Gallery. It's a nice one too...uh, if you're into this kind of thing.

The frame isn't original, but it is nicely painted, has great colors & probably dates from the mid 60's to mid 70's. Oh, and, it only cost 4 euro's! Woohoo!

You think i'm silly for collecting them don't you. Maybe, but The Smithsonian doesn't think so! If you still think i'm nuts, take a 360º virtual tour of this collection!

Click on the image to ZOOM & experience the true glory of this lovely painting!

Hollandse Nieuwe...mmmmMMM!

Raw Herring is a typical Dutch delicacy. On Vlaggetjesdag (Flag Day) the arrival of the first herring (Hollandse Nieuwe) is celebrated in the southern coastal towns of Vlaardingen and Scheveningen. Although Vlaggetjesdag is a relatively new tradition, first officially celebrated in 1947, the tradition of welcoming the first catch of herring goes back hundreds of years. The first barrel of fish is traditionally auctioned for a good cause. This year 300,000 people attended the festival and the 1st barrel raised 66,000 Euro's!

Although i didn't go to Scheveningen for the festivities, i did go to a Herring Party this weekend at my favorite local hangout, Café de Bel. They had a Herring Cart outside and served up about 300 fishes!

The herring is traditionally served with raw onions. You hold the fish by the tail, dip it in the onions, toss your head back and take a bite! Click on the photo to the left to zoom & let Marko & Coen show you how it's done.

I wasn't so sure about herring first time i ate it. But, i've grown to love it. But, it has to be really fresh. It's a great remedy for a hangover. But, there is a catch...Herring taste great with a really cold beer!

I bought an extra one as a birthday gift for a friend of mine who loves herring more than anyone i know. Happy Birthday Atticus!

Just received my new "Professional Musical Saw"!

Look at this beauty, y'all! It's my new Mussehl & Westphal. Located in East Troy, Wisconsin, they have been making saws for 80 years. I bought a kit which included a Tenor Musical Saw, A Musical Saw Instruction Packet, A Felt Tipped Mallet, A Dowel Practice Bow, A Special String Bow, (they don't lie when they say 'special'. More about this later) Extra strings for the "Special" Bow & A Carrying Case. Oh, and for 4 extra bucks, they engraved my name on it!

The saw is really nice. 2 octaves and made from English Steel. It's shorter and thinner than my Sandvik Stradivarius, Making it easier to handle and higher pitched. Has a good looking handle on it too. There is one little tiny thing that i don't like. It's the engraving of my name. It's cool, but it would look much nicer if it was placed under the saw logo instead of off to the side. I'm not sure why they did that. But, on the whole it's fantastic, so i'll get over it.

Click on the images to zoOM! The kit is interesting. I would never use the practice dowl-rod bow, or the mallet, but i like having them since they are traditional saw playing gadgets. I was going to say that the "Special Bow" would only be a good idea if you happened to be a mountain woman living in a remote area with no music store or internet connection and postal service in the vicinity. But actually, there is nothing wrong with the bow part, it's the rope that ain't workin' for me. The saw sounds fine, but you hear the braid of the rope rubbing against it and that is distracting. Maybe if you put some horse hair through it, and i'm assuming any true mountain woman would surely have a horse, then it may be alright. Me, i'm stickin' with my cheap violin bow, thanks. Also included were 3 pages of lessons and one page of photographs demonstrating the techniques of holding & playing the saw. Another interesting addition was a newsletter, from 1983! Very cool. Typed, with xeroxed photographs, made on a copy machine. You know, before computers. Sweeet. Oh, and i loved that there was a hand written note included from Mary Kay Wallace Dawson, the current owner of Mussehl & Westphal. Another bonus was a CD full of, uh, sawing.

Lastly, there was the sweetest little cake of rosin. Sweet? Yes, i know, that makes me sound like a looney, but if i'm lyin', i'm dyin'. This is cute! "Paganini Finest-Solo Rosin in Cork Case" Take a look for yourself... So, that's the Mussehl & Westphal Saw Kit. It cost me 130,- dollars. (Plus the postman tagged me for 35 euro's import tax..CRAP!) Which comes to 113,- euro's in total. My Stradivarius Sandvik was 120,- euro's all by itself, so i think this is a really good deal for a complete kit. Plus, it's got sharp teeth and they say that you can saw with it and not damage its' musical qualities...bonus!

I know what your thinking..."What the hell does it sound like?" Well, i'm sorry, but i haven't recorded myself on saw yet. But come to think of it, you might want to pop your head out the window. I wouldn't be surprised if you could here it from where ever you're at right now. It's a very penetrating sound, in a pleasant way of course. In any case, I'll be posting some media soon. Until then, go visit my favorite saw player , Mr. Teeth and hear him sawing away in space! Or see him here with The Hot Potato Syncopators. Man, i just love them taters!

Boy Meets Dog.

We have new neighbours one house down from ours. A group of about 8 art students. We first met Milaan & René through our homemade instruments. (We have a washtub bass & René was building a butane tank xylophone. But, that is a different story.) Anyway, they're neato folks, i like 'em a lot. We've bonded nicely...some of us more than others. Continue reading...

So, This one night Laurie & René come over. Bruno happened to be there too. (Bruno is my boyfriends parents dog...they were in Spain, we had the dog) So, Rene & Bruno take one look at each other and well, it was amazing. Sparks flew & I swear i could hear a violin playing in the distance. I'll let the photographs tell the rest of the story. Just a warning, You romantic types better get your hanky out. Hepburn & Tracy ain't got nothin' on René & Bruno.
Click on image to ZOOM! Oh, and Atticus....well, he was not amused.

Making a new batch of 4-String Fretboard Stamps!

These stamps have sold very well. Which is great! Especially, considering that this is one of those projects that made me start wonderin' about myself. They take me forever to make...tiny little pieces of rope placed on the block with tweezers! But, they turned out so swell. Plus, they're handy! Stamp your sheet music and then fill in the spots where your fingers go for particular chords. I keep mine on my desk...it's just such a charming little object. Get yours at The Jumping Flea Market!

The 8th & Last Ukulele Jamboree of the Season!

Click on the image to ZOOM! Ah, come on, i made it myself. It's cute! On June the 13th Ukulele Jamboree No.8 is comin' at ya Baby Cakes! And i wouldn't miss this one if i were you. Your Jamboree Host, "The Uke Box" will be packin' up their ukulele cases after the show to embark on a wee musical tour. (Hopefully Coming Soon to Festivals & Faires near YOU!) So, If you miss the Jamboree now, you'll have to wait until September 'til you can Jamboree again, and we wouldn't want that now, would we?

At 10pm Listen Up & Boogie Down to...
Maartje & Maartje
Hear them perform their toe-tappin' top hits before they take their ukuleles on the road, playing their way to Germany and beyond!
Attention: Do you have a weakness for the ukulele, live between South Holland & Germany and have a healthy to grotesquely-above-average income & no clue what to do with it? Look for these gals comin' down a highway near you!
The Uke Box
Usually so busy giving workshops & hosting ukulele events that they have had very little time to grace the stage themselves. Finally, Shelley & Marko are going to give you a little musical taste of what they've been cookin' up lately! "Guaranteed To Swoon!"
& Secret Guests!
Shhhhhhhhhhh!

But First at 20:00
Ukulele Intervention, A Ukulele Workshop for aspiring ukulele players. Ukulele Rental: 2,- Euro. See you there at Café de Bel, Gerard Scholtenstraat 61b, 3035SE Rotterdam. Don't Be Late!