Finished Project - Violin

Is it a violin...or is it a fiddle?  I guess time will tell, since as of yet I don't know how to play classical or traditional music.  That said, I am a fan of classical music, and so far I've been calling it a violin, so we'll stick with that for now.  I'll keep you posted if I learn any real songs.

Wondering why I decided to build a violin, when I don't even know how to play one?  Like a lot of other hobbies I have, it started with a book.  I like to read.  Maybe too much so.  If I'm too lazy to do something, I'll read about it instead.  It's great for procrastinating.  And if I'm going to procrastinate (and I will), I may as well learn something in the meantime.  So I read.  A lot.

This project started with the book Violin Making - An Illustrated Guide for the Amateur by Bruce Ossman.  I got all the materials I needed and started picking away at it.  It took about 5 years to finish.  I'm usually quite enthusiastic about starting projects, but not quite as ambitious when it comes to finishing them.  Every few months or so I'd spend maybe a half an hour on it; whittling away around various campfires, painting the daisies back home in my art room.  Last year I set up a little workshop in the basement, which gave me a bit more room and incentive to putter away at it.  I also bought a couple of new tools in the process.  Any project that requires new tools is a project worth starting :)  And then one day it was finished.  Just like that.  And now I need lessons.