Since I last wrote, Steve and I have done quite a bit of work on the neck. We most recently cut, plained and sanded the ebony  fingerboard piece. It was a bit nerve racking at times because it is so easy to plain too much off and have to start over completely. We also glued on the ebony piece that goes over the head. We are using mammoth tusk for the nut, and we fitted it to the two ebony pieces to size. It is great working with an experienced luthier who knows the tricks of the trade- like how to place "training wheels" (little pieces of wood) next to the exact place you are gluing, so there is very little room for a mistake glue job. 

I also cleaned up and straightened the hardware from the fire banjo. My friend Alex helped me in this process.

I have been thinking a lot about the inlay I want to put on the banjo head. I began with the idea of a rose or newt, but after thinking about it for a while  I realized they were both a bit too predicable. I have been toying with the idea of a fingernail moon in white pearl and the rest of the moon in black pearl. I even thought about calculating it so it would be the moon seen on my birth. I recently traveled to England for an art show my father was in, and was inspired by the many birds in his paintings. I think I am going to have him draw me a bird for the inlay.