Still sewing.
Monthly Archive for January, 2006
Page 2 of 6
I took time away from sewing to finally fix up the broken Shamisen bachi (pick) edge. After clamping it down for a few minutes, I tested it out. It worked pretty good but I decided to let it harden a bit more. I also filled in the other gaps and cracks while I was at it. A few hours later, they all hardened up and I tried it out. There was still some give to it. After further inspection, I found another crack which I promptly filled. After that, I tried it out and it was sufficiently firm
YYYYYYEEEESSSSSS!!!! I finally finished the heavyweight (that doesn’t mean I’m fat) Gi top! The putting together of the gi wasn’t the most fun ’cause it wasn’t a “sure” process. I mean it was pretty “mysterious.” Anyway, after I got it all done, I could “mod” it. I stuck on some extra canvas on some parts where I might get hit. I was gonna add a lot of canvas to the arms (’cause beginners tend to really block with a lot of force. Much more than is necessary). Tomorrow (or sometime), I’m gonna make the Gi pants and then it’ll all be done. I’m gonna use a lot of thread making the pants ’cause there is no way I want that splittin’. I mean a tear in the Gi top wouldn’t be as bad as kicking and hearing a *kkcccrrrrrpppp.*
Since we got this iRiver recording device and a stereo mic, I thought I’d get a lesson from my Shamisen teacher and record it (’cause we play the songs by ear and I kinda forget ‘em). I planned it all out and I went to the More Music store to get a lesson
The lesson was great! We went over technique for a little bit and then we moved on to the songs. The great part about the lesson is actually getting to use a good shamisen (I’m not saying the shamisen we have isn’t good, but it’s not meant for the songs I’m playing [it works good for Naga Uta or San Kyoku]) Unfortunately, the recording didn’t really come through. I mean it recorded, but I was being so careful to turn on the mic that I wasn’t aware that I plugged the mic plug into the headphone jack! So,it recorded, but all that came out was this *kkksshhh* sound.
I was kicking myself all day.