Kara, I do really envy your niece. Actually, one time I was looking at my flute and imagine what it would look like with one of your gems on its crown. As to her weight issues, sad to say that discrimination based on your body shape is not limited to US alone. I suffered the same ordeal when I was growing up. I remember my mom having that long talk to me – which can be summarized using today’s language as: you may not be ‘hot’ but you can be ‘cool’. You may be happy to know that I have overcome this issue because the gap that it created emotionally was filled up by the care and attention that my friends and parents have shown me. So in this sense, the presence of something so lovingly created for her, like that beautifully unique flute, would always be a reminder that someone really cares about her whenever she sees it. I am quite sure that she will be proud of it, not only because it is unique but because it is made solely for her!

Thanks Tessa for the very inspiring post. That was really nice! Just out of curiosity, what kind of gemstone would you pick to have put in your crown? The one in my niece's crown is the first one that I have ever made that is actually a CZ stone and not real. You can't tell though. It only cost me a whole $1.50 for it. I would be more then happy to make you one.

Well, thank you Kara. That was very thoughtful of you. I like a stone that has a purple hue to it. I don't know what it's called but it was quite cheap when I saw it in this place near my house called Little India. I am more interested in learning the process of installing it myself. I may have to check out your previous posts for this as I recall you said something about installing gemstones before. My newly-found and amazingly supportive flute teacher said that it is nice to have a gemstone on my crown for that girly touch. But to me it is more to the artistic expression of oneself. I hope that my playing would be as artistic as my imagination..heh..heh..

Your welcome. Just make sure you have a few practice crowns first before doing the real one.

Oh, and I use jeweler's glue that is made to set gemstones.It dries clear and won't disturb the gemstones color or shine. Okay, I better shut up now before I tell all and loose business.

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Ughh! I did it again! I meant LOSE.

Thank you.

What Micron?? I have had a plated one on my Yamaha for over 2 years and not had any problems like that. Gold plating is a must when you are allergic to silver, as is my niece is also.

I don't know about you Micron, but my lips are not sweaty when I play.

Your work is impeccable as usual Kara. When I sent someone a picture of the flute I bought from you, he immediately wrote back with: "I WANT THAT FLUTE!".

That was your Armstrong 104 with the gold plated crown, rings and engraved lip plate. You should charge more...ummm, err...to other people, that is. I should get flutes for free...yeah, that's the ticket.

Well thank you very much! That means a lot to me. Mabye I should just start putting more of them on ebay without reserve prices and see what they go up to. People tend to be pretty cheap on there though. I think that I am going to raise my prices a little bit if I am going to also be adding engraving and gemstone crowns. It takes me so long to do. Unfortunetly a lot of people don't understand that and I get customers asking if I would match the price of a cheap beat up flute that is on ebay with a buy it now price. They just can't understand why I can't offer it dirt cheap like some of those on ebay that need so much work done to them. Ugh!

I have 5 more flutes that I will be selling soon. I am working on two of them today, so keep an eye out for them.

I have 3 Yamahas and 2 Emersons.

I'm thinking that if you displayed some Music Store Retail Prices for gold plating and engraving, then they'd know they're getting a bargain.

And ebayers are, for the most part, bargain hunters.