Deb passed away March 10, 2019 at the age of 45. She was my wife’s sister.
She was an avid mushroom hunter. Her harvests were purchased by chefs in multiple states. The woods were her safe and happy place. The fret markers were created from a photograph Deb took of mushrooms growing on the side of a fallen tree, and the morel toward the base of the body is from a photo of hers as well.
The guitar has a Swamp Ash body with a reclaimed Redwood top. Swamp Ash is also known as Florida Ash. Deb loved Florida, especially the Clearwater area.
The Redwood represents Deb’s love for the woods. She had planned a trip that summer to see the Redwoods for the first time, a life-long dream of hers. Sadly, she didn’t make the trip.
The dragonfly is a personal symbol of Deb’s everlasting presence in our life. I added a small cavity below the dragonfly on the body to hold some of her ashes, some sand from her favorite beach in Florida, and a little bit of glitter. The ashes are loose, with the intention being that she can move and dance as the instrument is played.
Deb was also a skilled sewer. She loved making clothing, bags and quilts. The pickups are humbuckers wound by Dylan McKerchie of Dylan Talks Tone. Dylan was able to cover the pickups in batik fabric gathered from Deb’s collection.