I received word this year that I’ve been accepted to exhibit at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival, taking place August 12–14, 2011. I’m already at work on a few new designs that I hope to bring to the show — it’s always motivating to build with a deadline and an audience in mind.

For those familiar with my guitars, one of the most visible changes lately is the new logo. I’d been wrestling with the old one for a while. It served me well, but with the new decade it felt like the right time to move on. The new logo is based on my actual signature — cleaned up and refined — and although it appeared on a few guitars in the previous decade (including all the 12‑strings), it’s now standard on every instrument.

Between show guitars and customer orders, I’ve also been busy behind the scenes working on new ideas and ongoing development in the shop. These are the quiet refinements that don’t always get talked about but eventually make their way into the instruments.

We also made it back to Woodstock this year. Another great show — thanks to Baker Rorick for putting it together and keeping the spirit of the event alive.

And I returned to Montreal once again. The guitar show was excellent, and the Jazz Festival was happening right outside, which always adds to the energy. It’s a fun show and a great city to spend time in.

2011 has been a year of new designs, new branding, and a lot of travel — a good mix of inspiration, community, and shop work.