Planning for next year

I've been thinking about what I want to make next year. Spent too long on this Strad this year. I have a Guadagnini viola back in cherry that looks promising, but I need some figured cherry to make ribs and a neck...at least the ribs. I just drew up and made molds for a Guadagnini and del Gesu violin. I have a del Gesu mold I made for the ole Bull, but the corners are farther out on it, so I made a slimmer one. The Guad and new del Gesu are almost the same in outline, but vastly different in arching heights. Guadangnini always seemed to use very fine grained, even spruce for the belly. Del Gesu used wood that had more "character". I have a mold and clamps and blocks for a Grancino viola that is nothing like the Guad. It has archings more like del Gesu and although it is 15mm longer, it is narrower than the Guad as well. Either paring would give me a challenge to get both instruments to sound good and I'd probably learn quite a bit. Then I saw a photo of a Guadagnini cello. Cute little thing. First cello outline I've actually liked. Drew it up the next week after analyzing it. Found that all three Guads I drew up are started the same way...with a triangle drawn on the lower bout centerline. Maybe a cello would be a real change of pace. I need to go to the wood store this weekend and check for cherry wood. Without that my options change. Do you think they'll have a 4 foot long chunk of figured maple big enough for a quartet? That would really be a challenge.

I'm starting another blog. This one is a devotional. Going to try to do it everyday, and still have time for violin making and life. It really kicks off January 1, but I have the first one on now. If anyone knows how to put an mp3 player on individual posts on blogger please tell me!
I've tried a couple and haven't been able to make them work. Of course I'm over 30. Would be good if I gave the link www.kensdevotional.blogspot.com