I love Maria's strap.
Mine was a South American cotton belt that I bought at a festival. Very colourful.
thanks Jim! your's is cool too!! In fact I think that I remember seeing it way in the beginning of my time here and thought "that's the thinness I want!!" so you "inspired me "to re-create it in a way!!
take care
Maria
Awesome photo of both dad and flutes. I had no idea that there was so much variation in the Native American flute world. Fortunately (or rather, unfortunately), I have asthma and am not tempted to fall down that particular rabbit hole. I keep getting tempted by the ukulele, however I keep reminding myself that I need to focus on getting better on the instrument that I have before adding another one to the mix.
On the other hand, multiple ukuleles would take up much less wall space...
I've had really good results with my "Myer's Pick up" The owner asked to put me on his web site. I figure it couldn't hurt so here's the blurb. I bought it from amazon for about 130 dollars. I took off the "suction" cup because it just doesn't stay on the dulcimer. Once it was removed It lays flat. I've successfully used "command Strips" and they have not hurt my dulcimers. Although once I'm done recording with the pickup I immediately remove it. Don't want to take any chances!!
Here's the link if you want to hear it in action. By the way I'm not "promoting" him I just use it and think it's a good product. The owner is also very helpful and when I struggled to remove the suction cup he actually called me on the phone to walk me through it. It was a little tricky with the screws and eventually my husband had to use a special tool but off it came!
Take care and good luck!
Maria
You will get no sympathy here!!! I started the dulcimer only 9 months ago and I own 6 as well!!! then I developed "tendonitis" or something (which I'm having checked in two weeks) and I had to slow down on the dulcimer...well guess what I got into???? The Native American Flute...You think DAD is bad well NAFD is SO MUCH WORSE>....the reason? the flutes all come in different keys, then there's the drones and there are the ones in different "htz" oh man it's BAD. How many do I own??? well a picture is worth a thousand words. Here's a flute holder that my 91 year old dad made me!!!!
Maria
So I crocheted a strap for all my dulcimers. It's funny because my mom was an avid wonderful crocheter and I just never was able to finish anything more than a scarf here or there. Well now she's gone and all of a sudden I had the urge to do this because no strap felt "thin" enough. They work out GREAT.
Here's a picture
Take care
Maria
I know I'm not alone...I suffer from MIAS (Multiple Instrument Acquisition Syndrome)...this is especially heartbreaking and embarrassing since I don't play any of them particularly well...
It's getting to the point of too many instruments, not enough house...some of us are going to have to part ways...guess I'll pitch a tent outside for me and my dog...well, maybe just for me...
Steven
Yeah I've been applying some of that there Coordinate Cream on my face every evening, but not sure if it's helping.
I think blowing Aunt Rhodie on my thumb and patting my belly at the same time would be a piece of cake compared to this tabor pipe/drum stuff. It's tough! 
But I'm still making progress and practicing almost every day. I never thought that in my 60s I could take up a woodwind instrument at ALL...so I'm pretty pleased that it seems like a do-able thing with enough work if I keep at it. The main thing is that i'm really enjoying the learning process, struggle and all. 
I have no idea why they say that recorders and penny whistles are easy instruments to learn. Nuts , I say!
I have a friend who is a jeweler/metalsmith who is a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism as well...he goes to their medieval events with the 14th century pendulum clocks he made completely by hand. Very cool.
Hey Lexie, we are also waiting for some of that "Coordinate". Please, if you know where I can buy some, please let me know. Try blowing Aunt Rhodie on your thumb and patting your belly at the same time.
Terry
PS: Please let me know how you do. 
2nd PS: I hope you know I am funnin you...........
I built both of these for others. The Gusli is for Lady Sally's daughter who has gotten involved with the Society for Creative Anachronism. She has a Novgarod Russian persona and the Gusli is modeled after one from about 1250, which was discovered in an archeological dig in that city.
The Rabel is intended to be finger fretted. Right now it has very short temporary strings on it that came from a violin, I think. The instrument is only 24" from tip to tip. I'm giving it to a woman who lives at the marina, who is a violinist/cellist and folk instrument aficionado (she also plays at dulcimer). I'm not sure what will happen to the ends when it gets 'real' strings....
Very cool, Ken. I love these old types of folk instruments. Did you make these for yourself to play?
Is that fiddle-ish instrument intended to be played while fretting it with the fingers? If so, how are you going to deal with the silk-wrapped string ends spilling over into the first and second fret range? Or maybe you just didn't have long enough strings on hand for the moment and these are temporary strings?
I know it, Steven! DAGGONE IT!!!! LOL! *WELCOME BACK, IRENE!*
I love instruments we don't get to see often! ~these are awesome~
Two instruments I built lately. The one with no sound hole is a pentatonic Gusli, a kind of 14th-15th century Russian Winged Psaltery related to the Kantele, Kannel, Kokle etc. The one with two strings is a 'proof of concept' built of a Spanish and Latin American Rabel, a 1-3 stringed folk fiddle played upright in the lap. This one is in the 'wine bottle' style from the area around Toledo, Spain.
Both instruments have carved bodies - the back and sides are a single piece of 2x6 hollowed out, with the soundboard added on top.
A truly unique and beautiful story, it shows we all still have love and appreciation of beautiful things :)
DARLING DULCIMER BAG HANGING ON A LINE WITH WONDERFUL FOOD GROWING IN THE BACKGROUND. woah. and little pockets. love it. With as many kids as I had in Hawaii, I made most all their cloths and for 10 years on a treadle sewing machine. soooooooo I make bags for the instruments that I make now. when I went to Hawaii last month, I took my dulcimer with me as we were playing for our granddaughter's wedding. (oh fun of course) but on crowded planes.....and I ask stewardess or steward, "do you have a closet for my dulcimer?" and then they want to see it and I pull it out and oohhhhh and ahhh and they take care of it right away with no problems. Last flight at 10:00 p.m. on 8 August leaving Kona, Hawaii, loading up our 4 big bags .....we were last to board, and we were an hour early....WHAT???? I was worried about the dulcimer and did my deal, "oh do you have a little closet to put my dulcimer that I made"....I show it...no closet, but she MADE SURE it was in a safe upper compartment and I put my husbands autoharp in the same overhead bin and she slamed that compartment and said nothing else is going in there. (happy face here) and it was a full to the max plane because of the DELTA deals going on all over the world. When I'd take my harp back and forth to the mainland, I'm upfront about it all.....I'd not even cover it....they could see what it was, treated like little jewels.....so travel with home made bags, let 'em know what's inside, offer a tune....and all will be well.
I have TRULY missed this happy site. and this post cracks me up. I've been in Hawaii with three grown daughters and family and lots of DRAMA for one month....and yet of course it's beautiful and had only my phone...sooooooo here it is........I'm home and this the first site i go to and LAUGHING AND LAUGHING. thanks so much. yep, I've got four. I'm half way through making a T.M.B. with more decorations and all. gonna be fun...but gotta replace my bowed psaltery as i sold that sweet baby #88. aloha for now, irene
Feed the kids, or buy a new dulcimer...feed the kids, or buy a new dulcimer...hmmmm, that's a tough question! 
Steven
Sandi, I don't know if you'd be interested but the songbook we use at church camp is this one: http://songsandcreations.com . It is certainly worth the price. I've used it for years.
Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."
Kum By Ya, of course. Will the Circle be Unbroken, Amazing Grace, Simple Gifts, Farther Along, I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing, are all good "gathering" songs.
So I have learned that one, Ken! I'm also practicing up some hymns and folk songs. :)
Ken, I always love your creations! Vlillik, when you make it I wanna see it! Jennifer, I LOVE IT~is it lined?
Mine is crocheted with yarn and fun fur in greens and blues. I am still wondering what I will line it with~a t-shirt? An woolly vest with a faux, suede-like outer? Will definitely post a pic when it's done.
I so love the fruit of people's hands!!!!!
Beautiful bag Jennifer, you are very creative.
Terry and Lisa, we are sitting on the edge waiting for you to "Coordinate" this new musical journey. 
I looked up you-tube videos and it is very interesting, have fun!
Like John, I build and sell dulcimers. My advice to you is ... Feed your habit... ... Robert.
I am here to report that today is a much better day. Less stiffness, less pain.
Strumelia, don't give up on me just yet. "I'm still here baby!!!" I can't wait to witness you post a video of you playing pipe and tabor. That will be the highlight of my day when that day comes, and will probably open the door for others to take up this fantastic combo.
In my humble unlearned opinion, Strumelia, I believe you will be happier with a shorter pipe. I now prefer wood over plastic.
I need to make one too...my MD came in a banjo case!
Here are pix of my poplar Possum Box case. It's a tight fit inside, purposely, so I wouldn't have to add padding. Made from 1/4" poplar with a 1/4" square rail that the lid rests on. The handle strap is buckled on the underside.
I'm sad to hear that my pipe&tabor buddy Terry has been experiencing sever arthritis pain in his hands, and thus has to back off quite a bit. Terry, you admit you were overdoing your practice sessions, so I hope things will improve if you cut back a great deal. 
I've had to skip my pipe/tabor practice on some days, depending on whether my schedule is real busy or not. But I have to admit I really look forward to my more or less forty minute sessions now, because I'm slowly improving in playing the little simple folk tunes I've pulled together to practice on. This weekend I dreaded picking it up because I had skipped 3 days in a row, but I was so delighted when I picked it up again to notice that I had slightly improved from my last time, rather than getting worse as I had feared. 
Pretty soon I guess i'll make a little informal video demo with mistakes and all, and just post it here rather than publicly...no sense broadcasting my wrong notes to the whole world! 
I am thinking of getting a shorter/higher pipe soon, like Terry has. My low G pipe is 17" long and thus the finger holes are pretty far apart and it's quite tricky to cover the holes cleanly while stretching my hand.
I'm really enjoying the learning process and struggle...the reward is great when hearing a passage come out prettily, and the drum is a perfect companion accompaniment when playing alone. It's such a clever instrument pairing- the drum with the one-handed pipe!
I am currently working on crocheting a bag for my Feather Dulcimer....
Hey, I BUILD them, and I only have about 6! Some of which can't easily be played, either...
To paraphrase the Mad Hatter, "I keep them to sell".
I've got a friend that seriously asked me, "why do you need more than one?". She's perfectly happy with the one she has, made by a local luthier.
She's a very good friend, so she keeps her eye rolls to herself when she hears that I've ordered another one.
