• Visit a farm, roadside stand or farmers market to get strawberries at their peak.
• In the store, look for strawberries that are plump, firm and colorful. Don't forget to turn berry cartons over to check for moldy or mushy berries before you buy.
• Strawberries perish quickly; purchase them when you plan to use them.
Storing Strawberries
• Wait until you use the berries to wash them. Unwashed berries stay fresh longer.
• Store berries loosely covered in the refrigerator
• If you can’t use the berries right away, freeze them.
Freezing Strawberries to Use Later
• Remove stems and leavs, wash and dry the berries
• Arrange berries in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze overnight.
• Transfer frozen berries to an airtight freezer bag or container; freeze for up to a year.
Preparing Strawberries to Use in Recipes
• Remove stems and leaves
• Wash berries with cold water in a colander; drain well.
• Allow to air dry, or pat dry with paper towel.
Once the sides are kerfed, and the kerfing is leveled along the sanding board, the sides are trimmed at their ends and glued to the soundboard following the method described in the book. (Boards are placed along the top to prevent the clamps from crushing the sides, and the opposing side is set in p lace to level the boards).
And the rough final product (note: the sides are over sized and will be trimmed later; the same is true for the overhang of the soundboard).
Next I marked the final contour of the back and planed the sides down to their final height. The height at the headblock is approximately 1 inch lower than at the tailblock, so the back will have a longitudinal arch to it. Once planed, the mahogany kerfing that will join the back plate is glued in place (shown below).
