If you want to build your own harp, consider starting with a Celtic, or Lever harp. While there are many types of harp to choose from, the Lever harp is one of the more common types of harps, and may be easier to build for a beginner. The Paraguayan harp, while less common, is gaining popularity. Paraguayan harps are much lighter than other harps, and are easier on the fingers due to a lighter string tension. Look around at various harps and study them. Find qualities in each harp that you like, and those that you don't. If you're designing the harp for yourself, consider trying to copy the design of a harp you like.  You can find a variety of harp plans online, even some for free. Some designs are simple, while others can be complex and quite expensive.  If you feel confident in your abilities, you could try designing the harp completely from scratch.  If you copy someone's design, do not try to sell it. The original designer may file a lawsuit against you for plagiarism. The type of wood you use in constructing your harp will have an effect on the sound quality and string tension. You can build harps out of several different types of wood, such as maple, oak, cherry, or spruce. Harder woods will allow you to build a harp with more string tension. You can use softer woods, but it may affect the lifespan of the instrument. Building a harp can get expensive, especially if you don't have access to the various tools required to work the wood. Other factors, such as what type of wood you decide to use, will also affect the final cost of your harp.  If you are building a harp for the first time, consider building a simple harp. Use inexpensive materials and focus on getting the technique right. You can even try to salvage the necessary lumber.  Building a harp also requires a serious investment in time. Expect to spend at least 28 hours on a simple design. It is possible to spend upwards of 100 hours or more on a complex harp build.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Choose a style. Find a design for your harp. Decide what kind of wood you want to use. Buy your materials.


Use more paper clay to sculpt over the doll's torso, limbs, and head. This time, pay attention to the details, such as muscles, facial features, and genitals. Reference anatomical draws as much as possible. You can build these from scratch or work over an armature. BJD hands and feet at solid through, so you don't need to cut these apart. Make the tops of the wrists and ankles rounded so that they can fit into the ankle and wrist sockets. Use a dremel or craft blade to slice the doll apart at the torso, knees, and elbow. Next, cut the tops of the lower arms and legs off at a slight angle. Do the same for the bottoms of the upper arms and thighs. This will allow the doll to move their arms and knees more freely. The angles need to slant away from the elbows and knees. Add balls to the tops of the lower arms and legs, then cover them with plastic wrap. Add some clay to the bottoms of the upper arms and thighs, then squish the balls against them to create sockets.  Add some balls to the tops of the upper arms. Make them perpendicular to the arm rather than right on top. This will allow the arms to hang straight down. Make the top of the bottom torso piece taper in a little, then soften the inside edge of the upper torso piece. This allows them to fit together like stacked bowls. Add a stringing hole to the top of  the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee balls. Add a hole to the top of the neck too, if it got covered up. Make sure that the holes are the same size as the channels inside the limbs. Work while the clay is still wet. If the clay dried, use a dremel to make the holes. The slits need to run from the stringing hole to the bottom edge of the ball where it touches the limb. Make the slits run in the following directions:  Upper thighs: center-front of the thigh ball. The slit needs to be long enough so that the doll can sit while strung. Knees: back-center of the knee balls Shoulders: inside the arm, where the ball fits into the socket. Elbow: center-front of the inside arm. Feet: across the entire ball, running parallel to the length of the feet. Hands: across the entire ball, from palm to the top of the hand. When you pull the head cap (top of the head) away, you'll see a set of magnets: 1 above the forehead and 1 above the nape. You should use a dremel to drill similar holes into your doll's head and head cap so that you can insert magnets.  Don't add the magnets yet. You will add them after you cast the doll. A bjd's head will also have a small hole in the bottom where the neck joint is. This hole is the same size as the neck hole. It also has a vertical slit that is wide enough for the elastic and S-hook. You can do this by inserting a piece of wire perpendicular to the slit, or you can add some clay to the top of the slit. This will allow the hook to latch onto the hands and feet.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Add more paper clay onto the doll's body and refine it. Sculpt the hands and feet with rounded tops. Cut the doll apart along the joints, making them angled. Sculpt new joints and sockets. Add stringing holes to the balls and sockets. Cut stringing slits into the balls, including the ankle and wrist balls. Add magnet and stringing holes to the head and head cap. Add hook bars to the ankle and wrist balls.


Drinking fluids can help keep you hydrated so that your blood will pump through your body and help keep your blood pressure up. Water is always a good way to stay hydrated. You can also drink sports drinks that contain sodium and potassium. Avoid drinking alcohol because it will dehydrate you. Salt can help keep your blood pressure elevated by helping with the retention of fluids. Talk to your doctor about adding salt to your diet. Never add salt to your diet if you have hypotension without a doctor’s recommendation. Anemia, which can be caused by a lack of red blood cells, can lead to low blood pressure. Low B12, especially in elderly and very thin people, can cause hypotension. Certain B vitamins can help you produce red blood cells and increase your blood pressure. Consider increasing your intake of foods full of vitamin B12 and folate.  B12 can be found in meats, such as beef liver, grass-fed beef, sardines, tuna, salmon, shellfish, and lamb. You can also find it in dairy products, like cottage cheese, eggs, and raw milk.  B12 can also be given in monthly shots or taken in supplement form. However, the uptake time of B12 found in supplements is very slow. Folate can be found in beans and lentils. Green vegetables also have folate. Try spinach and other dark leafy greens, asparagus, lettuce, and broccoli. You can also find folate in avocados and cauliflower. Eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day can help reduce dizziness and keep your blood pressure level. Make your meals low in carbohydrates. Don’t try to do too much after the meals. Rest and take it easy so your blood pressure doesn’t drop.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary --
Stay hydrated. Increase the amount of salt in your diet. Add more B vitamins to your diet. Eat small, low carb meals.