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Welcome to Tsaileboy Designs.
My name is Doug Norton and have been making flutes for about 18 years. I am Navajo and I grew up on the Navajo Reservation in a small town called Tsaile. I was fortunate to have been surrounded by many artisans while growing up. I was taught how to make moccasins, how to weave baskets, how to bead and how to make pottery. I enjoy drawing and more recently doing digital graphics.
When my wife became pregnant with our first child I became interested in playing the Native American flute. I wanted to play the flute for my children and so began my interest in playing and eventually making the Native American flute.
I love making flutes for the people I meet. I know finding the right flute is a difficult endeavor, so I make custom flutes according to the desires of my customers.
Customizing a Flute
Type of Wood
Choose the type of wood you would like your flute to be made from.
The most popular wood is cedar, but there are many types of wood that look and sound great as well. I have included the more popular woods as choices when you order.
I am open to other wood types so long as I can obtain the desired wood.
I finish the flutes with shellac which allows the natural beauty of the wood to shine through. I do not use stains or paints on my flutes.
Flute Style
Choose what style of flute you would like to play.
The basic flute is great for learning and travel since it is the simplest design.
The "bird" flute which is a flute with an animal carved as the "bird", lets you connect with your favorite animal while you play.
The Bird of Prey flute which is a flute with an eagle, hawk or other bird of prey head carved into the front of the flute and tail feathers carved into the "bird".
Two Carving flutes are done by special request.
Key
I make flutes that range in key from C# to E.
Flutes keyed from C# to B-flat are the smallest flutes I make.
Flutes keyed in A and G# are medium sized.
Flutes keyed in G to E are the normal size that you tend to see in stores and Indian Markets.
From my experience, F# is the most popular key I make.