Blacksmithing at John C. Campbell Folk School

We spent the last two weeks at John C. Campbell folk school.  

What an amazing two weeks it was. 

This is the newest part of the shop built 4 years ago. 

Jerry Darnell of Mill Creek Forge taught an 18th century pipe smoking accessories class the first week that we were there. 

Here are the items that my blacksmith made. 

A good shot of him hard at work. 

Bob Alexander, a fellow Missouri blacksmith, works at one of the 14 forges in this beautiful building. 

The shop was a timber frame project made on site. I love the anvils carved into the beams. 

The Paul Garrett tool room. If it's not there, you probably don't need it. 

 This shot shows several smiths hard at work. 

Week number 2 was taught by Bob Alexander, with my blacksmith being the assistant instructor. It had 6 women and 6 men, some of whom had never even started a fire before.  The class was titled "Flowers in Metal".  Everyone started by making tulips. From there it was pretty open, from day lilies, cattails, daffodils, irises, even a trillium!

Show and tell at the end of the week showcased their work. The instuctors worked extra hard with such a big class, but I bet they are ready to go back in a heart beat.

BAM conference 2013

The first week of May, the Blacksmiths Association of Missouri held their annual conference in Sedalia, Missouri. 

Last year it was record heat.  In the 80's and we couldn't ice the bottled water down fast enough. 

This year, it was a different story. The same weekend, just one year later.  Three inches of snow fell in a 12 hour period. This time it was hard to keep the coffee pots and hot chocolate going!  

Gerald Boggs demonstrates.

Ray and Katie Carpenter selling their wares. 

Karen and I look like frozen snow birds while selling at the boutique. (I am wearing sunglasses only because my regular glasses broke and the sunglasses helped to hold my lenses in place)  I know I look dorkie.

Here a beginners class is working. 

Steve Culver, master bladesmith demos.

Randy McDaniel also demonstrates. 

Here he shows off a dragon head.

His skull face!

Here are some of his awesome belt buckles. 

This handmade trunk by Pat McCarty is always one of the biggest ticket items in the auction.

I love this picture of these blacksmiths deep in conversation.

This little guy is a blacksmith of the future. He was encouraged by several to keep on bidding. In the end, he end up with several pairs of tongs. 

Missouri Folk Arts Program

The blacksmith has been involved for several months in the Missouri Folk Arts Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program.  He is teaching traditional Osage and Gasconade River gig making to Doug. 

As part of the program they were asked to participate in "Tuesdays at the Capitol", a presentation at the Missouri State Capitol.

Missouri State Capitol is one beautiful and majestic building.

It was a busy place Tuesday as the Governor was to speak in the rotunda at 2:00 P.M.  They expected a crowd of about 3000.  

Many school groups came through. It was funny to hear the comments about the gigs from the kids. 

There was a surprise proclamation presented to the blacksmith by our Representative Tom Hurst. Tom, who is also an auctioneer, told us that the first auction he worked was the auction of the Wieberg blacksmith shop at Meta, MO. We knew that, because we attended and bought some of the equipment from that shop.  These tools are still in our shop today. We have attended many Hurst auctions over the years.

I couldn't be more proud of my husband!!! 

Next on the agenda, the blacksmith will be assisting in teaching a class at John C. Campbell Folk School.

Teaching a beginners class

The blacksmith taught a beginners class Saturday in Ham's Prairie  Nine students took part, which included 3 women, and two teen age boys. 

 Bernie shows Nicki a technique.

Thirteen year old Chad is very interested in the art.

 Husband Terry and wife Erin make a good team.

 Rosemary tries her hand at a hot bend.

 Many anvils all in a row. 

 Tom helps one of the teenagers. 

Nicki's son also took the class. 

 Mike shows Gary his way of doing it..

Another Mike shows Gary his way . . . 

It was a great day in the country. Thanks to Ned and Esther for hosting. Esther's lunch of red beans and rice was delicious. 

It was nice to see all take home something they had made. 

BAM meeting at Phil's

The BAM group met at Phil's shop in Hamilton, Missouri for their November meeting. It was a great turnout.  Over 75 blacksmiths and spouses attended. The weather was beautiful and the hosts were fabulous. 

It was one of the biggest turn outs for the trade item exchange that we have ever had. It was to be a toasting fork, at least 18 inches long.

 Note the two that are standing on a base. 

See the one holding zucchinis.   Guess you have to be a blacksmith in this group to understand why. However today these two were a present for Phil's birthday, courtesy of Karen!

One of the first demonstrators was Ken showing how to use a fly press.

 While the blacksmiths were inside . . . 

  . . . the lunch ladies were outside. (Except for some of the ladies that escaped to Missouri Star quilt shop in town.)

Lunch was Phil's awesome baked beans, chips, grilled hot dogs, toast your own marshmallows,  and lots of desserts. There were 2 chocolate sheet cakes, 2 apple kuchen  and even a chocolate zucchini cake!

The line was long, but went went quickly.

This is why a toasting fork was needed. Roast your own lunch.

Here's our great host, Margie and Phil. He was actually getting some marshmallow off of her face . . .    Right Phil!

After lunch and the business meeting, my blacksmith demonstrated basic building and management of a coal fire in the forge, as there were several new smiths there. He also demonstrated chain making.

It was a awesome day, good weather, good friends, good fellowship, and even some good tail gating going on. Thanks Margie and Phil.

Harper's auction

Saturday was auction day for the late Ed Harper's blacksmith shop. Many of the BAM members came to show their support to his wife and to add to their collections. 

This is a signed wine barrel, that Ed had won. It was a drawing at A & K Cooperage, when they hosted a BAM meeting. Ed even drew his own name out of the hat.

It is now in the hands of another BAM member. Congratulations Doug!

There was quite a collection of items. 

I spy 3 blacksmiths, Preston, Chris, and Bernie. These guys came before the sale date to help set up.

On Saturday the rains came, not what we needed.

Two more blacksmiths, Don and Doug waiting for what they were interested in to come up on the auction.

One blacksmith and his wife, Phil and Margie, go through the many boxes of items.

Ed was one terrific blacksmith. He will be missed.