July BAM meeting at Malta Bend

The July BAM meeting was held in Malta Bend on July 13th, at Doug Clemons shop.

We arrived the evening before and helped with a few last minute details. Doug already had his shop ready to go, including lots of coolers full of ice cold drinks for the expected heat wave.

 The chairs filled up early. Total attendance was over 60.

Bernie was the demonstrator. He demoed 18th century pipe tongs, for lighting clay pipes and an 18th century skewer holder and skewer set.  Here "Striker Bob" helps Bernie out. No wait, that is "Bobby Bob"!

Don Nichols showcases his flowers with his jar vase holder.

The trade item was a camp fire poker. 

Nancy and Doug served pulled pork from Smith's Food Bank in Slater Missouri. Yum, Yum!!!

 Lunch was enjoyed by all.

After lunch, blacksmith/sewing machine repair man extraordinaire Phil worked on Osage Bluff Quilter's vintage Elna machine.

 Also after lunch, the business meeting was held.

Ned Digh presented Mike Gentzsch and Ken Jansen with the golden screw award. They had both recently received bodily injures through "interesting" circumstances and survived. 

After the meeting Phil demonstrated his refurbished, rebuilt Singer leather sewing machine. He forged all the iron work for the table and added a wooden top. 

BAM meetings are always such a great time; good fellowship, good food, and good friends.  

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.