Welcomed our latest budding blacksmiths to the forge last Friday.

As before we kicked started proceedings with a toasting fork, and feedback was that whatever I showed them, it took them 10 times longer to do!  Hey practice makes perfect and it’s only taken just over 30 years to get that quick 🙂

Here's something I made earlier....

This took up the morning session and after lunch, we moved onto their chosen items – hanging basket bracket and coat hooks!

I’ve popped a short video on the facebook page of some of the action!

Obviously my main aim with the days are that people really enjoy the experience and get a real taste of working at the forge, as well as something they have made to take home.  Here’s feedback from one of the attendees:

“Have a very different day out and get to make a couple of pieces you would not expect to be able to do! All under the excellent tutelage of Jo Fry the resident Blacksmith. It is an intensive day and at the end you will know you have worked hard! He will explain every detail you need to produce your item and it will be broken down into five or six distinct parts. He will be able to do any one bit in 2 minutes, you will take 20 minutes to do the same! You will be amazed at what he can get you to make and you will enjoy every second. I was given my day out as a Christmas present and I thoroughly recomend the experience. Many thnaks Jo for showing me your skill and giving me the chance to have a go.”

Well that certainly makes it all worth while – hope to see some of you at the forge very soon….

Jo

Our first course welcomed a father and son to the forge – both had received gift vouchers to take part.

After the regulatory H & S and risk assessment talk, it was straight onto making toasting forks.  This activity took us up to lunchtime and a case of mistaken sandwiches (you had to be there).  For the afternoon’s activity we decided they would work on a joint project for their home, a coat rail.  The finished projects looked great, we managed to tire out both attendees and it was a great buzz for me and I hope for them too.  I received this note from wife and mum the following day:

“Jo, they really enjoyed their day with you in the forge on Saturday. They were extremely pleased with their toasting forks which are now on my wall by our fire and the coat rail will be up in the hall soon. Thanks for putting up with them!”

Coat rail made by father & son

If you pop over to my facebook page (or see the bar over on the right) you can see a short video of the budding blacksmiths in action!

The first blacksmith course is due to take place this Saturday (7th Jan).  I have been speaking to the attendees as I intend that every course will be bespoke to each person and that people can make something that will be relevant and useful to them.  Also as part of this process I will need to manage expectations, we can’t quite manage a pair of driveway gates in our day-long session!

Anyway, if you were going to come along, what would you make?  Great to hear your ideas.

I will be posting on here after each course and sharing photos and experiences so perhaps we can provide some smiles and some inspiration along the way!

Happy 2012!