Week of June 22-28
June 24
Family Flower Making! Great class tonight with Brian and his kids. He and the older two made Railroad spike knives with us a couple years ago. Now the younger one was old enough to come too! They did great with plasma cutting and welding!
June 25
These two were fantastic! Terri and Brian were given a gift certificate by their son for a Steel Flower class. So they came up from Indiana this morning. Beautiful lilies were made!
June 25
Last night, Brothers-in-law Chad and Ben brought their sons in to the forge. They all made Railroad Spike Knives back in February. So because it was their second time, they could make more adventurous Knives. Both boys made daggers. They did so good! They hammered most of the bevels out at the anvil, so grinding was no problem. Chad chose a seax blade. And Ben found a design he liked online with some lines ground in down the blade. Both of them had remembered a lot of what they learned in February, so they did great through the whole class.
June 26
This was a fun class this morning! Drew came from North Carolina, and Bailey came from Chicago, to make Railroad Spike Knives! They travel once a month and take a class in whatever interests them. Blacksmithing had been on their list for awhile, and had looked at a lot of other forges in the country. I'm really kind of honored they picked Combat Ready Art. And they made fantastic knives!
June 26
Katherine and her son were in this afternoon to make their first knives! She is the studio manager of Kalamazoo Book Arts Center, on the other side of Park Trades Center. Its always fun when neighbors come. they both did great. Her son has his next 5 knives planned now too!
June 27
Andy was back this morning to finish his billet knife. This is beautiful! Made from 5160 spring steel, with a copper guard, burlap micarda handle, and copper pins.
June 27
Suzanne was back this afternoon. Last time she came her 2 of her older sons. Today she brought her youngest son! This kid has some skills! He made a nice curved blade with a brute de forge finish. And because it was Suzanne's second time, she made a (very shiny) dagger!
June 27
Our favorite multi-tasking family was back in the forge last night! Joel finished up his billet knife--a very nice edc with a mosaic wood handle. While waiting to glue to dry, he made a railroad spike dagger with a twisted handle, and treated with a copper patina.
This was Kai's first time in the forge, making a flower last time she was here. So, in preparation for teaching Harry Potter next year, she made a railroad spike magic wand. We made it a little extra magical by adding a rock she brought in on the end of the wand, held on by welding prongs to the spike.
And then Jos, who has been here many times, made the larger steel rose. This is a newer pattern, and she's the first student to try it. There are a lot more artistic choices in this flower. She did so well!! And only needed minimal instructions. It's always fun to see realizing they have the skills.
June 28
Grind, cut, weld, and repeat. Vince was back today to work on his damascus. He got all 3 folds done. Next time we shape the blade!
