A Photo from the AHS Gift Shop

One of our friends went to the AHS plant sale and then sent us a photo from the AHS gift shop, which sells some of Black Forest's ironwork and photography note cards. 

We haven't mentioned much about my notecards because we are still trying to come up with a business name that will encompass our ironwork, photography, gardening, etc... (if you have ideas, please pass them along!) and setting up a web site for that so far as yet un-named business. 

In this photo, though, you can see some of both things on display:

Thanks for sending us the photo!

Day 1 of the AHS Plant Sale

Our friend Steve and I had a great time at the 1st day of the AHS plant sale.  As expected, this is a low-key event that gave us plenty of time to forge & visit. 

To be honest, I do more visiting than Steve -- it's becoming a running joke with them just how many hours it's going to take me to finish the plant hangers I am still working on.  During our last interchange, we were laughing that the plant hangers should become immediate museum pieces because you just can't sell something you have 1,500 hours in!

I got a chance to visit with lots of the teachers from the boys' school & neighborhood friends, as well as meet new folks.  One person complimented my attire and said I looked like a "gentleman blacksmith".  I promptly told her that my wife would be happy to hear that since she wouldn't let me wear my normal blacksmithing clothes for the event! 

The sale continues Friday (9-6) and Saturday (9-3, although Jeff will stop forging by 1 p.m. that day). 

Preparing for the AHS Plant Sale

I am currently spending most of my free time forging plant hangers for the upcoming plant sale at the American Horticultural Society.

Our family is blessed to be volunteers at AHS and we are happy to add its annual plant sale to our list of blacksmithing events.  This week, I will forge at the plant sale on Thursday from 4-8 (members of AHS only), Friday (9-6) and Saturday (9-3).  Please note that I might not be forging during all the times listed, especially on Saturday, but he'll try to demonstrate as much as possible.  There is a fee for parking, but admission to the plant sale is free.  The garden shop sells many of my ironwork pieces, as well as my wife's nature-themed note cards. 

We'd love to see you, so please come out! 

Anderson Forge Opening at Colonial Williamsburg

We spent the first weekend of the kids' Spring Break at Colonial Williamsburg  - we drove down just to be there for the opening of the new blacksmith's shop.  

After years of research and hard work, it was a day to celebrate.  And, we weren't the only folks who had traveled just for the occasion -- it was like a convention of blacksmiths.  The kids got to meet Peter Ross, the blacksmith on one of their favorite movies & Jeff got to ask him a few questions about a pair of andirons he has been working on.  Jeff also got to say "hi" to a bunch of other folks.....and we made some wonderful new friends, as well. 

Visiting Colonial Williamsburg is a bit different for us than for most people, we've discovered.  At one point, my son mumbled something about "too many tourists."  He was conveniently forgetting his "tourist" mug for drinks -- our boys' primary goal for the visit was to consume as much root beer as possible, since they don't get such "treats" at home!

Except for the soda consumption on the boys' part, our visits are more about catching up with friends and exchanging ideas for new projects.  Caitlin even got a chance to discuss colonial crops with the head gardener and left with some salsify seeds to try out, as well as some broom corn seeds because our son would like to make a broom similar to the one he's read about in the Ox Cart Man.  

In the midst of all the visiting, the boys climbed on their favorite tree, admired the lambs, and checked out a nearby state park as part of the Trail Quest program. 

Plant Hanger

Check out my plant hanger in its new home!  This plant hanger was bought by a visitor to the American Horticultural Society, where many of my pieces are for sale in the gift shop.

Thanks so much to Jane for sending over the photo!  I love seeing where people use my work.  It is always nice to see the pieces in their environment.

The Mesmer Baquet, Part 2

In early January, I helped a local teacher build a Mesmer Baquet for the teacher's "living history" class.  It was a fascinating project and I was pleased to be a part of it.  Recently, we got to see the students demonstrate Mesmer's baquet at a local apothecary museum as part of  program about science in the 1700s.

Not only did the work look wonderful on display, but the students were quite impressive with their knowledge.

Did you know that Ben Franklin was the person who showed Mesmer to be a hoax?

It was great fun to see how the baquet would have been used, complete with incense, flowers, and powerful suggestions!

Leaf Bottle Opener

As time permits, I invites friends out to spend some time in the forge.  Earlier this winter, Matt joined me and we made a leaf bottle opener.  

Since I rarely makes things more than once unless folks request items, this is the only photo we have of it since it went home w/ its new owner.  In fact, we'd pretty much forgotten about it until Matt sent the photo over.  Thanks!

A Mesmer Bacquet

As anyone who knows me will attest, I am not a fan of making the same thing over and over, so I was thrilled when a local teacher contacted us and asked if I could help make some materials for his living history class. 

I started with a replica of a Mesmer Bacquet, an odd "wooden bucket with iron rods coming out of it that people (who wanted to be Mesmerized) would hold in order to be connected to a large magnet (and magic potions) within" as the teacher explained to us. 

Here's a link to an article for more information, if you are like us and didn't know much about this part of the 18th century! 

A Back Scratcher in New York

We love to receive photos of my pieces in their new homes. 

This back scratcher now lives in New York.

Claude Moore Follow-up

One of the nicest things about doing demonstrations is meeting lots of great people.

One such family contacted Jeff prior to last weekend's Claude Moore Market Fair to verify that he was going to be demonstrating there; the father wanted to show his son the art of blacksmithing.  It was really wonderful to meet them, and they sent us the following photo of Jeff in action:

Likewise, it's also great to reconnect with folks who have bought some of Jeff's work and hear how they enjoy what he made for them.   Not only did Jeff find out that a colonial-style trivet (to be used with an open fire) worked wonderfully for this family, but he later received this photo of the piece in use:

Thanks so much!

October Market Fair at Claude Moore

We had another wonderful weekend Market Fair at Claude Moore Colonial Farm as I demonstrated non-stop and my wife interpreted.  I made decorative leaves, custom hooks, candlestick holders and various other items as we visited with the 3,000 or so people who came out for the fair. 

 

It is great fun to get to show the art of blacksmithing with others -- it's amazing how interested people are in the craft.  Not only do folks like to learn about what we are doing at the anvil and forge, but they also really connect with my desire to create something with my hands (you can only do so much email!). 

We wanted to thank all of you who came out to see us -- it's wonderful to look out into a crowd and see friends! Thank you!

Blacksmithing Social

I have taken to inviting a group of blacksmithing buddies over lately to get a bit more of the social side of the craft I love.  Today I got to spend some good solid time with Steve Walthall, who is a gifted proefessional farrier.  We know different sides of the trade and Steve always seems to be able to teach me things from a different point of view, so it is great to hang out together.

Can't wait until the next time!

Working in the Forge at Mt. Vernon

Recently, I have been spending my forge time at Mt. Vernon in their historical forge and I have been having a great time doing it.  I get to work with an amazing team and it is great to be able to share your passion with the many interested guests that visit.

On this particular day, I was forging a set of andirons similar to ones I saw Peter Ross make at a demo last year and also similar to a pair my friend Curt just made:

One of the several difficult aspects of andirons is the upset square corners at the back.  I was working with 3/4" square stock here, so it was many heats before I was happy with the bend.

I only get to spend a few hours there each time I go, so this project is one that is still "underway".

Elected to the ABANA Board!

I was notified this week that I was elected to serve on the board of ABANA, the Artist Blacksmith's Association of North America.  I am both excited and honored to serve along some amazing smiths and I can't wait to see what this new stage of the adventure will bring!

Colonial Cooking Trivet

I recently completed a nice colonial cooking trivet for some friends we met through Claude Moore and I was glad to see it turned out so well.

It was the first time I have made one of these, so I ended up making two because I didn't like the first one, but it was a great learning experience and also a tremendous opportunity to dig into the research on how these things were used.

After much thinking while I was making the piece and a couple long conversations with a couple of colonial period cooks at Williamsburg, I was very pleased to see this come to fruition.  Like I often say, one of the reasons I love blacksmithing so much is because of the "infinite learning curve".

Can't wait to see what I will learn next!  :-)

July Market Fair

We spent a lovely weekend at the Market Fair at Claude Moore Colonial Farm, where we were privileged to demonstrate with Kelly Smyth again.  We've missed Kelly and it was great to spend some time with her. 

Jeff was ever so grateful to get Kelly's insights into how to make certain colonial items, but he had to compete with the boys for Kelly's time, which wasn't easy!  My boys were particularly thrilled to get their first chance to forge some hooks, thanks to Kelly's wonderful instruction. 

July 2011 Colonial Market Fair

Please join my family and myself at the next Market Fair at Claude Moore Colonial Farm on July 16 and 17.

This is a great event for adults and kids alike because there are many experienced (and often juried as well) Colonial craftspeople of all types, marvelous entertainers and period vendors as well, all in Colonial costumes.  Every one of them has a heart for education and it is an outstanding opportunity to immerse yourself in some good wholesome historical entertainment and to learn a few things at the same time!

I will be demonstrating at this event and will have a colleague there with me named Kelly Smyth who is a renowned expert in maritime blacksmithing.  Together we will be educating people on the many interesting aspects of Colonial blacksmithing.  More details and a 50% off coupon can be found on the Claude Moore Colonial Farm website.

If you happen to miss us at this Market Fair, please join us at the next one October 15th and 16th or come visit me at the Blacksmith Shop at George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens (times vary from week to week).

Look forward to seeing you at one of these events soon!

Scroll Candlesticks In Use

I made some scroll candlesticks for a friend from Claude Moore recently and he sent me a shot of them on his dining room table next to a trencher they got from the Mount Vernon Craft Fair, so I was pleased to see them in use in such nice company!

Jeff Joins Mount Vernon's Blacksmithing Team

I recently got an unexpected phone call from Mount Vernon to discuss "blacksmithing".

Anyone who knows me know that I am always more than ready to chat about smithing, so I returned the call lickety split.  Lo and behold, Mount Vernon's blacksmithing shop needed some extra help and wondered if I  would be willing to work as needed, on a part-time basis.

How cool is THAT?!?!

Please look for me in the shop the next time you are there!