Looking Ahead to Upcoming Events
This
page updated July 11, 2008
Safety first is expected at
all MABA events. Safety glasses must be worn during demonstrations.
Guests are welcome! Anyone
interested in learning more about blacksmithing is encouraged to
attend. Please review this safety
issue link before attending an event.
A
typical MABA event
Sharing information is what
it's all about! The date and time is usually Saturday at noon. Many of
the members work Saturday morning or need travel time so noon has
worked out well for our group. Gathering at noon we share a pot-luck
lunch and plenty of conversation. Please bring a dish to pass, a bag of
chips or a desert, if you are able. This is a great time to get to know
the other members, ask questions and share information. The event is
typically held at a members shop and the host is often the demonstrator
for the afternoon. Members, guests and visitors attending will spend
about 2 hours enjoying the demonstration. At the end of every
demonstration the group has an Iron-In-The-Hat. The "Hat"
receives hand forged items following a theme (fork, trivet, letter
opener, etc) or any item of interest for a blacksmith (stock, tools,
books, etc). These items contributed by the members are then raffled
off with the funds going to keep the membership dues low and to support
the group's bimonthly publication, The Upsetter. Four times a year the
group has a business meeting. Three meetings are held at a
demonstration and the fourth is our Annual
elections/meeting/Auction/Pot-luck Christmas party in December. The
calendar listing will note if the demonstration will also be a business
meeting and what the project is for Iron-In-The-Hat.
Also
listed on the calendar
Other activities around
Michigan will also be listed on the calendar. These include events
where MABA blacksmiths have been invited to demonstrate and/or sell to
the public. Please consider attending these activities, they are
another wonderful way to gain and share information about
blacksmithing.
The last activities included
on the calendar are events hosted by ABANA or other ABANA affiliates.
Please contact an officer for pertinent
information about any activity.
Do you know of any activity,
re-enactment, craft or art fair that would benefit from a blacksmith's
demonstration? Please contact
an officer.
Calendar
January
Saturday, January 12, 2008 at noon
Hosted by Christine & Kevin Keena
Hazel Park, MI
Iron-In-The-Hat: Nutcracker
February
Saturday, February 23, at
noon
Hosted by Kathleen and Tim Carr
Muskegon MI 49445
Demonstration: Forging a knife blade
Iron-In-The-Hat : Anything with a heart
March
Sunday, March 9, at noon
MABA Business Meeting
Hosted by Larry Carrigan
Rives Junction, MI 49277
Demonstration: 4 methods for candle cups and the tooling needed, also a demo on how to make bamboo.
Iron-In-The-Hat :Candle holder
April
Saturday, April 26, at noon
Hosted by Kevin Casey
10583 N. 42nd Street, Hickory Corners, MI 49060
Demonstration on Damascus knives
Iron-In-The-Hat: A letter opener
May
May 3, 2008 Tiller's Plow Days- 1-5pm
10515 East OP Ave. Scotts MI 49088
The Herb Nehring Blacksmith Shop will be open- Forges and tool setups
are available to MABA members who would like to demonstrate for the
crowd. Or bring your own and setup outside to demonstrate and
sell. Welcome to come early or stay late- To join the volunteer's potluck bring a dish to pass.
Call 269.626.0223 to let Tiller's know you are coming, and no admission charge.
11th Annual Bat House Forge Weekend Hammer-In
May 16-18, (MABA business meeting on Sunday the 18th)
Hosted by Lance & Denise Olson
A great weekend for beginners.
Parma, MI
Iron-In-The-Hat: Garden Art
May 1, 2, & 3, 2008
Missouri State Fairgrounds, Sedalia, MO
BAM 17th Annual Ozark Conference
For Love of The Craft!
With extended dates and foreign demonstrators
Josef Habermann and Heiner Zimmermann, plus U.S. smiths Bob Patrick,
Darryl Nelson, the team of Michael Dendele & Joe Bonifas, and
the team of Steve Mankowksi & Shelton Browder from Colonial
Williamsburg, this promises to be a great conference - and the
conference committee would like you to share the experience with us.
At this year's conference, besides our regular
demonstrators, we are planning a display on the history of power
hammers. We are trying to assemble as many varieties of hammers that
have been available today. As part of this special exhibit, Sid
Seudemier is planning to bring the first and the last 25-pound "Little
Giant" as well as many other historically interesting hammers. Most
will be there only for display, but some will actually be available for
hammering!
Web Site: www.bamsite.org
Note: From Lansing MI to Sedalia MO approx 650 miles
May 23, 24 & 25, 2008
Worthington Business Complex, Buffalo, NY
1st Annual Great Lakes International Iron Fest 2008
Hosted by the New York State Designer Blacksmiths
New York State Designer Blacksmiths ask that you
join in for a holiday weekend full of fun, food, fine arts auction and
Master Blacksmith demonstrations, from the New York, Ohio, Ontario
& Pittsburgh organizations.
Planned Demonstrators:
Mark Puigmarti and Bob Cook- will demonstrate traditional metal work
with modern techniques Deke Wedow-metal art and jewelry, will
demonstrate large hollow animal heads and the tools that are necessary
to make them
Jymm Hoffman demonstrate using the "keep it simple, Make it elegant"
concept. He will then move to modern equipment to produce historically
correct reproductions.
Kim Thomas demonstrates, "A New Look" with the look of modern
structural steel in traditional ornamental ironwork.
Web Site: www.nysdb.org
Note: From Lansing MI to Buffalo NY approx 335 miles
NOB Annual Hammer-in
May 2,3,4
Auglaize Village, 12296 Krouse Rd, Defiance, OH
June
June 28-29, 2008 (Always the last Sunday in June)
You are invited to The Blacksmith Festival and Log Cabin Day
Sponsored by: The Waterloo Area Historical Society, Jackson County
The Waterloo Farm Museum, Jackson County, Waterloo, MI
Blacksmiths are invited to demonstrate for the public
July
July 19-20, 2008 (Always the 3rd FULL weekend in
July)
You are invited to Wood Shaving Days
Sponsored by Friends of Hartwick Pines
Hartwick Pines State Park, Grayling, MI
Blacksmiths are invited to demonstrate for the public
July 19, 2008 Tiller's Antique Tool Collectors Show- 9am- noon
10515 East OP Ave. Scotts MI 49088
The
Herb Nehring Blacksmith Shop will be open- Forges and tool setups are
available to MABA members who would like to demonstrate for the crowd.
Or bring your own and setup outside to demonstrate and sell. Call
269.626.0223 to let Tiller's know you are coming-
July 24-27, 2008
Walloon Flywheelers Old Engine Show
Located on U.S. 131 between Boyne Falls and Walloon Lake Junction.
Free Camping and admission for demonstrators, coal provided.
Blacksmiths are invited to demonstrate and or sell to the public.
August
August 15-17, 2008, Always the 3rd weekend in August.
Oakley Old Engine Show, located near Oakley, MI
Free camping and admission for demonstrators, coal provided.
Blacksmiths are invited to demonstrate and or sell to the public.
August 23-24, 2008 (Always the 4th FULL weekend in August)
You are invited to Black Iron Days
Sponsored by Friends of Hartwick Pines
Hartwick Pines State Park, Grayling, MI
Blacksmiths are invited to demonstrate for the public
September
August 30-31, September 1, 2008
U.P. Steam and Gas Engine Show Labor Day Weekend.
Located at the U.P. State Fairground in Escanaba, MI
Blacksmiths are invited to demonstrate and or sell to the public.
SOFA September 26-28, 2008
http://www.sofablacksmiths.org/conference2008/conference2008.htm
Gallery project “Hangers, Coat, Hat, etc.”
Southern Ohio Forge and Anvil Quadstate Round-up
Miami County Fair Grounds - Troy, OH
October
October 4-5, 2008 Balent ’s October Eisen Fest
712 West Norway Lake Rd. Columbiaville, MI
Iron-in-the-Hat:Fireplace
tools (poker, shovel, broom, etc.)
MABA Iron in the Hat to be held on
Sunday at 1PM
Second Sunday in October, Noon to 5pm
You are invited to The Pioneer Day
Sponsored by: The Waterloo Area Historical Society, Jackson County
The Waterloo Farm Museum, Waterloo, MI
Blacksmiths are invited to demonstrate for the public
November
November
Iron-in-the-Hat:
December
Saturday, December 6, 2008 at noon
M.A.B.A. sponsored event
M.A.B.A. Annual Meeting and Christmas Party
No demonstration, great potluck dinner, annual meeting with election of
officers, scholarship awards, tool box raffle and our big fund raising
auction. Plan to bring the family!
MABA Auction at 2:00 pm. Public is welcome to attend the auction!
ELKS Lodge
3113 Lansing Ave
Jackson, MI 49202
Safety First!
Whereas the craft of
blacksmithing is a potentially dangerous activity, any guest/visitor
attending an activity hosted by the Michigan Artist Blacksmith's
Association will be required to sign the Liability
Release form and wear safety glasses while in the
demonstration area or during a demonstration or anytime ANY metal work
is being preformed at the demonstration area.
Please turn in your signed
release form to any MABA officer at the MABA event.
Guests and visitors to an
event must understand the unique safety issues involved with hot iron.
Sparks Fly! Tools Break!
-Wear safety glasses.
-Wear natural fiber clothes
like cotton. Synthetics are more flammable and they melt, potentially
contributing to serious burns.
-Wear closed toe shoes,
leather if possible, high top leather is best.
-Assume all iron; stock,
tools, vises etc. are HOT.
-Resist the urge to grab for
falling objects. They can be very HOT.
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