Coming to the end of 2009

End of year summary

Well it has been a busy year. The Artist Blacksmiths Association South Australia has been pretty well set up. We are just waiting to get the bank account going, then we are complete. Our last meeting for the year was held at the end of November and we won't meet officially till February next year. A BBQ has been organised at Kerens place for the 23rd January 2010 at 2 pm. Guests are asked to bring their own food and drink. This will save waste in case people don't attend.

Our first workshop went over pretty well. We had 10 people roll up for a demo in making tongs. We have made a video, well, 2 actually. Andy shot one video from a fixed front location and I shot mine from the side, so we have good coverage of the event. Geoff did a fantastic job of demonstrating the whys and where fors of the process. I made a set the following day and they (the tongs) turned out perfect. Here's a shot of the tongs (in the middle) along with a few extras I made for riveting, punching and a set of tongs for holding small items.

The 2nd edition of 'The Bellows' newsletter is almost ready for publishing, I'm just waiting on the President to do an report. ABASA has 19 members signed up so far and hopefully the other 19 on the list will sign up in the New Year. When we get our insurance settled, it will make it more appealing to members, knowing that any activities are covered by insurance, provided it is sanctioned by the committee.

In other news.......................

MACCLESFIELD PUB-
Our good friend and publican, Bronte, at the Macclesfield pub, has left for greener pastures. We are still keen to set up a forge out the back, but we will have to approach the new owner to see how we fair.

ROYAL SHOW -
We would also like to become involved in the Royal Show Blacksmithing scene as a well.We plan to sponsor the home exhibit with prize money and get our members to produce some fine art to enter the contest. Talks will be held with the Farriers in the New Year regarding that.

ANGASTON FORGE -
The new coordinator, Dean Messner?, is doing the roster at the moment and is setting it up for four months at a time. A copy draft is sent out that members can allocate their preferred schedule and he will try to work around those dates. It will be interesting to see how it goes. Chris and I are pretty keen to organise a 'Forge in ' one weekend and get a few members up there forging among the public. It will give us a bit of exposure as well.

FORGE ACTIVITIES -
I have been making a few pieces for the wife, namely a leafy candle holder and an oil lamp stand.
Other than that, I have been making various bits of tooling and tongs. I am planning on making decorative door corner braces for the forge doors in the New Year. I have made one already and it has a nice rustic look about it.
I'll leave it at that for now and will do another page in the New Year. Merry Christmas to all that read this, and have a safe and happy festive season.