BlacksmitHER Radio

Ep 128 Pete Mattila "There is a responsibility with blacksmithing"

This week I’ve got Pete Mattila from Tasmania, which is off the southern coast of Australia. We talk about his shop by the water’s edge, his US apprentice journey, and his design process.  Before we get to the interview I wanted to mention today’s sponsors, First we have the Adirondack Folk School.  It’s a non-profit school located in Lake Luzerne, in upstate New York.  The blacksmithing program at the Folk School includes 24 classes with an incredible line of blacksmithing instructors t...

Ep 127 Iron Maegan Crowley

Hello welcome to episode 127 I am continuing my series of 12 podcast interviews (one a month) focusing on Design Process, Forging Process and Tool Making. Today I have Maegan Crowley from Colorado, she started her metal business in 2006 after attaining her Master of Fine Art from Cranbrook Academy. I’d also like to thank today’s sponsor, Even Heat, they manufacture the finest heat treat ovens available, Even Heat Kiln was founded in 1948 and has steadily grown to become a major kiln manufa...

Ep 126 Jeffery Funk on Design, Forging Process and Tool Making

Hello welcome to episode 126, as I mentioned before in the last episode, I’ve decided to do a series of 12 podcast interviews (one a month) focusing on the guest's Design Process, Forging Process and Tool Making. We begin with Jeffery Funk who has been working iron, bronze, stainless steel, and other metals for over forty years in a small shop outside of Bigfork, Montana.  In our correspondence leading up to the interview, Jeffery said  “Blacksmithing can be a portal to so many fascinating...

Ep 125 - 2019 Show

Hello Happy New Year, welcome to 2019 and episode 125!  I've decided on a different format for this year's podcast. I sat down recently and came up with 3 main topics and questions within each topic. I will ask the next 10 or so guests the same questions and hopefully dive deep into their Design Process, Forging Process and Tool Making.  Those are the 3 topics I’ll be asking my guests for the bulk of this year’s podcasts. This podcast is sponsored by Evenheat, they manufacture the finest...

Ep 124 Ambrose Burne “#150mmchallenge”

This week I’ve got Ambrose Burne, a very talented artist blacksmith living in Hereford, England.  He attended the Artist Blacksmith program at the Hereford College of the Arts and then opened his own forge and is a lecturer on the BA (Hons) Artist Blacksmithing program for Hereford.  Today we talk about his background a bit and about the 150mm Challenge he has started.  BTW Hereford College of the Arts is asking for submissions from anyone willing to take on the challenge.  The exhibition ...

Episode #123 – Michael Budd

This week I’ve got Michael Budd back on the show, he’s a very talented artist blacksmith from Sligo Ireland. We talk about his trip to Tomsk Russia this past summer, where he was invited to demonstrate at a festival called “The Festival of the Ax”.  What We Talked About He attended a festival, the Festival of the Ax, as a demonstrator in Tomsk Russia, so he tells us about the festival and how he got invited. There were artists from over 100 different countries and 15 blacksmiths We real...

Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin for Nov 2018

This is the monthly Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin.  Where you get the low-down about upcoming classes and events that are happening in the following month, I’ll be telling you about classes and events happening in November 2018.  If you have an event or class you would like to submit, send an email to [email protected] and I will send you the details I need for the press release.    

Ep 122 Anna Koplik "Weaponry Flatware"

This week I’ve got Anna Koplik, a young blacksmith who is currently completing an artist residency at the Touchstone Center for Crafts in Farmington, Pennsylvania.  She talks about her BFA in Jewelry and how she became interested in weaponry during college, which ended up being her intro to blacksmithing. Before we get to the interview I wanted to mention today’s sponsor is again provided on behalf of the New England Blacksmiths, an ABANA affiliate serving Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermo...

**Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin** For the month of Oct 2018

This is the monthly Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin.  Where you get the low-down about upcoming classes and events that are happening in the following month, I’ll be telling you about classes and events happening in October 2018.  If you have an event or class you would like to submit, send an email to [email protected] and I will send you the details I need for the press release. OK, I’ll go in Alphabetic order here:

**Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin** For the month of September 2018

This is the monthly Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin.  Where you get the low-down about upcoming classes and events that are happening in the following month, I’ll be telling you about classes and events happening in September 2018.    If you have an event or class you would like to submit, send an email to [email protected] and I will send you the details I need for the press release.  

Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin Aug 2018

This is the monthly Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin.  Where you get the low-down about upcoming classes and events that are happening in the following month, though this month I’ll be telling you about classes and events happening in August 2018.  If you have an event or class you would like to submit, send an email to [email protected] and I will send you the details I need for the press release. OK, I’ll go in Alphabetic order here:

Ep 121 – Bob Bergman “Eight ways to make a buck”

This week I’ve got Bob Bergman from Blanchardville Wisconsin.  He bought an old blacksmith shop 50 years ago in Postville, Wisconsin.  He talks about his beginnings and traveling through Europe working and learning at 15 different shops over 2 months.  He tells us the history behind the Postville Blacksmith shop which started in 1856.  What We Talked About  Bob started working in an advertising agency after college and immediately knew that business suit and desk were not for him! He th...

Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin for July 2018

This is the monthly Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin.  Where you get the low-down about upcoming classes and events that are happening in the following month, though this month I’ll be telling you about classes and events happening in July 2018.  If you have an event or class you would like to submit, send an email to [email protected] and I will send you the details I need for the press release. OK, I’ll go in Alphabetic order here:  

Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin for June 2018

This is the monthly Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin.  Where you get the low-down about upcoming classes and events that are happening in the following month, though this month I’ll be telling you about classes and events happening in June 2018. 

**Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin** For the month of May 2018

This is the monthly Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin.  Where you get the low-down about upcoming classes and events that are happening in the following month, though this month I’ll be telling you about classes and events happening in May 2018.    If you have an event or class you would like to submit, send an email to [email protected] and I will send you the details I need for the press release.

Ep 120 Live Interviews from Blacksmith Events

I talk to a couple of demonstrators while they were demonstrating at events this past weekend. First I talk with Payne Anne Chassen and Sylvia Andrassy, they are in Pampano Beach, Florida for the FABA SE Regional meet.  The meet was held at the Guild, a non-profit folk art school started by Shaun Williams and Sylvia Andrassy.  Payne was demonstrating a corner shelf with antique glass bulbs incorporated into the design. Then I talk to Dennis Dusek who was demonstrating garden tools at the...

Ep #119 - CBA 2018 Spring Conference Crew

This week I’ve got the CBA Spring Conference organizers, the crew that has dedicated countless volunteer hours of their time planning and scheduling the CBA 40th Anniversary Spring Conference coming up April 12 – 14 in Placerville, CA.  The crew consists of Dennis Dusek, the conference chair, aka the big cheese, Dan Perkins, who is the CBA Education director, Victoria Ritter who is in charge of the volunteers and vendors, and Paul Boulay, the Vice President of the CBA.  We talk about what it...

**Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin** For the month of April 2018

This is the Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin.  Where you get the low-down about upcoming classes and events that are happening in the following month, though this month I’ll be telling you about classes and events happening in April 2018.  I’ve got a lot of schools and events lined up for the rest of the year coming at you every month.   If you have an event or class you would like to submit, send an email to [email protected] and I will send you the details I need for the press release.  

Ep 118 Tips and Tricks from Associations

Today I’m going to share a few tips and tricks I’ve found in various blacksmith association newsletters.  I’m not sure how many of you are ABANA members and receive the Hammers Blow quarterly Journal, I do and The current editor is, Dan Nauman, wrote a small article titled Picture That about photography, mainly photographing your work.  In my local blacksmith association newsletter, Forge Facts from the Rocky Mountain Smiths, I saw a great tip on riveting I want to share which came from Doro...

Ep 117 Michael Whipps "New Metal Podcast"

Guest Intro paragraph This week I’ve got Michael Whipps from Melbourne Australia, btw he goes by Whipps.  He’s a metal worker who makes custom spherical firepits with his wife in Australia and he started blacksmithing about 6 months ago.  The reason I have him on today is to talk about his new podcast “Metal Sculpture Show”.  I think I’ve mentioned this before to you guys, I started a podcast network called The Burn Network, basically, it’s a collection of metalworking podcasts. The reason...

Ep 116 Haley Woodward and Colby Brinkman

This week I’ve got Haley Woodward and Colby Brinkman out of Austin Texas.  To get a good idea of each of their forging skills have a look at each of their websites, www.Haleywoodward.com and www.metalmantis.com .  We had a great conversation about the each of their blacksmithing backgrounds, the Austin Forging Competition they started, which by the way is coming up on April 21st and let me announce the competitors that will be there this year; Monica Coyne, John Rais and Steven Yusko, The Va...

Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin for March 2018

This is the Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin.  Where you get the low-down about upcoming classes and events that are happening in the following month, I’m talking about March 2018 for this bulletin.  If you have an event or class you would like to submit, send an email to [email protected] and I will send you the details I need for the press release.

Ep 115 Ellen Durkan "Forged Fashion"

This is week I have a returning guest, Ellen Durkan, from Delaware.  She’s an incredibly talented artist blacksmith that has a line of metal dresses called Forged Fashion.  She is also an adjunct professor at the Delaware College of Art and Design.  She will be a demonstrator at the upcoming CBA Spring Conference and that also happens to be the sponsor for today’s episode.  This year is their 40th anniversary, so it’s a big event and Dennis Dusek and his conference crew have been diligently ...

Ep #114 – An American Blacksmith in Cuba

For this episode I wanted to share an article from the latest Jan/Feb issue of the California Blacksmith Association magazine.  It’s about a CBA member, Serene Silva of Santa Cruz, travelling to Cuba in search of blacksmiths.  She was awarded a grant from CBA for the trip and this article is part of her commitment to CBA in exchange for the grant.  I love learning about blacksmith scenes in countries around the world and Cuba especially since it’s such a mystery to most Americans because of ...

Ep #113 – David Lisch “The Pilot for Forged in Fire Story”

This week I’ve got David Lisch, he’s a blacksmith turned award-winning Master Smith knife maker, from Yelm, Washington.  A respected innovator of unique guard designs and Damascus steel that can be seen in his beautiful knives. David has run a successful blacksmith business for 25 years in Seattle and now teaches at his school, Oak Grove Forging Facility in Yelm WA. He achieved a Master Smith rating from the American Bladesmith Society (ABS)in 2015 and is the 6th Master Smith in the state of...

Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin Jan 2018

This is the Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin.  Where you get the low-down about upcoming classes and events that are happening in the following month, though this month I’ll be telling you about classes and events happening in January and Feb 2018.  I’ve got a lot of schools and events lined up for the rest of the year coming at you every month. If you have an event or class you would like to submit, send an email to [email protected] and I will send you the details I need for the press releas...

Ep #112 Evan Wilson "Acrobatics around the Anvil"

Guest Intro paragraph This week I’ve got Evan Wilson from Austin, Texas who is the program director for the blacksmith shop at this nonprofit community organization called Mobile Loaves and Fishes. The Community Forge & Woodshop empowers their community of homeless members to engage in the creation of timeless crafts while also earning a dignified income. Through blacksmithing, woodworking and a range of other projects, the men and women in this Community Works program become part of a res...

Ep #111 – “Like Going To Church But Different”

This week’s guests are Shaun Williams and Sylvia Andrassy from Pampano Beach. FL.  Shaun has been blacksmithing for 10 years and is the SE Regional coordinator of the Florida Artist Blacksmith Association.  Sylvia was this year’s FABA conference event coordinator.  Together they have started a non-profit folk art school called the Guild Urban Craft and Folk Art School. What We Talked About This FABA Conference that was held in the last weekend in October of 2017, had the highest attendanc...

Ep #110 Right or left-handed tongs?

This week’s episode is a quick one!  I’m a member of the California Blacksmith Association and receive the bi-monthly magazine which is expertly put together by Mike Mumford, he does a great job every time.  The latest Nov/Dec issue he wrote an article about something he saw in the education tent at the last CBA 2017 Spring Conference.  Kevin Lauritsen was demonstrating in the tent and was talking about the difference between right handed and left handed tongs and the reason for the design. ...

Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin for December 2017

This is the Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin.  Where you get the low-down about upcoming classes and events that are happening in the following month, I’m talking about December 2017 for this bulletin.  If you have an event or class you would like to submit, send an email to [email protected] and I will send you the details I need for the press release.   I have to apologize for not releasing this on Nov 1st, 5 days ago.  I was visiting my family in Virginia Beach and before that, I attend...

Ep #109 – Larry Wood “SOFA & Quad State Round-up History”

This week I’ve got Larry Wood on the line from Ohio. Last month, in September one of the most coveted blacksmith conferences was held in Troy, Ohio, it’s called the Quad State Round-up.  It’s known for its well-appointed venue that offers a large soft grass camping area, exceptional demonstration buildings, the largest number of tailgate tools sales in North America (I’m talking hundreds of pickups, row after row, selling new and old blacksmith tools that start 3 days before the conference e...

BlacksmitHer Buzz Bulletin for Nov 2017

This is the Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin.  Where you will get the low-down, monthly, about upcoming classes and events that are happening in the following month, which will be November 2017 for this bulletin.  If you have an event or class you would like to submit, send an email to [email protected] and I will send you the details I need for the press release.

Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin Oct 2017

Ep 108 – Peter Braspenninx “The M.C. Escher of Blacksmithing”

 Pete Braspenninx is an artist blacksmith living in Cazenovia, Michigan and is the owner of Phyre Forge.  He graduated from the University of Michigan School of Art and Design in 2004 with a focus in ceramics and jewelry.  Since being exposed to the blacksmith craft 14 years ago he has focused on transforming line into a continuous form with meticulous traditional joinery.  He has started a body of work called “Calculating Infinity” and there are 25 pieces in this body of work.  We talk abou...

Ep 107 Allen Rozon " A Blacksmith and a Swordsmith Collaborate"

Allen Rozon is a blacksmith who works out of Montreal Canada.  Since initial exposure to blacksmithing through time spent learning the basics from Uri Hofi in New York state, Allen Rozon, was on a quest to spend time with highly respected teachers within the metal arts community.  An early friendship formed that would guide many of Allen’s steps taken over the years.  Taro Asano, aka Fusataro, visited Canada early in his career as a licensed master sword smith from Japan.  On that first visi...

Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin September 2017

This is the Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin.  Where you will get the low-down about upcoming current blacksmithing events happening around the world.  The bulletins are released once a month and will announce events happening in the following month.   If you have an event or class you would like to submit, send an email to [email protected] and I will send you the details I need for the press release.   OK, this is the September Buzz Bulletin, announcing events and classes happening in Sept...

Episode #106 – Bob Menard “Blacksmith Royalty”

Today I have Bob Menard, owner of the Ball and Chain Forge, which is mainly a custom architectural blacksmith shop in Portland Maine.  He has been in business since 1990. He is also the editor of the NEB’s quarterly newsletter.  Today we talk about his beginnings, production work, 180 lb plant hooks, what the ….and collaborative artwork projects.  Bob also gives us some golden nuggets about business insurance for blacksmiths. Today’s episode sponsorship provided on behalf of New England Bl...

BBB for August 2017

Ep #105 – Joseph Campbell “ Metal Collaborative Studio”

Joseph Campbell is an architectural metal fabricator who owns Metal Inc and the Metal Collaborative Studio in Philadelphia, PA.  You’ll hear Joe talk about the Metal Collaborative membership, it’s like a gym membership but to a metal studio outfitted with welding and blacksmithing equipment.  It’s an interesting business model that I wish would grow, giving competent blacksmiths or metal workers a place to be creative and collaborate with each other.  He mentions what membership access gives...

Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin for July 2017

This is the Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin.  Where you will get the low-down about upcoming current blacksmithing events happening around the world.  The bulletins are released once a month and will announce events happening in the following month.   If you have an event or class you would like to submit, send an email to [email protected] and I will send you the details I need for the press release.   OK, This is the June Buzz Bulletin, announcing events and classes happening in July 2017:

Ep #104 Vince Nakovics "The Blacksmith Murders"

Vince Nakovics is currently living in Shkoder, Albania, he and his wife moved there in 2012.  You will hear what the blacksmith scene is like there in the interview.  Prior to moving to Albania, he lived in Virginia Beach VA, which is where he began to blacksmith and eventually became the Tidewater Blacksmith’s Guild’s newsletter editor for 6 years.  With his renewed interest in writing he ended up publishing 65 monthly newsletters (during his time as editor), conducted over 100 interviews o...

Ep #103 Stuart Shirley "CMA Internship"

Stuart Shirley is a college student at the Colorado School of Mines, he is obtaining a 4 year degree from the Colorado School of Mines in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering.  Currently, as part of pursuing his degree, he is completing an internship at the Center for Metal Arts in Florida New York.  What We Talked About Stuart’s interest in blacksmithing started in high school. His welding instructor offered to help Stuart build a forge of his own if Stuart agreed to build two forges,...

**Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin** For the month of June 2017

This is the Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin.  Where you will get the low-down about upcoming current blacksmithing events happening around the world.  The bulletins are released once a month and will announce events happening in the following month.   If you have an event or class you would like to submit, send an email to [email protected] and I will send you the details I need for the press release.  

Ep #102 David Robertson “Art History in Iron from 3500 BC”

Welcome to episode #102 and I have David Robertson with us today, he’s a professional artist blacksmith from Ontario Canada, in fact, he’s been in business for 30 years as of this year… congratulations David!  We talk about how he kept busy when starting out as a full time blacksmith and his latest Art History in Iron course he taught at the Halliburton School of Art and Design. But first I’d like to thank our sponsor today and that’s the Southern Blacksmith Association, they are hosting t...

May 2017 Blacksmith Buzz Bulletin

This is the BlacksmitHER Buzz Bulletin.  Where you will get the low-down about upcoming current blacksmithing events happening around the world.  The bulletins are released once a month and will announce events happening in the following month.   If you have an event or class you would like to submit, send an email to [email protected] and I will send you the details I need for the press release. Before we get to the bulletin I would like to mention in case you didn’t know, there is an...

100th ep Final

Yup, this is my 100th episode.  Bob Menard from the New England Blacksmiths just asked me the other day did you envision the 100th when you started?  The answer is NO Way! The reason I started this podcast 3 years ago was to help create a tighter knit blacksmith community around the world, to aid and encourage forging new connections by having casual conversations every week so we can learn a little something about our peers.  I thought I would talk about a few of the connections I’ve made...

Episode #99 – Julida Alter “The Blacksmith’s Daughters”

Julida Alter is the youngest of 6 in a strong Polish Catholic family where her father and two brothers are blacksmiths.  Julida and her sister are part of a 4-person band called “The Blacksmith’s Daughters”, they are located outside of Minneapolis Minnesota.  Recently formed in 2015, The Blacksmith's Daughters (a family folk/pop band) believe that music should inspire the best in each other. That is why they create music that makes people happy. Many times this happiness comes out through au...

Ep #98 – James Garvey “The Statue of Liberty and Clark bar”

Welcome to episode number 98 with James Garvey.  He is an artist blacksmith just outside of New York City in Piermont NY.  His training includes 6 years at the Art Department of Colorado State University and 10 years as head of Blacksmithing at the Rochester Folk Art Guild.  He has designed and built public commissions in Manhattan including works at two subway stations, The School of Spirits Doors at the Dwight School in Manhattan, The Lariat Rustic Rail in Central Park, and a restoration p...

Ep 97 JayBurn Journal on Punches, Drifts and Top tools

It’s episode #97 and I’ve got another JayBurn Journal for you.  A technical article written by Jay Burnham-Kidwell. He’s a longtime blacksmith residing in Arizona, Since 1974, he has worked in various mediums and exhibited his work throughout the world.  He works as a studio artist, lecturer, and demonstrator in all kinds of metalsmithing including jewelry, copper hollow forms, and blacksmithing.  He’s written more than 40 technical articles for various magazines such as the Anvils Ring and ...

Episode #96 – Caitlin Morris “Blacksmith Classes – take and teach”

It’s episode number 96 and I have Caitlin Morris from Frederick, Maryland.  Let me introduce her by reading her “about” web page from her http://www.mscaitlinsschool.com/ . “Ms. Caitlin hangs out with the misfits and scallywags.  She sings loudly and out of tune.  She is partial to walks in the rain.  But the most important thing is this: Caitlin loves blacksmithing.  The Vermont native runs Ms. Caitlin’s School of Blacksmithing in Maryland, which is dedicated to sharing the craft with ...