A couple weeks ago my family had the chance to sign up for a family blacksmith class at our local historical society. I was both very happy and excited that we had a chance to enrich in this class together. I am very thankful that the teacher said he would do the class even if we were the only ones. We were the only ones to sign up and we learned so much. My husband and my daughter each made a piece and the teacher made me a heart as my piece.

My daughter went first. At first she was a little nervous and wasn’t hitting the Metal correctly. As my daughter kept going she started to get the hang of it. The teacher was very encouraging and helpful. I think this part was the hardest part for her as she had to really make a point and pound.

She had to curve the metal at this point and they were using the front of the anvil. She ended up having to do this twice, as she was making a hanger that you can hang something from a tree.

At one point she had the chance to keep the fire going. I don’t remember why. I think the reason was either he was setting the area up so she could twist the metal or he was waxing it and the metal in the fire was my husbands piece.

In this picture my daughter was getting ready to twist the metal. We had to chuckle and tell her she could tell her friends that she twisted metal with her bare hands…..sure she had a piece that actually helps her twist the metal. You had to be quick at this point as the metal cools fast.

This was the finished piece. I asked her if she liked the class and she said she loved it. I am so thankful that we could give her this unique experience. We maybe taking other classes in the future. I think it only took her about an hour to make hers if that.

We learned that there are more blacksmiths today than there was in the past. Today people seem to do it more as a hobby. There are some that do sell their work. I know there was more that we learned but I think I have forgotten it at the moment

Stay tuned for my next post on our yearly tradition of NOT back to school!

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