The Madness Is Coming!

Plan now to attend our 37th annual Fall Conference to be held at the Little Log House Antique Power Show grounds just south of Hastings, Minnesota from September 19 through September 21, 2014. Follow the Google map link to see the location.

The 2014 Conference Brochure (pdf) is available to download and print to share with those who may be interested. Use the registration form in the brochure to register for the conference. Also available to print is the 2014 Conference Flyer (pdf).

We have contracted with two well-known names in metalsmithing to demonstrate their abilities at our conference. They are Gordon Williams and Ernie E. Dorrill III.

• “Teaching is my love,” Gordon says. At the Gordon Williams Blacksmith School in Camp Verde, Arizona, there is a wide variety of classes at both the Pieh Tool “Bill Pieh Resource for Metalwork”, and at their own production smithy, Victory Forge. Classes can range from a 4-hour introduction to blacksmithing, to 6-day classes that offer advanced techniques such as forge welding, heat treating, tempering and metal finishing.Gordon has had a production shop, and now has the two schools. A  new shop will open soon at Zion National Park.
• Ernie Dorrill III of Canton, Mississippi, has been blacksmithing since 1992 and has focused his efforts on European motifs, especially Gothic and Renaissance. The use of hand tools with over a thousand years of history behind them for chasing, repousse’ and piercing, much of which is in combination, along with layered effects produced visually rich intricate patterns. Ernie does this work as a mental and physical challenge.  He said, “My goal is to inspire others to push themselves past their perceived limits of the possible to the impossible.”

Learn how to register for Gordon’s pre-conference class on Sept. 18 & 19 here.

Our list of family activities will keep all members of the family busy…

Tin Repoussé (Altoid)
Jim & Will Breczinski will lead this (free) hands-on workshop in making your design on the lid of an Altoid Tin. This usually is an ongoing activity, with instructors popping in and out as needed.
We will need volunteer teachers for 1 or 2 hour times to make this a success and allow others to see the demonstrators.

Broom Making Class
Making a decorative broom to use by a fireplace or to hang as a decoration. 1PM Sat.
Mark Jackson (612-730-6246)  $20 material fee. He supplies all the materials and brings plenty of the special tooling that is needed for this craft. Mark will be teaching only one class beginning at 1PM  on Saturday so that he can see the rest of the conference.

Magnetic art
Design and build Magnetic/Ferrous creations (Blacksmith “Legos”?). We have a nice set of magnets and steel components that allow the artist to design and make almost anything.  It’s  free and ongoing. This will be set up on a table near the gallery-show us your talent.

Painting Faces on Pumpkins
Lisa Olson.  Cost is $10   All materials, including pumpkin will be supplied,  9AM Sunday. Lisa is excited about this activity. She wants it to be fun. You will take your pumpkin home with you.

Found Art
The hay wagon out back is always loaded with metal shapes just waiting for the “found art artist” in you to appear and put it all together!!!  You find the parts and do the designing.
Then Herb Fick and company will weld whatever you find on the trailer into your art creation.  Open to all ages.  Free! All day Sat. This activity is a favorite. Come and create something wonderful.

To register for any of these classes, contact Sheri Stanaitis at 715-698-2895 or email her at spaco@baldwin-telecom.net

• Bring an example of your work to exhibit in the Gallery. This is one of the highlights of the conference. Everyone loves to look. Feel free to bring previously displayed items to show our new members. Gallery items will be registered in and out.
• Tailgating is encouraged! We request a donation to the Saturday night auction.
• PLEASE BRING ITEMS FOR THE AUCTION!!! As is our tradition, we again will hold a live auction on Saturday evening. Please bring items that you have made or things that have fallen from your favor and are destined to become another’s treasure. Please remember that at this auction, we garner most of our operating capital, so be generous.
• During the day on Saturday, our silent auction will be held. The silent auction will be oriented mainly toward older tools and materials.

The Guild of Metalsmiths is fortunate to be able to hold the conference in such charming surroundings. We extend our gratitude to Steve and Sylvia Bauer for the opportunity to hold our event at this location. Thank you!

TGOM Registration
Conference:  $35.00 per family
One Day Only: $20.00 per family
Meal Ticket:  $43.00 per person
Note: Partial meal plans are available, if  you prefer not to buy the entire four-meal ticket.
•    Saturday lunch $9
•    Saturday dinner $17
•    Sunday breakfast $8
•    Sunday  lunch $9
Meal ticket  orders due by Sept. 1, 2014

For further information or to volunteer, call or email:
Martin Pansch: 612-599-4762, blacksmithingyeti@gmail.com
Mike Frattalone: 651-452-7740   icemanfratt@aol.com