I've got 3 sets of chasing tools left from my last workshop. Two are listed right now and the third set will be within the week. 
as usual, all handforged and individually heat treated. You should be able to get the details by clicking on the photos. I don't have plans to make more sets until 2009, unless a workshop comes up at late notice.
I'd like to thank HABAIRON and my friend Richard for introducing my work to The Pearl MFA and their curatorial staff in Houston, Texas. My work will be shown as part of the upcoming exhibit titled Metal Worked, July 26th through November 2nd, 2008. The Artist reception is Friday August 8, 6-8pm. I won't be able to attend, but I'm hoping that some family members and friends will.
![Metal_Worked_Card[1]](http://x82.xanga.com/4e4c601751c33201467078/z156214507.jpg)
If you are near Houston, Texas and interested in blacksmithing or metalsmithing, the HABAiron group is a great way to get started. Check out their photos here, on flickr, to see a sampling of some of their activities. I've lived quite a few places, and I still think Texans are some of the nicest folks goin'.
I've been trying to catch up on studio work, a nearly impossible task with all of my travels and my wonderful kids on summer break. Huge storms keep rolling through the upper Midwest, washing out our driveway and every now and then invading our workshop. One is on the way right now.
Nevertheless, I have been focusing on loads of leaves for next weekend's Art Fair on The Green in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
I worked on a leaf man piece while teaching my workshop last weekend. I hope to find time to finish him up soon. He has a rather gnomish look right now.
A pleasant surprise for me today! -- One of my students from last weekend's workshop sent me a boxful of used air chisel bits from a store called Amblers up in the Twin Cities. I had offered to pay him for the tools and shipping. Instead he sent them to me with a very nice note, as a gift. I am just thrilled. I am going to re-shape them into forming stakes, shapes that I can already visualize in my mind.
Yes folks, tools are the way to thrill me.
I love the workshops at Tunnel Mill in Minnesota, absolutely love them. The students are such talented learners from all different backgrounds. We had a retired chemist, a watch/clock maker, a "coal-pusher" in his words, an Army Reservist, a truck driver.... and a few others that I'm not sure about. Everyone has a story and a fun sense of humor. One student even understood my enjoyment of words that feel good rolling over the tongue, like "topography". We compared notes on big words for fun.
The first 8 pictures show students and/or workshop areas. The last 2 are me working. For some reason, I forgot to take pictures of the finished pieces. I can assure you that the students got some awesome tools and chasings done, amazing for a 3 day workshop. 
Please click on the photo title links below in order to see the larger version of each image, with a short description.
1. Tunnel Mill students, 2. IMG_8251, 3. IMG_8247, 4. IMG_8262, 5. IMG_8256, 6. IMG_8255, 7. IMG_8266, 8. IMG_8251, 9. me working at Tunnel Mill, 10. me working at Tunnel Mill Created with fd's Flickr Toys.
My other birthday present was a new hammer, a specific type called a cobbler's hammer. It is designed for leather work, and ideally has a softer face. I prefer this type of hammer for chasing and repoussé. The face should wear down nicely, in tune with my own striking rhythm, and will fit me perfectly. I have another cobbler's hammer, but made the mistake of letting someone else use it. Then the hammer conformed to her rhythm and it's never felt right to me since.
Now I have my own, and I'm going to be especially selfish with it.
How does a girl greet a new hammer?
Well first, I take off my rings. Rings and hammers don't get along.
Then I test the weight and heft, how it falls into my hand.
Run my palms over all of the surfaces to check edges
Yup, it feels good. The handle is a little short and fat, but I can still put it to work.
Next week I will change it over to a standard hammer handle, slimming down the upper neck section
so it's a bit springier.
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I'm teaching a workshop this weekend at Tunnel Mill in Minnesota. This is one of my favorite groups to work with, so I'm really looking forward to it. I'll be there until Saturday night. Any orders will be shipped out on Monday.
I get to sleep in one of these.
Sweet.
I've been working. Really!
I've got a rush job to finish this weekend. Every job is a rush job, but in this case, I like the Contractor enough to really rush it. I'm also getting prepared to teach a workshop in Minnesota next weekend, and to sell at an art show at the end of July in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
I turned 40 yesterday. So far so good ;)
For my gift, I got exactly what I picked out.
Oh yes. I've got some tv watchin to do, along with a margarita, some angel food cake and fresh strawberries. Here's my fantabulous Buffy set. 
We've watched 4 episodes so far. I forgot how good that show really was.
I really have been going into the studio a little bit. I'm warming up with leaves, stocking up for art fairs at the end of July and then mid September. It's hard to believe I can work anywhere near this messy bench.
I'll show you leaves when I have a big pile done (for a more interesting photo.)
For now I'll show you a few tools. I got this great pair of old steel needlenose pliers at The Tool Barn when I was in Maine. The pliers feel good, look good, and are oh so strong. My husband is jealous.
Here are a few stakes that I use, made from some sort of modified punch, perhaps jackhammer bits. They fit right into the pritchell holes on my anvils. If you are taking one of my workshops, you might want to try to make a similar tool before you come. I do share, but you'll want your own.
I use this one for much of my leaf forming, a very simple nice V shape. I use the outside edges too, for general forming.
This is my other favorite, a simple curved over thumb shape. I use this for almost all of my sheet metal work. You need one of these. In fact, I need more. Does anyone know where I can get more punches in this general shape to modify?
See that first hammer in the background? It's an old chipping hammer. You can see the forging marks on it. I use it for texture and forming smaller leaves. I modified the sharp edges just a bit, but left dings in it for character.
I Love my tools.
(My husband, before he was my husband, knew this and gave me lots of handforged tools when he was wooing me. Smart guy.)
