In today's CRAFT Video I had the pleasure of blacksmithing with Alex Himmelbaum at Marsha Trattner's She-Weld studios in Red Hook, Brooklyn.
This was my very first time blacksmithing and Alex was an awesome teacher, keeping me informed and safe as we made this sweet paper towel holder.
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It is really cool to be a part of making your own one-of-a-kind pieces like this to add to your home.
This is the forge, the source of heat for your metal. You have to be very careful with your hair, and should not wear loose articles of clothing near it. Even around the forge is so hot you have to give it a wide berth for safety.
This is the hammered effect. Each divot was created by hitting the piece with a hammer when it is still red-piping hot, fresh out the forge. Check out the video to learn how to blacksmith, and see me try my hand at it for the first time!
Photos by Becky Stern.
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About the Author:
Meg Allan Cole is an actress, activist, DIYer, and founder of Enderby Designs. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her musician husband Will, rescue mutts Gracie & Milo, and bunny Linus Clyde. Meg blogs, has hosted home decor videos on Curbly, Etsy and created the show Decor It Yourself for Threadbanger.
Thank you amazing blog, do you have twitter, facebook or something similar where i can follow your blog
Sandro Heckler
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Love this! It's such an interesting process to watch! That curled end is AWESOME!
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Blacksmithing is fascinating to me. I've spent time with Rob Babcock, a metal worker in Georgia. He has a few videos on his website showing how to make a leaf, and how to use some of the specialized equipment. His company is Babcock Metal Works.
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