We got to the W/BW residence on Sunday afternoon and were given the grand tour. In addition to the house & yard we got to meet their new ducklings and chicks, then the laying hens of the homestead, and finally the forge. What an awesome place that is!
WW has all sorts of projects and equipment and tools all over. I felt like I was at home in one of my dad's barns or garage, with the heavy tables and machinery all over. Tools covering every inch of space. The smell of metal and the woods - delightful! My heart was very happy there - I love machinery and tools, and also because there were beautiful projects and works of metal art all over the place.
The coolest part of the visit (besides the visit itself with these awesome people and getting a really cool new toy)? WE GOT TO PLAY IN THE FORGE!! That's right, WW let us forge some things. Using horseshoe nails he helped us make spice spoons. My hammering skills need some definite work, and my first attempt was scrapped. But then I made a decent spoon - with the help of a huge power hammer! J made a good spoon, too. WW let us finish the spoons with wire-brushing or sand-blasting. I had my spoon wire-brushed, but was a little too hesitant to use that machine, so WW finished mine for me. J decided to sand-blast his spoon and got to use the machine to do it. Once he had finished his spoon I even got to do one. It was so much fun! WW showed us how easy it would be to make our own mini forge, told us where to get tools, and really encouraged us in trying it out.
I cannot wait to have a place of our own so that we can get into some of this stuff, too!
J was very much inspired (as was I!) and he talked quite a bit about how we could build our own mini forge and start making things. I can't begin to properly describe just how excited this made me - so happy! I've been in love with the idea of making and building things for quite a while (see previous posts!) and have actually wanted to take some classes or get some training to do metalwork. After this adventure I think there is a definite path in our future that will find us playing with some sort of a forge and metalworking. (As he was coming home from work the Monday after our trip, J talked to his dad and tried to make plans on where we could set up a tiny brick forge at his folks' house. I'm so giddy at this prospect!)
One reason we made this trip was so that WW and I could exchange the projects we'd done for each other - the socks I made for him, and the metalwork he made for me. I maintain I got the better end of the bargain, and I will have to make him something else because my socks are no where near as cool as this toy.
I'm going to gush a little here because this piece is just so incredible. It's a spool holder, a Lazy Kate-type object, which will hold three spools/bobbins with my singles on it. He made these lovely tendrils to guide the singles out to feed back into my wheel for plying. One of the really cool things about this new toy is what it's made from - there are bits from political signs and all sorts of scrap metal. He worked these random pieces of metal into such a beautiful work of art - morning glory-entwined tendrils, blades of grass, and even a snake! It's really heavy, but it doesn't look it. And so sturdy!
For those of my friends who are into metalwork or spinning or just awesome artwork - check out WW's forge: Wet Dog Forge. Commission a piece from him. Definite quality, artistic flair, and the best use of political sign-posts I've ever seen!
And here is the amazing piece of metalwork that I got in exchange (I think I really did get the better end of the bargain here!)
It's lovely! Complements my wheel beautifully, and even Buddy Cat approves!
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