Looking Ahead to Upcoming Events

This page updated August 24, 2010

Safety first is expected at all MABA events. Safety glasses must be worn during demonstrations.

Guests are welcome! Anyone interested in learning more about blacksmithing is encouraged to attend. Please review these safety issues before attending an event.

A typical MABA event

Sharing information is what it's all about! The date and time is usually Saturday at noon. Many of the members work Saturday morning or need travel time so noon has worked out well for our group. Gathering at noon we share a pot-luck lunch and plenty of conversation. Please bring a dish to pass, a bag of chips or a desert, if you are able. This is a great time to get to know the other members, ask questions and share information. The event is typically held at a member's shop and the host is often the demonstrator for the afternoon. Members, guests and visitors attending will spend about 2 hours enjoying the demonstration. At the end of every demonstration the group has an Iron-In-The-Hat.   The "Hat" receives hand forged items following a theme (fork, trivet, letter opener, etc) or any item of interest for a blacksmith (stock, tools, books, etc). These items contributed by the members are then raffled off with the funds going to keep the membership dues low and to support the group's bimonthly publication, The Upsetter. Four times a year the group has a business meeting. Three meetings are held at a demonstration and the fourth is our Annual elections/meeting/Auction/Pot-luck Christmas party in December. The calendar listing will note if the demonstration will also be a business meeting and what the project is for Iron-In-The-Hat.

Also listed on the calendar

Other activities around Michigan will also be listed on the calendar. These include events where MABA blacksmiths have been invited to demonstrate and/or sell to the public. Please consider attending these activities as they are another wonderful way to gain and share information about blacksmithing.

The last activities included on the calendar are events hosted by ABANA or other ABANA affiliates.

Please contact an Officer for pertinent information about any activity.

Calendar

January 2010

  • Saturday, January 23, at noon
  • Hosted by Kevin Keena & Owen Creteau, CJ Forge
    Hazel Park, MI
    Demonstration: A variety of end details - "Heart, spade, rams-horn, leaf, penny, fishtail"
    Iron-In-The-Hat: Trivet

February

  • SUNDAY, February 21, at noon
  • Hosted by Larry Carrigan at Shady Maple Forge
    Rives Junction, MI
    Demonstration: Colonial Candle Holder
    Iron-In-The-Hat: Candle holder

March

  • Saturday, March 13, at noon
  • MABA Business Meeting
    Hosted by Kathleen & Tim Carr at Black Bear Forge
    Muskegon MI
    Demonstration: David Wareham will demonstrate using Guilders Paste as a finish.
    Iron-In-The-Hat: Anything with a leaf

April

  • April 24, 2010 Starting at 10:00 a.m.
  • Hosted by Kevin Casey
    Hickory Corners, MI 49060
    Demonstration starting at 10 a.m.,
    Kevin will develop a Damascus billet on his power hammer & press.
    After lunch, Kevin will demonstrate his induction forge.
    Iron-In-The-Hat: Letter Opener

May

  • Saturday, May 8, 2010 at noon
    Hosted by Ron Bishop
    Ypsilanti, MI
    Power Hammer demonstration
    Iron-In-The-Hat: Coat Hook
  • Annual Bat House Forge Weekend Hammer-In
    Friday, Saturday & Sunday, May 21, 22, 23, 2010
    MABA Business Meeting - Sunday
    Hosted by Lance & Denise Olson
    Parma, MI
    Iron-In-The-Hat: Marshmallow Fork
  • 2010 NOB Annual Hammer-in
    April 30, May 1, May 2 2010
    Defiance, OH

June

  • June 17-19, 2010
    Harrison MI, 4 miles west on M-61
    Twenty Lake Tractor & Old Engine Show
    Blacksmiths are invited to attend or demonstrate.
  • June 2010 (Always the last Sunday in June)
    You are invited to The Blacksmith Festival and Log Cabin Day
    Sponsored by:
    The Waterloo Area Historical Society, Jackson County
    The Waterloo Farm Museum, Jackson County, Waterloo, MI
    Blacksmiths are invited to demonstrate for the public

July

  • July 2010 (Always the 3rd FULL weekend in July)
  • You are invited to Wood Shaving Days
    Sponsored by Friends of Hartwick Pines
    Hartwick Pines State Park, Grayling, MI
    Blacksmiths are invited to demonstrate for the public

August

  • August 2010 (Always the 3rd weekend in August)
    Oakley Old Engine Show, located near Oakley, MI
    Free camping and admission for demonstrators, coal provided.
    Blacksmiths are invited to demonstrate and or sell to the public.
  • August 2010 (Always the 4th FULL weekend in August)
    You are invited to Black Iron Days
    Sponsored by Friends of Hartwick Pines
    Hartwick Pines State Park, Grayling, MI
    Blacksmiths are invited to demonstrate for the public

September

  • August-September, 2010
    U.P. Steam and Gas Engine Show Labor Day Weekend
    Located at the U.P. State Fairground in Escanaba, MI
    Blacksmiths are invited to demonstrate and or sell to the public.
  • SOFA September 24-26, 2010
    http://www.sofablacksmiths.org
    Gallery project: "Mixed metals," items that have been made of at least 50% iron and 30% nonferrous metals.
    Southern Ohio Forge and Anvil Quadstate Round-up
    Miami County Fair Grounds - Troy, OH

October

  • Friday, Saturday & Sunday - October 8, 9, 10
    Cokewell Weekend Hammer-In
    MABA Business meeting Sunday October 10 at noon
    Lake City MI 49651
    Iron-In-The-Hat: Something from nature.
  • Second Sunday in October, Noon to 5pm
    You are invited to The Pioneer Day
    Sponsored by: The Waterloo Area Historical Society, Jackson County
    The Waterloo Farm Museum, Waterloo, MI
    Blacksmiths are invited to demonstrate for the public
  • Saturday, October 24, 11 a.m.
    Louis Mills will demonstrate how to make Japanese steel for swords.
    Ann Arbor, MI 48103
    Iron-In-The-Hat: Vegetable Cutter

November

December

  • December 4, 2010 at noon
    MABA sponsored event
  • MABA Annual Meeting and Christmas Party
  • No demonstration, great potluck dinner, annual meeting with election of officers, scholarship awards, tool box raffle and our big fund raising auction. Plan to bring the family!
  • MABA Auction at 2:00 pm. Public is welcome to attend the auction!
  • Trinity United Methodist Church Hall
    7533 West St Joseph
    Lansing, MI 48917

Safety First!

Whereas the craft of blacksmithing is a potentially dangerous activity, any guest/visitor attending an activity hosted by the Michigan Artist Blacksmith's Association will be required to sign the Liability Release form and wear safety glasses while in the demonstration area or during a demonstration or anytime ANY metal work is being preformed at the demonstration area.

Please turn in your signed release form to any MABA officer at the MABA event.

Guests and visitors to an event must understand the unique safety issues involved with hot iron. Sparks Fly! Tools Break!

  • Wear safety glasses.
  • Wear natural fiber clothes like cotton. Synthetics are more flammable and they melt, potentially contributing to serious burns.
  • Wear closed toe shoes, leather if possible, high top leather is best.
  • Assume all iron; stock, tools, vises etc. are HOT.
  • Resist the urge to grab for falling objects. They can be very HOT.
  • Wear Ear Protection!