Alex Bealer Blacksmith Association

Good summary Sean. I really would like to see us pull this off next year. I'll start checking with the festivals listed in the EMC publication and pay a visit to the Cowboy Museum in Cartersville when I get a chance. But most of all we need participation. We can all forge something, even if it is simple. Or we can get together in groups to make something more challenging. But we just need to do it.

By the way, I think Al has the personality to be a great auctioneer.

Linda Holmes-Rubin

We could also schedule some work days where a group could get together and make something--like a candlestick. There could be some competition to see who makes the prettiest, most imaginative, or possibly, the weirdest. But it might be more fun with a group.

This would also work well for a larger piece as a centerpiece to the auction--like a screen or gate or chandelier, where the work would be too much to ask of one smith to do.

Linda Holmes-Rubin

The earlier we could set a date and place for this the better. If we could post a listing of items that would be available it might also draw some people. Photos might help in this as well. I hate the idea that it would be just another "Ho Hum", last minute, thrown together thing instead of an EVENT. I would like for there to be two classes of items for sale or auction. 1. Tooling and miscellaneous items and 2. Items produced by the membership. In this last item, some time to produce would be a blessing.

Suggestions from some REAL smiths in our organization might be a help for us duffers.

As far as donations go I would be happy to make a knife or two. (I'm not really sure my art forgings would do much good)

Stephan

"Wisdom and experience are built of bricks made from the mud of failure." (Mike Blue)

Steve, your knives are fantastic and I'm sure would bring good bidding. I have some things I have collected that can be turned into projects. I have about 10 gas tanks used for illicit nitrous oxide confiscated by Rick at a concert. They make great decorative garden bells when suspended from a nice bracket. They sound like ship bells. I also have a ton of wine bottles (no smart comments, please) that I was planning to use as candle holders. The top would be cut off, and the remaining cup-shaped glass would hold a candle sitting on sand. This would go inside a forged holder, branches, leaves, or other shapes sprouting from a round base. I think these would be pretty and easy to do. I'm sure we can all come up with other ideas, based on our skill level.

So let's start planning so this can happen.

Linda

Linda Holmes-Rubin

All these thoughts are great. OBG has held auctions for a number of years in Dec and at a number of different places. We held them for 3 years in Macon at the Historical Museum thinking that the people there visiting would drift on over to the auction, but that never happened. We placed fliers around Macon and that didn't seem to help either.

This year will be our third year to hold it in Griffin at a church and last year we raised $3050.00 from it. David Cornet from Pine Mt is our auctioneer and I help him work the audience by commenting on the pieces and taking them around. Every year we ask members to invite outsiders to come but most people wont take the time to ask someone. I had 12 people come that I asked to come and they were the biggest spenders too. 99% of everything we auction off is hand forged items donated by members.

This year at Tannahill, the auction raised $5700.00 from donated forged items and even though there is a large RV park there and we had a number of the outsiders at the auction, they didn't spend much money.

Will an auction work; yes; but we as members have to work to make it a success.

Just my thoughts, and I am all for the auction to raise funds.

Interesting comments on who comes and who spends. I think a church would be a good location, they would probably be willing to let us use their space, especially if they could set up a bake sale or something to benefit them as well. As far as bringing outsiders, that is the big issue. Does anyone attend a church in one of the towns, like Blue Ridge, that has a pretty good tourist crowd? Blue Ridge has a number of galleries and craft shops, so their visitors are on the lookout for craft things to buy. But other Georgia towns are also trying to bring in the arts crowd, so anyone out there have a connection they can talk to? Ideally, the church would be located on the main drag, so visitors to the shops can just wander over. And of course flyers at the church and around town and in the shop windows and local paper might help. But the best would be for all of us to invite people. I think we should shoot for October. The weather is usually beautiful and a lot of people go to the mountains for the fall color.

Linda

Linda Holmes-Rubin

One good idea was about fitting it into an already established event.
I know that the annual affair at Toccoa in October draws an ever increasing crowd. It is up to a two-day event now. I do not suggest this event, but the idea seems to be a good one unless someone else can think of reasons otherwise.