Hello from Seattle

[Denise Minard]

Nice to find this association. I'm pretty new to metal working. I'm a student at Pratt. I took a welding class. Now I'm taking a blacksmithing class from Vance Wolfe. My mother would SO disapprove. Looking forward to learning more, making more & seeing other's work.

[Larry L]

Welcome! We have lots of other workshops in the area

[Rashelle]

Cool and welcome to the NWBA. LOL me mum does approve.

Rashelle

[Lynn Gledhill]

Nice to find this association. I'm pretty new to metal working. I'm a student at Pratt. I took a welding class. Now I'm taking a blacksmithing class from Vance Wolfe. My mother would SO disapprove. Looking forward to learning more, making more & seeing other's work.

Welcome Denise!! Glad to have ya! You have got to make the spring conference in Longview... The conferences are a blast and you can learn so much... Try also to get into some of the hands-on classes... I promise, you'll LOVE it!!

[Denise Minard]

Welcome Denise!! Glad to have ya! You have got to make the spring conference in Longview... The conferences are a blast and you can learn so much... Try also to get into some of the hands-on classes... I promise, you'll LOVE it!!

Thanks! I saw info about the spring conference, got all excited, then realized it was the info for THIS year's conference. That's OK. I've marked my calendar for that time...assuming it will be around the same weekend in 2012. No doubt more information is forthcoming. Can't wait!

[J Wilson]

Spring Conf 2012 is planned for Apr 27-29, Longview, Wa. Are you planning to join the NWBA? The Hot Iron News will provide information leading up to it.

[Denise Minard]

Spring Conf 2012 is planned for Apr 27-29, Longview, Wa. Are you planning to join the NWBA? The Hot Iron News will provide information leading up to it.

I have already joined, actually. Great. Now my plans are solid. I know where I'm going to be April 27-29, 2012.

[Ries]

What kind of a mother would disapprove?

There are lots of woman blacksmiths, including some really good ones around here, like Lisa Geertsen http://www.firelightforge.com/
Maria Cristalli http://mariacristalli.com/
Erica Gordon http://www.steeltoestudios.com/about.html
and
Lauren Osmolski http://laurenosmolski.com/laurenosmolski.com/Home.html
just to name a few.

And nationally, there are dozens of really great women blacksmiths-
a few of them I have been lucky enough to meet include-
Elizabeth Brim http://www.abana.org/resources/galle...rs/ebrim.shtml
Dorothy Stiegler http://stieglermetaldesign.com/Home_Page.html
Corrina Mensoff http://phoenixmetalwork.com/
Lorelei Sims http://www.blacksmithchic.com/
Maegan Crowley http://womenwhodesignthewest.wordpre...ey-blacksmith/

there are actually women blacksmiths who are MOTHERS themselves.

So, nothing to be ashamed of, you are in good company.

[Denise Minard]

What kind of a mother would disapprove?

The pre-feminist kind. I was just telling my blacksmith class tonight about being a high school junior in 1971, & wanting to take shop classes, but the @%$& guidance counselor would not let me, because "girls are afraid of machines". Seriously. This is what we grew up with. My mother, who was a proper lady and pretty much clueless, would not back me up, as she believed that wood shop and/or metal shop were inappropriate pursuits for a girl. My God. How ever would I find a husband if I knew how to operate a lathe? And she was probably worried that I might harm myself. So, it took me 40 years, but I'm finally taking metal shop And I extend a double-digit salute to old Mr. What's-his-face, the guidance counselor.

[Eric G]

The pre-feminist kind. I was just telling my blacksmith class tonight about being a high school junior in 1971, & wanting to take shop classes, but the @%$& guidance counselor would not let me, because "girls are afraid of machines". Seriously. This is what we grew up with. My mother, who was a proper lady and pretty much clueless, would not back me up, as she believed that wood shop and/or metal shop were inappropriate pursuits for a girl. My God. How ever would I find a husband if I knew how to operate a lathe? And she was probably worried that I might harm myself. So, it took me 40 years, but I'm finally taking metal shop And I extend a double-digit salute to old Mr. What's-his-face, the guidance counselor.

aha guidance counselors ... were any of them ever helpful?i remember mine from highschool ... i always figured he was someone with a degree that couldnt find a real job..was no help whatsoever ! I wish you all the fun you can stand forging away!