"How's 'A Girl' End Up At The Forge?"

One of the things I get asked most often at Drunken Smithy is how I ended up at the forge. I always laugh and joke that "I have a degree in blowtorch!" and that's the truth! 🤣

When I was 12, I was the token girl in carpentry club, sporting my signature overalls and contractor boots even back then, winning the solar car race, spot welding tiny windmills, and showing off my miniature house at the PA Farm Show.

I was intrigued by the arts- writing, painting, tinkering, sculpting, baking, and taking photos. I entered college at SIUC in pursuit of a fashion degree, and fell deeply in love with precious metals. I learned how to cut, solder, raise, cast, enamel, and repousse, and yeah, I learned my way around a blowtorch 🤣

I graduated with a Bachelor's in Applied Science & Art...into the economic depression of 2008... Throughout the years I tried-and failed- to get my passion off the ground. The Xarata Project was a year long art challenge to create a piece every week. Armed & Inspired was an attempt to sell my work on etsy and hit the craft show circuit. I sold a few pieces a month, but when I came home with a new baby and an order to fill, I retired the shop for good. And, like many artists, I was waiting tables and slinging drinks all the while. When I became a crafter of custom cocktails, I laughed, grabbed an orange peel, and told my patrons: "You know, I DO have a degree in blowtorch! 😉"

2020 rolled in with a worldwide pandemic that hit the hospitality industry hard. I got a second job, I got covid, and I got quarantined. And there I was, sitting on my couch, facebooking and evaluating my life when an apprentice call crossed my feed- the Drunken Smithy was looking for a female apprentice. I thought...that sounds fun...I'm kind of qualified for that...I do have a degree in blowtorch 🤔

I auditioned at an axe class, and the Smiths gave a roar, cracked a punny joke, patted my back with ash covered hands, and gave me 3 walls at The Drunken Smithy...and a blowtorch 🤣

Thus we embark on the epic adventures of The Metal Mixologist @ Drunken Smithy 😉

A Day At The Forge

My five year old is enamored with the notion that mommy does 'real life Minecraft's everyday. He begged for months to come to the forge, and finally, that magical day came...

*These photos aren't stellar, because I am a mom and safety is important 😉

"I'm doing it!!!"

And it sticks!

The targets were a bit far for a little dude, so we took a swing at some more his stride 😉

Roasting marshmallows on the finished product!

Twisting his skewer. He was a fan of a lot of twist!

Browsing the ample sword collection, he found a 'gold' sword just like Peter Pan's!

"Google imprints let people know you're cool!" he wore his safety goggles the whole way home!

Smithy classes are marketed for adults, but children 10 and up are often included with parental supervision and a waiver.

Private classes have been arranged for younger audiences. While scout classes have been discussed, they aren't currently offered publicly. You can contact The Drunken Smithy with private class requests. Each minor must be accompanied by a supervising parent/guardian and waivers are required for anyone who takes a class at The Smithy. Campfire skewers and fire pokers are great starter projects not requiring the use of heavy machinery. 

*Forges are hot, loud, and full of dangerous sharp things. My 5 year old and I had months of safety conversations, and I wouldn't have brought him to the forge if I wasn't confident he would observe safety precautions. Never once did my son try to grab something hot- even with gloved hands. He wore goggles, long pants, long sleeves, and leather gloves-and he got his own private class, because those are the perks of having a metalsmith for a mom. Forging isn't for everyone- adults included- but with the right mindset and a commitment to safety, it sure is a lot of fun! 😁

A Day At The Forge

My five year old is enamored with the notion that mommy does 'real life Minecraft's everyday. He begged for months to come to the forge, and finally, that magical day came...

*These photos aren't stellar, because I am a mom and safety is important 😉

"I'm doing it!!!"

And it sticks!

The targets were a bit far for a little dude, so we took a swing at some more his stride 😉

Roasting marshmallows on the finished product!

Twisting his skewer. He was a fan of a lot of twist!

Browsing the ample sword collection, he found a 'gold' sword just like Peter Pan's!

"Google imprints let people know you're cool!" he wore his safety goggles the whole way home!

Smithy classes are marketed for adults, but children 10 and up are often included with parental supervision and a waiver.

Private classes have been arranged for younger audiences. While scout classes have been discussed, they aren't currently offered publicly. You can contact The Drunken Smithy with private class requests. Each minor must be accompanied by a supervising parent/guardian and waivers are required for anyone who takes a class at The Smithy. Campfire skewers and fire pokers are great starter projects not requiring the use of heavy machinery. 

A Rose By Any Other Name...

 I modeled these off gardenias, making them a unique standout from typical copper roses.

I'm team natural copper, myself, but what's your favorite- rainbow or shine?

Copper Quills

 

Copper quills are Metal Mixologist originals, and a bestseller from my solo days. They're especially popular as copper anniversary gifts and wedding accents. It's amazing what a scissor cut can do on sheet metal!

The Troll Hole

 

When I first started casting bronze at the smithy, I was informed we had a troll hole. I absolutely went in looking for trolls, and came up sorely empty handed. This was promptly remedied 😉

Meet Zen and Dundee, our sewer trolls, protectors of the realm, guardians of the smelter. 

One ring to rule them all...

 

Damascus rings are a genuine team effort. Eitri crafts the damascus ingot, drills it out, and hands it off for me to turn into wedding bands.