paola

Hi. Winter Craft School will again be hosting a 1 week craft program in Johannesburg for children and adults from 30 June to 4 July 2014. Vuka Design will be facilitating the blacksmith workshops. Please visit www.craftschoolsa.com. for more info and for bookings. It is an incredible opportunity for participants, as they are exposed to a host of traditional crafts taught by passionate crafters and get to make a special item in two of the crafts they choose for the week. See you there, Paola

Johannesburg, South Africa

Hi I see the South African Highveld group forum has gone quiet while I was away having a baby :) If anyone is still active on the forum and can help, I am wanting to buy 2 lengths of 40 mm x 8mm flat bar. Anyone have some in stock that I could buy, or know of a supplier that has some in stock in JHB? Thanks, Paola

Hi Frosty, I will scan the article and attach it. Thanks Wim

HI all. See article about Duduzile Khumalo the blacksmith in Drum Magazine, page 40, 18 June 2008. Starting at Vuka Design as a learner in 2004, she now supervises the training of 7 Deaf vocational learners who are currently making the wrought iron burglar bars for the St Vincent School for the Deaf Office, JHB. The article describes her journey, learning and teaching blacksmithing skills with youth at Vuka Design. Exciting!

Thank you, this is really helpful and interesting. I will edit my essay on the subject and post it. I used Alex W Bealer's book 'The Art of Blacksmithing" as a reference. Paola

I was hoping for some help. I am doing some research about blacksmithing and I am trying to define the difference between the following:

Hi. We were at the first Mediaval Fayre in Tswane this weekend. Vuka Design together with Shirley Higgins Forge set up two forges and 4 anvils. We made knives, little daggers and spears with all the enthusiastic children wanting to be knights. Some of the knights, who make their own armour, came and tried the forging. It was great fun. We will be there again next year. I will try to post some photos. Paola

Thanks, very helpful. I have made 4 of the ones you describe Dave, bigger without the clanger. Swinging them and then ringing them works well. I will try the clanger. I will also try the cylinder bell, sounds like one can get a good sound. Thanks for the reference Lukas, I will check it out. I would love to see a photo of the jingle type bell if possible. Thanks, Paola

Hi I have been experimenting, forging iron bells. I would love to hear from anyone that has succesfully forged any type of iron bell, or can suggest a cpontact or website.Thanks, Paola

Hi Glenn and Wim we had a fantastic forge-in on Saturday 13.10.07 at the Vuka Design workshop, JHB. I would like to attach some great photos of the day. How do I go about it? Thanks Paola

HI. Vuka Design is hosting the Sparks with Light Forge-in on Saturday 13 October 2007, at the VUka Design metal workshop at St Vincent School for the Deaf, 158 Oxford Rd, Melrose. I would like to attach the invite on the website to inform interested artists, metal and black smiths. webste navigation advice needed, Thanks Paola