PUBLIC AUCTION OF ORNAMENTAL IRONWORK - JULY 18, 7 P.M.
Thresherman's Park, Pontiac, Illinois

The Upper Midwest Regional Blacksmith Conference is a biannual event sponsored by three Midwest artist blacksmith associations consisting of over 800 members.  The 2009 Conference will for the first time include a public auction.  All items offered for sale at the auction are handcrafted by artist blacksmith members.  This will be a unique opportunity for proprietors of galleries and specialty decorator shops, gardeners, and all individuals looking to see and buy fine crafted ornamental ironwork.  Auction attendees will not be charged conference fees.  Viewing on day of sale beginning 3pm.

For more information, see the conference auction flyer available here.

IVBA SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING EVENTS

Attention all members that demonstrate at various fairs, festivals or old time reunions. I need your event information to list here. Please contact me at (618) 254-9235 or e-mail information to  augie@peaknet.net

Last updated on June 1, 2009

OPEN SHOPS
Open Forges at Mt. Vernon’s Pioneer Village blacksmith shop the 2nd Saturday. Bring dish for Pot luck lunch. The Sugar Grove Forge is located at Sugar Grove Nature Center and is open the 3rd Saturday of each month. Lunch is on your own. We are at the Carlinville shop for a work day every Wednesday from about 10:00 to 3:00 any one wanting to fire up a forge is welcome. Steve Knowles shop in Decatur has open forges on the 1st Saturday of the odd months for those in the Decatur area.

IVBA NEWS
NEW PUBLICATION! The Backyard Blacksmith, by Lorelei Simms. "Traditional Techniques for the Modern Smith" This book's detailed step-by-step full color exercises teach universal skills and techniques used to forge iron. There are more than twenty beautiful and functional projects organized by level of difficulty. 176 Pages paperbound. Price is $25. Lorelei Simms is a member of IVBA and owns and operates Five Points Blacksmith Shop in Charleston, Il. Contact her by email: lorelei@blacksmithchic.com or (217) 345-1159.

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IVBA now has the following videos available: Frank Turley New Salem Hammer-In (2003 Saturday session). This video shows many scroll ends, a hinge and a branding iron. Kirk Sullens UMBA Conference 2003. Topics include a frog, dogwood flower, pine branch and cone, elephant face hook, and copper alligator head and skin. Kirk Sullens January, 2004 at Scott and Tricia Springer Animal forms in sheet metal and tools for working sheet metal. From the Flames - April, 2004 DeWitt County Library Gallery Show with Mark Gardner, Mindy Gardner, Steve Parker, Betsy Poarker, Monte Campbell. IVBA 2004 Summer Conference with Bob Bergman on power hamer and basic forging techniques.(Available August, 2004) Each title is available as a DVD or VHS tape. The price is $15.00 each for IVBA members and $20.00 each for non-members, plus a $4.00 S/H fee per order. An order form is available here.

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Scholarships
From time to time special classes come along that charge a fee to attend. IVBA has generously provided scholarships to members to help out with a portion of the cost when needed. If you have been a lucky recipient of these funds, we'd like you to consider giving back to IVBA in these two ways: One, give a demonstration of what you've learned at that particular class and pass on the teaching tradition. Two, write an article about the class to submit in the Tuyere and or the web site. The art of blacksmithing is kept alive by those who care enough to pass it on.
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IVBA Membership: As an IVBA member, you can participate in IVBA Sponsored Classes, Workshops and Demonstrations offered throughout the year. You can attend and take part in the annual business meeting and be a part of the IVBA's future. You will receive a bimonthly newsletter "The Tuyere" free with your membership. "The Tuyere" provides information about:

· Past events
· Planned events
· Hints and How-to dos
· Book & Video reports
· IVBA officer and board member contact
· Annual membership list

If you have IVBA news & events, please e-mail: info@illinoisblacksmith.org