Thursday, December 24, 2015

Merry Christmas and Happy Yule

  A big thank you to all of my customers this year!  I've had fun learning my craft and I am humbled by the amount of support  I have received.  I already have orders to fill for the new year and a lot of ideas to get from the drawing board to the booth.
  My new helper is an awesome asset and  a great friend.  There is a few projects that literally could not have happened with out his help.  Thank You Good Sir!!!!
  I'm looking forward to all the exciting things that will be happening this year, puppies are on the way, we will be branching out with semi custom knives and tomahawks, more sterling silver goods and adding a mobile forge to the venues where that would be appropriate.  I hope to see everyone at the spring shows.
       Now go enjoy the holiday!!!!!

Sunday, December 20, 2015

New designs for the spring time

Continuation of the leaf motif, now available on the pokers.
Also we are planning on having rail road spike tomahawks available in different styles

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Custom hooks from start to finish

Here is the concept drawing that was sent to the customer for approval


Then off to the forge for a prototype
The twist wasn't very appealing to me or the customer so we went without the twist
We were both much happier with this look so off to the forge for more of the same
The 2 hooks on the right are for another customer who saw the hooks and wanted some with longer tops so he could hang his expensive Stetsons.
Here is the hooks in my customer's home after he found just the right piece of wood to hang them on.
Since I've had a lot of positive reaction to the hooks I'll probably start making these a stock item

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Zombie Tomahawk Prototype MKI no mod


Here is the 2nd rail road spike tomahawk prototype.  This one has a chunk of spring steel welded on for a nice cutting edge.  The spike works pretty good also. We are going to be bringing these to shows in the spring after we refine the process a bit and pretty them up.  We have a couple of designs we'd like to offer and they'll be posted as we get them done.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

I was playing on the forge after banging  out a customer's order and this is what I made.  If I weld on a spring steel cutting edge I think one of these would make a fun little pack/camp axe.  I might try to make a bowl adze using a similar technique.  I'll keep you posted.

Monday, November 30, 2015

Nice picture of the anvil and the hammer.

BOTTLE OPENERS!




HBI'S largest project from start to finish. This was an order that was asked of us to do for their business. It was hard with a little shop but fun!


                                                                        painted washers.
                                                                      painted and shiny.
                                                                             primed
                                                                  hanging ready for paint
                                                                      fancy scroll work
                                                                tacking on scroll work
                                                              fancy bit on bobs welded on
                                                           fire and iron, what a great sight
                                                            the very first parts welded on

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Silver Cloak Pinsssss!!!!!

Solid Sterling Silver Hand Wrought  Cloak/Scarf Pins
There will be more designs in the forthcoming days.

We'll be at the Chickadee restaurant in Barnum,MN on Saturday November 28th and Sliver cloak pins are back in stock!

Here's a link to the Chickadee.  We hope you can stop by and see us.

There will some pics of the cloak pins up soon, google is being a twat and is not letting the pics from my upload to blogger.
I hope everyone has a Turkey Day with lots of food and very little stress.

Monday, November 9, 2015

We'll be at the Pine Tree Plaza (the mall) in Cloquet, MN Friday and Saturday Fri 10-5 and Sat 9-4


We're trying to have lot's of stocking stuffers ready for the show

 Get off the porch and run with the big dogs



Be an early bird so you get the best selection

Friday, October 2, 2015

The intsa grate in action



This my old fire pit that I have used this past year.  The cast iron is being used for a sausage stew. I start a fire off to side of the insta-grate and basically use the fire to generate coals for cooking.
Arms lifted out of the way to scrape coals underneath


I put in a new fire pit that is in a more sheltered location.  It was used for the first time last night.  I'll be making more iron work to spiff the area up.

Noodles being cooked while an MRE is be warmed.  Hot water on the boil for tea.

Friday, September 18, 2015

Still here....I think...and still busy even when I'm not in the shop!

New Dog
Now my little girl shepard has a boyfriend.  He is/was a rescue.  He is starting to figure out how things are ran on the farm.  His first lesson was it is painful to chase chickens.  It's been a few weeks and now he helps guard the flock like the other hounds.  I'm still trying to fatten him up but I think he burns up all the calories I feed him being a teen aged boy and doing laps around the farm. Why is there 4 times more hair when I only added 1 more dog?!?
Cyberdyne Systems Model Kilo-Niner
You've been targeted!
In Addition to more 4 leggers being acquired the new spring chickens are looking like happy chickens.  Most of the meat birds didn't survive the mini heat wave we had.  Of course it was the week before the butchering was planned.  I lost my ass on that deal.
Chickens doing that chickeny thing.
It has been a busy summer and it is hard to believe the leaves are already changing.  I've met a lot of interesting people this summer and made a few new friends.  I've been having fun doing some custom orders,  and I might make them stock items in future. 
A tasty beverage holder for your patio.

I bought me a new recurve bow and I am trying to get back in to form.  Progress has been made.
That's all for now and I'll definitely maybe try to be better about updating this here blog.



Friday, July 10, 2015

Busier than a one-legged man at an ass kicking contest

So very sorry about the light posting.  Thinks have picked up (which is good) so I've spent a lot of time in the shop.  I will have new product to show you and more pics of birds and bunnies.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

A busy week ahead and a weekend full of shows

The first part of the week is being spent on a custom fence.















 It has a very specific purpose and is being built to be very stout.  It is in two sections so it will be man portable and easier to install.
  Artistic license has been granted.

 If the weather cooperates I will be at 3 shows this weekend.  Friday I will be at the Cloquet Public Library from 10-4
  Saturday I'll be at Moose Lake Riverside Arena for the flea market.
  Sunday if the weather cooperates I'll be in the bustling metropolis of Mahtowa, MN

  Now if I can get my stock replenished, things will be going great!











Monday, June 15, 2015

Hooks in their new home

A customer sent me a picture of his Damascus barrel shotgun that he hung up with some of my bigger sized hooks.  We spent some time searching through the various sized hooks trying to find a couple that we thought would work......the search was fruitful and the results made every one happy.

The big hook in the middle is close to size of hooks we picked out.  That's what they look like before they are hung on the wall.



Friday, June 12, 2015

Breaking in the new shop monkey!

The new shop monkey has almost worn out a saw blade with all the sawing she has been doing.   She takes the work very seriously:
We worked hard this week and got a bunch of hooks made and more insta-grates ready.  It's a lovely day so we are going canoeing.
See you tomorrow at Moose Lake.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Fun with "church keys"


These bottle openers still need a little time with the wire wheel.  I thought it would be fun to make a few look like an old fashioned key.  Hopefully they sell well.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015


A wee Dutch rabbit.  5 days old.  A member of the first litter of the spring.
Another Dutch's offspring.   Things are looking good so far.  I'll try to keep y'all updated on their progress.
Small rabbit or big hands, you decide.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Fun with shield cages

I've got an order for some shield cages and basket hilts and here is the first one in the group.  I was channeling my inner road warrior I think.   For those of you who are unfamiliar with a shield cage it is to protect your hand while fighting with sticks SCA style.