my love of Pepe

How do i love thee, Pepe?
Let me count the ways....
My new Pepe disc cutter. Rockin' smooth knurled knob raises and lowers the top platten. So lovely. I contacted them about becoming a dealer. Someday... not too far in the distant future. Not surprisingly they have hefty requirements for dealers. One of which was a storefront and I am not too interested in being chained to a retail store. Though I'm contemplating open by appointment. Anywho.... I highly recommend....

Short Sugar & the Willow Oak

This is my little Short Sugar, a ferrier's anvil that Robert gave me as my MFA graduation present. It came from NC Tool. Also pictured is my sinking stump. I had a favorite tree one street over from our apartment that Sharon Massey and I shared in G-vegas. One day in the spring of 06 Robert came to visit. I took him by the tree it looked like some old tree out of Lord of the Rings! And huge Ent of a thing. We looked it up and as best we can figure it was a HUGE willow oak. Two days later at 8 am I heard chain saws!!! Some redneck tree removal company was cutting her down! I cried! I walked on to ECU and then realized, hey! I could maybe get one of the stumps! So I ran back and talked with the dudes and they let me pick out an upper branch and cut it into three beautiful stumps for me and brought them to the apartment with a bobcat. I tried to pay them with a case of beer but they refused. They were all reformed alcoholics and had a bible thumper for a boss. Hana Jubran from the sculpture dept at ECU took most of the large pieces of the tree. It took Robert and I and a few damaged shins to get two of the stumps to Wilmington. Then a friend who is both a blacksmith and master arborist, shaped the hollows for my sinking stump.
I was at ECU last weekend and took this shot. I'm reasonably sure these are the trunk of that same tree. So it is being reborn through artists!

Studio Chaos!

So I thought I'd share pics of my studio. And trust me it really is less chaotic than it appears! It is small but everything has its place. I downsized last August from an 18 x 24 sized studio that I rented for a pretty penny, to this little half of a garage from the 30's. Its a bit damp too so I battle rust. But its CHEAP and in my back yard! So I can go out and work any hour, no 20 minute commute like I had at the glorious studio.
There are always trade offs.

Laurie Jane Kern and Superbowl Challenge

Jaurie Jane Kern commented with excitement that she got a Fretz hammer and two T stakes. Woo hoo! Let us know what you make with them!
Her blog is here.
While browsing over Laurie Jane's blog I found her link to this!
the Super Bowl Challenge!
Love it! We should all join the challenge!

New Stakes

My pal Marion shared these pics of her "new" stakes and hammers. a friend of hers gifted them. Need some clean up but aren't they just fantastic! What a haul!

BTW if you'e not dome it before, you can clean up old rusty items with rust removers from hardware stores. Then I put a square of wet/dry, preferably 3M, black sandpaper on a palm sander and go to town! Be sure your starting with a low grit 220 maybe? Then move up as you take out scratches.This method is good for flatish items.
I often finish rounded items by taping sandpaper to my thigh, sitting in a chair and watching a film, while I wet sand on my leg with a fine grit and drip or two of water. This is so that if the surface of your stake is rounded you aren't putting facets on its face. My thigh is just a substitute since I don't have a nice wet lap sander. My studio is very damp and I'm hear on the coast, so I'm cleaning hammer faces and such a lot!

Hammer Love

My pal Marion at Arrowmont displaying emotion I think we all feel at times.

New Year New Stuff!

Would anyone like to share a new toy/tool you received for Christmas or Hanukkah?
Feel free to email me melissamanleymetal@yahoo.com and share your pic.
I received a lead filled rawhide mallet! I asked for one after Samantha Barnett of Reborn Designs raved about hers and let me try it. Rio, and Contenti both have them and I'm sure other places do too.
I love it! I've always used a plain ole rawhide mallet but with the lead it has a wonderful heft. Contenti also mis-shipped my other present from Robert a lovely Fretz hammer...should be here soon!