Kedleston hall Demonstrations Plant & Garden event 28-29/5/11

Again I had the privilege to do demonstrations at the National trust Building Kedleston hall. This time I was part of the Plant &Garden event. There were many different local businesses selling alsorst from hand made Terracotta pots to sculpted British animals by Lynn. The weather looked like it was going to take a turn for the worse but the sun stayed out and the families piled in! There was other demonstrators and even hook a duck!
As ever I got tot talk to new people about my crusade in Blacksmithing with a very positive response!

I will be back there in 2 weeks time doing it all again! Why not pop down to see what its all about?

Photo by Mark Nelson

Official Blacksmith to Adam Ant (I iwish!)

All work and no play makes hayley a sad girl! So I went to see Adam Ant! yes any of you who know me are aware of my obsession with the 80's.

I have already seen the human league and Gary Numan but Adam has always been my favourite! I was so so excited to see him! and he was amazing!!! I am now plotting some Adam inspired work.....should be interesting!

Week in the life of a Blacksmith - 30/4/11 day 7

Final day! First day (of 3) of Willington Arts festival!

Beautiful work inside..

And out.....

Including my new garden ranges!! in a fabulous setting

and even examples of me and Brenda (the host) work together!I love Brendas Mosaics!

The sun was shinning and we even managed to find 5min for an icecream! thanks Brenda! : )

Week in the life of a Blacksmith - 29/4/11 day 6

Day 6-
Final planning for Willington Arts festival.

were I will be showing off my new garden ranges!! : )

Week in the life of a Blacksmith - 28/4/11 day 5

Day 5
getting ready for a day at the forge, Iv got my flat cap and lunch : ) what could possibly go wrong! Now im making the baot hook this morning, then I shall wonder round and take loads of picis of the others working on the site! and then off to set up my work for the Willingotn Arts festival! BUSY BUSY! Then hopefuly some more painting if its nice when I get home

the boat hook:

yes a lot of sawing was involved so I know have a huge blister!

eventaly manage to start the forge work! : ) and make the pointed hook part.

Then the curvy bit!

Then I forgot to take photos as I has to flatten the one inch thick square into 3mm flat....... so about 1 1/2 hrs later..

Finnished! so I shall now go deliver it......
and yay! one very happy customer! happy with the quality and the price! job done! this makes me soooooo happy!!!
Now got to go and set up for the Willington arts festival, which includes 2 car loads!! hopefuly I will get around to eating some dinner later! busy busy!!

Week in the life of a Blacksmith - 27/4/11 day 4

Day 4-
and yes all the easter eggs have been eaten! : P
SO first task of the day was to find a new steel supplier and coke supplier..... long phone calls and didnt really get very far.
However good news- my friend had spotted my custard cream.... on BBC SNOOKER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS!! it took me ages to find it but I finaly got this pic..

Aslo new commission today_ a traditional canal boat hook! it looks really good and im very excited about this! so much so im going to make it tomorow!

Was watching something on the old TV last nite about Habitat and Liberty choosing their new ranges..... I have now set the task of going next year..... I just need to think of any ideas! any one with any old catalogues, sling them my way please! : ) Im thinking my antlers as they are going to be a big hit in Country homes and interiours!

now im looking at pocket watches so that I dont feel left out at the next victorian steam in at Claymills! : )
Next commission and quotes- Keddleston Hall boot scrapers...
it was snowing the last time I was there! cold but very pretty!

Week in the life of a Blacksmith - 26/4/11 day 3

Day 3-
AKA easter day! yummmy!
The day started early with me evaluating the craft fair and coming up with some new great ideas for the next one (August)

Oh and when I retured home last nite I was greeted with an Easter egg hunt!!!! LOVE IT! SO it was todays task to try not to eat them all at once!heres hoping!

So I have a few quotes to work out today ...

However I decided to take a walk as numbers hurt my head! and saw these!!!

Back to the grind and I continued sketching and general "office" work - rather be in the forge!
yummmm fist and chips for tea... I was thinking of setting up my forge outside and do demos as it was very busy!

Week in the life of a Blacksmith - 25/4/11 day 2

Day 2-
Steam in again!!!! love it!
The morning as ever started with pranks......to my precious baby Neon!! Gasp!!

After this I was given a challenge by Paul the traditional wood turner to make a tiny horse shoe! and I was quite proud of mine! : )
I got a new badge too!!

At Claymills there is a rat trail for the kids (and big kids) and I found one on the shaft! twirling around!!! and his name is.... Dizzy!!! haha! We also had a new edition for the kidz- a water pit with boats! whoop next to the sand pit (which had no sand in!) Well I enjoyed playing with them!

Amongst my other demo pieces one of them way... "oh hayley I have a job you can do for me- make me 3 links of chain about the size of sink chain.........." (pulls face) iv never made chain before but I will have a go! And so I did, and it wasn't too bad! and payment for this job was..... CAKE! yes I will work for cake! : )
Everyone in the craft fair was having fun and been creative with the site! We also had a new recruit...

Paul the wood turner also had a new recruit! yes Jayne you! : P 
Jayne made the most beautiful dibber! and we all had fun watching their comedy act!  By this point all the cake had been eaten and people were going home and I was sad to see that baby Neons rash had expanded.......

Week in the life of a Blacksmith - 24/4/11 day 1

Day1-
Claymills steam in day one! Frantic morning! running around and getting the craft fair organised! hectic! but 10am comes and the fair is ready and the forge is lit! But first order of the day.... the first ride on the tractor engine!! whooop! and Claymills looks so much cooler from the back of a tractor engine!! : ) So I was a happy bunny!
Back in the forge and busy working away, made some more dragon bottle openers and made some more friends! and Family of course and I made my Nan a gift which she loved! : )

I also had the lovely privilege of seeing my old Uni lecturer! and his lovely wife! We had a great discussion and they were as encouraging as ever! Then got to see fellow Doc Marten lover Gillian and co! was great to see you all again!

Brenda my mosaics friend also popped over to pick up the table legs I had made and to bring over the gorgeous set for my chair.

Then height of excitement! I got to ring the bell to alert everyone that we were starting the beam engines! yay!
I was also graced with the presence of Mike! my other lecturer!!! and I gave him a grand tour and went to the Victorian bath and everything!!

5pm came and as everyone had left we all descended into the forge to do a little filming with the others for Blue Peter!!! was so funny!!!
Cant wait until tomorrow!!

Claymills Easter stem-in

We were in steam! for the first time since I was there! and it was so AMAZING!! the site was buzzing with activity's and life! I even had the chance to organise a craft fair for this event! We had the classic car club come down, motorised Maccarno, garden railway wonderful home made cake and of course me doing demos!
I had chance to showcase my new garden ranges and the weekend was a great success!
Id love to see you at the next one!! 29-30th May!

Claymills Classic Car Club!

Every month there is a classic car club meet @ Claymills!!! who knew!! I had great fun! there was a wide range of vintage beauty from VW campers to Morris Minors and of course my baby Neon! : )
He made lots of new friends human and metal! Was a great evening and I will be making a regualur aperance! and Claymills made the mose georgeous backdrop for photos!!