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It is with great sadness that we annouce the passing of Dewey Billingsley. Dewey was very active in the Choo-Choo Forge. He was the son of A.P. and Iona Billingsley. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to:
Hospice of Chattanooga
4411 Oakwood Drive
Chattanooga, TN 37416.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this time of sorrow.
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Have you heard about the new Folk School in Alabama?
The Alabama Folk School at Camp McDowell
Founded in September 2007, they provide the opportunity for you to study a craft of your interest for a week or weekend and stay in comfort at their 1100+ acre facility in nothern Alabama.
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Mitch was filmed during a demonstration at the Possum Trot Forge meeting June 29, 2008.
The video is now on Youtube.
Should you have a video or photo you would like to share - please send it to me and I will see that it is added to our website.
PS- the cheering is for a softball tournament nearby, not for Mitch's forging!
If the link doesn't work - go to www.youtube.com and search for "Possum Trot Forge"
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QUILT PROJECTS
FUND RAISER FOR AACB CHRISTMAS MEETING AND MADISON 2009 CONFERENCE
Jane Latsch recently made a a blacksmithing T-shirt quilt for current president, Mitch Latsch. There were several folks who wanted to buy the quilt. So, in that spirit, let's all work together to make a quilt for the AACB Christmas 2008 meeting AND a quilt for the Madison 2009 conferences. The quilt will hopefully will be queen-sized. What I currently need is a couple shirts from each group and any other blacksmith related shirts. It takes 36 shirts to make a queen size quilt. If your group would like to be included, please bring shirts to a regional meeting or mail to Jane or Mitch. The deadline for it to be complete by December will be the end of September. I will create a web-page (in the next week or so) with the current shirt donations. The shirts can be any size and new or gently worn. Thanks for the help and I hope we do well on the quilt fund raiser!
THERE IS NOW A PAGE SHOWING THE QUILT AND LISTING THE DONORS.
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Project of the Year 2008
The idea is to promote the practice of the blacksmith craft by sponsoring an annual contest among the members to be judged and prizes awarded at the annual December (Christmas) meeting.
The contest is to be broken into two categories – one for beginners and intermediate smiths, and one for advanced level smiths. Each individual smith is allowed to enter the contest in an appropriate category for their skill level on the honor system. Each category is to be judged by a panel of judges looking at design, functionality, workmanship and appearance. Prizes for the first contest this coming December (2007) will be a $50 gift certificate for first place in the beginner/intermediate category, and a $100 gift certificate for first place in the advanced category. Second places in each category will be awarded an additional one year extension to their AACB membership. Additionally, all winners in both categories will have the opportunity to be one of the judges for the following year’s contest.
The second annual project for the beginner/intermediate category is to be a pair of tongs. The project for the advanced category is to be annouced . All entries in both categories will be judged at the December AACB meeting with the judges looking at design, functionality, workmanship and appearance attributes. We hope to see your entry in the contest!!!
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Didn't see your event on any of these pages?
Do you have an annoucement that you would like to see here?
Tired of seeing pictures of Mitch forging?
Looking for a link? Think more people would like to try it? Please send your informaion, photos, annoucements, or sites to me!!!
Jane Latsch (931) 289-2243
AACB Website Editor