Blacksmith Zines?

[kit feral]

Any chance anyone out there has come across a zine on blacksmiths?  My boyfriend has decided it's his new path in life and wondered if I'd be able to dig anything up.  If not, he'll probably make one himself, but I'm sure he'd like to read something from someone a bit more experienced.

Thanks, guys.  :)

[Awkward Stage]

random... a week ago the boyfriend of a friend of mine decided he wants to be a blacksmith. he even figured out which school he needs to attend to do it. interesting that such an old art is suddenly the topic of discussion everywhere i go.

[kit feral]

neat! my boyfriend hasn't found a school, so he's decided to make his own forge and set it up in our backyard. Don't know how the neighbors will react to that but, well, it makes him happy, so I gotta run with it.

Awkward Stage said:

random... a week ago the boyfriend of a friend of mine decided he wants to be a blacksmith. he even figured out which school he needs to attend to do it. interesting that such an old art is suddenly the topic of discussion everywhere i go.

[Erica S.]

Do people still blacksmith? I mean, is he going to be doing it at Ren Faires or other exhibitions, or really making things people use in industry? I wouldn't think of blacksmithing as something you'd be able to make a living at, any more than you could at weaving or basketmaking or something, but I'd love to live in a world where it is. I don't know of any zines about it, but he should make one!

[Blake]

Erica S. said:

Do people still blacksmith? I mean, is he going to be doing it at Ren Faires or other exhibitions, or really making things people use in industry? I wouldn't think of blacksmithing as something you'd be able to make a living at, any more than you could at weaving or basketmaking or something, but I'd love to live in a world where it is. I don't know of any zines about it, but he should make one!

I can personally attest to the fact that both "blacksmithing" AND "basketweaving" are alive and well in the Charleston, SC area. Recently the city lost one of their favorites, Phillip Simmons, who has his work represented not only all over Charleston, but all around the world. Luckily, for the craft, he taught others in the area to continue in his footsteps.

http://www.philipsimmons.us/aboutsimmons.html

As for basketry, sweetgrass baskets is a Gullah tradition that continues today:

https://cityofcharleston.info/shop/default.cfm?irefer=charlestonswe...

Hope this helps!

[Elaine]

Has he checked out this lady's site? It's not a zine, but she did design a tarot deck based on blacksmithing.
http://www.mineralarts.com/artwork/IronwingTAROT.html
She's friendly, you can email her off this page. http://www.mineralarts.com/artwork/ironwing.html