This event is sponsored by Southwest Artist Blacksmith Association and the Arizona Artist Blacksmith Association. Demonstrators are Peter Sevin of Arizona and Jose, "Pep" Gomez of Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Directions to Mikeys
From I 25, north or south to Exit 1, University Ave.
West (right) on University to Main
Left on Main to first traffic light Right on Conway
Cross railroad tracks, parking is on the left.
I 10 west bound: Exit 142,
left of University Ave. one block to Main,
left on Main to traffic light,
right on Conway, cross railroad tracks
parking is on the left.
I 10 east bound leave the highway at Exit 142,
the off ramp ends at Main street, cross Main and the railroad tracks
Mikey's is straight ahead parking on the left.
Pre-registration for the conference is requested.
Click on the PDF file link below to view the registration form, then print it, complete it and send it in.
4th Annual Blacksmith Conference
Registration Form (PDF_Conf_registration_page.pdf) file size : 306 KBPlease contact JoAnn Powers at 575-418-7555 for additional registration information or email Thomas Powers at thomaspowers@zianet.com.
On Saturday, February 13th, there is an open house at the conference site.
To see a list of hotels in Las Cruces click on the "Google Search" button below
To see a list of RV Parks in Las Cruces click on the "Google Search" button below
Here's a web site with good overall info about Las Cruces
Items to bring to the meeting: Safety glasses,Iron in the Hat
There is no special raffle drawing for this event:
Here is some additional information supplied by the SWABA Southern Group Pertainig to the Conference
First there will be a social! It will be held on-site, Saturday, after the demos are over. We will provide barbeque grills and serving ware for a pot-luck style party. We will have coffee & hot water with teabag selection available and ice for cold beverages.
Local grocery stores and liquor sales are readily available so members can participate; it will be BYOB and pot-luck! Our hosts do not have a liquor license and we do not plan to serve alcohol. If individuals bring their own, it isn’t a problem. Non-alcoholic beverages are also welcome. (Remember SWABA rules prohibit drinking anything stronger than beer during an event. I assume this applies to the after party? We want folks to have fun, but we don’t want to be liable for DUI or other complications.)
Guests are invited and welcome to come with a member or conference attendee. Plan on having them arrive around 5, not before 3:30. Any musical talents or performers are welcome to set-up for the social. We will shut down around 9 o’clock-ish. Local watering holes are available for late night types to continue, if they choose.
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The demonstrations are: Pep Gomez will provide basic and advanced information about knifemaking. He will also demonstrate several types of damascus steel, from primitive to modern.
Peter Sevin (Pep says) is going to discuss tool design and making tools for special applications. He will show blacksmithing - working with the tools and pieces made – probably as related to his business in architectural & commercial work. Both will include information about steel types, sources and usability for specific applications.
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We will start pretty close to 9:00 am. Registration for stragglers can be on-going.
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The location is easy to find; it is in Mesilla Park just south of Las Cruces – 3100 Harrelson is immediately off of South Main Street on Conway, across the railroad tracks. It’s a huge purple building. There are traffic lights on Conway & Union; either street gives access to Harrelson. (Conway is the South Main east bound Interstate-10 entrance/exit for NMSU & University area.) Local landmarks are: Bravo’s café across the street & the old Mesilla Park railroad station is in front of the parking area we will be using.
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We will provide a continental style breakfast both days – to include: coffee, tea selection, donuts, pastries & breads, drinking water, fruits & juices & several diabetic friendly selections also.
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We are not providing lunch. Many local eateries are in this area, especially if you like southern New Mexico style; they are easy to get to and have good food. Hotels in the area also have food. We’ll print out a list for the registration table.
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Video monitors will be set up for the audience, as before, to provide close-ups of the demonstrations. I am taping but my voice is the primary sound on the tapes from last year. We are working to correct this. (No I don’t know how to shut Susan up.) If we get a usable mike system, the tapes may have some archival value. Monitors will also be set up in the smoking area and in the snacks area. We want to keep the talkers from interfering with other’s ability to hear, yet allow old f--ts to b-s- with each other. (Ok, let long time friends… and new acquaintances socialize.)
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Pep & Peter are providing the gas forges for the demo’s. All tools and demo materials are being provided. The SWABA trailer doesn’t need to come this year. Pep is bringing a user made treadle hammer and rolling mill to show. We will have at least one coal forge on site for after hours use. (Pep is bringing a power hammer, mig welder, grinder & vises also.)
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If someone brings coal as a tailgate item, there may be buyers at the conference.
Per the flyer, public tailgating and vendors will be encouraged at the end of Saturday demo’s. Some will set up early Saturday & sell out to the smiths on site before the conference gets started
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Those who have small propane heater(s), bring so we can set them up. The facility is enclosed and will be pre-heated before we start. We will have the bay doors open for ventilation during the demo’s. Local heat for audience may be appreciated depending on the weather.
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Arizona is bringing the bleachers again; THANKS! We need additional chairs & tables. Bring ‘em if you’ve got’em. Put your name on the bottom, please.
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We will set up some gallery tables; for the experienced smiths and a separate area for new smiths. Each person may put up to 3 pieces in the show, with sales prices and portfolio or business cards. The event will be advertised to the public as open from 3:30 until 5 on Saturday for member items, vendors and tailgate tool sales. Members use the SWABA (?or AABA?)tax id; non-members & vendors must have a New Mexico tax id.
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We want the iron-in-the-hat to be held Arizona style.
This means separate ticket buckets will be put in front of each item available. Ticket buyers put their tickets into the bucket for the item they want. When the winning ticket is pulled, the remaining tickets go into a pool for the items that don’t have tickets in their buckets.
All silent auction or drawings held at the end of the 2nd day. By preselecting with the buckets, a person who leaves early can still win an item they want. We lose people after the drawing and this isn’t fair to the demonstrators.
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Please have a one-day attendance option for walk-ins at the door. We don’t want people being turned away as Farm & Ranch did last year.
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No smoking inside the building per city ordinance!
We will set up a user friendly smoking area, outside of the building, with weather protection.
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Mikey’s Place Workshop for the Arts 575-640-3869
Pep Gomez 575-644-0658 lostartsforge@hotmail.com
Susan Frary 575-202-2420 cell#, susan@shadetreeproducts.biz
At Ben LoBue's shop, 9:00 am
Driving instructions:
From I 25 Exit 1, east on University/Dripping Springs Rd.
3 miles past the Farm and Ranch Museum, turn right on Soledad Canyon Rd
at the Fire House turn left, still on Soledad Canyon Rd
1.5 mi from the firehouse turn right on Minniec Rd. to 5086 Shop has it's own driveway
Ben can be contacted at (575) 649-9339
Special raffle item: TBD.
Items to bring to the meeting: Safety glasses, a chair, gloves, Hat
Please join us March 19-21, 2010 for our annual Little Giant Rebuilding Seminar! This class was first taught by our good friend Fred Caylor of Zionsville, Indiana. We carry on his tradition of teaching how to make Little Giants run well and hit hard.
Click on the PDF file link below to see complete instructions and registration form.
2010 School info(2010_school_info.pdf)
file size : 65 KBNeed Demonstrators
If you are a SWABA member and would like to demonstrate, please contact Gary Williams at
Home Phone: 505-792-4851 - or -
Cell Phone: 505-270-1624 - or -
email the web master at swabawebmaster@comcast.net
At Ben LoBue's shop, 9:00AM
Driving instructions:
From I 25 Exit 1, east on University/Dripping Springs Rd.
3 miles past the Farm and Ranch Museum, turn right on Soledad Canyon Rd
at the Fire House turn left, still on Soledad Canyon Rd
1.5 mi from the firehouse turn right on Minniec Rd. to 5086 Shop has it's own driveway
Ben can be contacted at (575) 649-9339
Special raffle item: TBD
Items to bring to the meeting: Safety glasses, a chair, gloves, Hat
SWABA once again will have a booth at the New Mexico State Fair. We need demonstrators for complete coverage of the two plus week period. If you are a SWABA member and would like to demonstrate, please contact Alex Ivey. Alex can be reached at:
Home: 505-869-1108
Cell: 505-573-3648
or you can email Alex at lxiv2000@yahoo.com
If you are a SWABA member and would like to demonstrate, please contact Gary Williams at
Home Phone: 505-792-4851
Cell Phone: 505-270-1624
email the web master at swabawebmaster@comcast.net
They have 12 wrist bands and maybe 6 firm demonstrators. If anyone from the north wants to join them in demonstrating they should get in touch with Ben LoBue either by phone at 575 649 9339 or by e-mail at blobue@q.com, and he will give all the particulars.
Sales are not allowed because this is a juried art show. You can, however, display items, and hand out business cards.
Bosque del Apache, Socorro, New Mexico
We have been invited back again this year. If you are a SWABA member and wish to demonstrate at the Festival of the Cranes, please contact Thomas Powers at
Home Phone: 575-838-0568
email Thomas at thomaspowers@zianet.com
Click here to visit the Friends of the Bosque del Apache web site
Meeting starts at 9:00 AM.
Please be prepared to renew your SWABA membership at this meeting. Renewing at the meeting will save you postage.
Tailgating is encouraged, please bring your extra tools and other items to sell or trade.