Flowers with Fire

Not all blacksmithing is axes and swords. Some of the most beautiful forge work is botanical — flowers, leaves, stems and tendrils worked from hot steel into forms that look almost impossibly delicate. This class explores the lighter, more decorative side of the craft, producing a range of floral ironwork pieces you can take home and display.

Over the course of the day you will forge roses, leaves and stems in steel — learning the techniques of petal forming, upsetting, drawing out and twisting that are used to create decorative botanical work. This class is popular with people new to the forge who want a gentler introduction, as well as those wanting to explore the decorative rather than functional side of blacksmithing.

What's Included

• All steel and materials
• Full safety equipment
• Free refreshments all day
• Multiple finished pieces to take home

What to Bring

• Packed lunch
• Sturdy boots
• Old natural-fibre clothing

The Day Step by Step

1. Introduction to decorative forge work
2. Forging a simple leaf — drawing out and shaping
3. Making a rose — petal forming and assembly
4. Forging stems and tendrils
5. Combining elements — your floral arrangement
6. Finishing and coating your pieces