Successful Open House 2000!

On June 24, and 25^th, we celebrated our first annual Open House at Badger Village Blacksmithing.  With fresh coffee brewing and the gallery laden with ornamental metalwork, the ambiance of the old historical smithy was so strong, you could almost imagine you heard the first blacksmith’s ghost pounding iron at the anvil.  Though Saturday was accompanied with showers and thunderstorms, there was also a steady stream of visitors to our gallery “Art from Fire”.  Customers were excited as they selected items that fit their tastes and personalities.  Sunday was bright and sunny, and once again, our gallery stayed busy with guests  from both Wisconsin and Illinois. 

Employees, Gary Frisch and John Wright led tours through our new production facility on Grove St.  Tours started with a fifteen minute PowerPoint presentation that took our visitors from the very first signs of ironwork in man’s history, through European ironwork, to America’s historical and present day blacksmithing.  Visitors enjoyed seeing the brief history of Badger Village Blacksmithing and then taking a physical walk-through tour of our production shop to see technology complimenting an old-world craft that still maintains its authenticity.

In the gallery, Steve Hackbarth presented demonstrations at the original forge from the 1800’s.  Our guests were captivated by the intense physical labor that goes into creating one piece of work, and the creativity that marks each product.  As one young boy exclaimed, “So THAT’S how you do it!” his mother summed it up by responding, “See, you have to see it for yourself!”

Jaime Sundsmo and Mary Hackbarth helped finalize customer’s purchases while sitting back and enjoying the atmosphere of the gallery they helped to set up and decorate for the big weekend.    

Badger Village Blacksmithing would like to thank those of you who came out to visit us and take part in our Open House.  We invite those of you who haven’t made it to our door yet, to visit us soon!

Top of Page

Wild Vine Hook – A Touch of Versatility

 
A versatile addition to our Hooks product line is our new “Wild Vine Hook”.  Reminiscent of organic vines growing in the wild, this hook twists in various free-form patterns to embrace that which it holds.   Each vine on the hooks are twisted in different styles, so each Wild Vine Hook has a character all its own.  The back is triangular with provided hardware to attach this hook to a wall.   

Customers have already purchased the Wild Vine Hook to mount their porcelain plate collections.   They are a wonderful way to creatively display framed or un-framed photographs or small paintings.  Use them as a convenient, space-saving mail holder, or wall-mounted napkin holder.  These hooks are so versatile, Badger Village Blacksmithing will be happy to receive feedback on the creative ways our customers use them!  

Look for the Wild Vine Hook in our updated catalogue in September!  

Top of Page

BVB Catalog Update …

We are very excited to announce that a catalog update on our web site will be completed by September of this year! We have so many new products as well as new Art Series pieces to add, that it is taking us longer than we anticipated having these available to you via the net. We invite you to access the Newsletter Archive and take a look at the May/June newsletter for a preview of the new products joining our existing catalog. We will also be including the products featured in this newsletter as well as more products still on the drawing board! 

"Mushroom & Ladybug" This Art Series piece features a delightful ladybug sunning itself beneath the mushroom.     Wild Vine Hook A versatile and decorative hook!     "Perch" From the "Freshwater Fish Series", the Perch  has been a popular home décor item!

These are simply a few of the items that will be added to our updated catalogue!  If any of these items from this newsletter or the May/June newsletter interest you, please feel free to email us.  Though they are not yet in our online catalogue, they are currently available for purchase.

Top of Page

Employee Highlight

This month we’re highlighting one of our full time blacksmith’s, John Wright.  Raised in Wisconsin, John has a variety of working experiences to draw from   for skill and creative inspiration.  Since his teen years, he has been heavily   involved in various Christian Camps throughout the United States serving as Wilderness Trip Guide.  His forte is rock climbing.   Having led wilderness trips in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Algonquin, Canada, and various places in Wisconsin and Michigan, John’s expertise has far surpassed common knowledge and skill.  He has also been trained in trades such as carpentry, painting, and fireplace/stove installation.

His return to his hometown of Baraboo, Wisconsin in May of 1999 was inspired by his new fiancée, Brooke, and they were married in September 1999.  Together, they are very active in wilderness trips, camping ministries, and wilderness sports such as, rock climbing, mountain biking, snowboarding, and skiing. 

John met Steve Hackbarth at his home church in Baraboo, and after building a friendship, Steve offered John a position as apprenticed blacksmith at Badger Village Blacksmithing.   In October 1999, John joined the staff of Badger Village Blacksmithing and he has quickly gained skill and knowledge.  He has been the designer of several of the creations that have become permanent pieces of our product line.  Badger Village Blacksmithing is pleased and proud to highlight John for the great asset he is!  

Top of Page

Sandhill Crane Table

Badger Village Blacksmithing is excited about the upcoming introduction of the “Sandhill Crane Table” which will be our newest product release.  This beautiful table, still in the last stages of finishing, features two Sandhill cranes forged with detail and beauty.    

Sandhill cranes are native to Wisconsin and much of North America and eastern Russia. There were as few as 25 breeding pairs remaining in Wisconsin by the mid-1930s, but Sandhills are now thriving in the state after their population began to rebound in the 1970s. The Wisconsin Sandhill recovery is due to hunting prohibitions and protection and restoration of wetlands.  

The Sandhill Crane Table is a limited edition piece and only one hundred of these will be produced.  Each table will be constructed of a hand forged steel base and topped with thick white/gray marble.  Accent lighting will be mounted on the bottom of the table to highlight the Sandhill cranes in their walk through the marshy grass

Badger Village Blacksmithing is in the process of working with the International Crane Foundation located in Baraboo, Wisconsin to help promote this table.  Some of the proceeds will go to support ICF and its noble, international efforts to help preserve the beauty of the Sandhill crane.

      Be looking for our introduction of this table in September!  

Top of Page

Last Chance...

Our plant stands will be going up in price by mid-August of 2000!  This is your last opportunity to receive the current pricing!  If you are interested in purchasing a plant stand at the current pricing, please access our GARDEN category of the online catalogue.   Or, email us at: forge@badgervillage.com.

 

If you have a question or comment please contact Badger Village Blacksmithing.

---

Check out our Newsletter Archive for past issues and articles on Badger Village Blacksmithing