Meeting starts at 9:00 AM.
Please be prepared to renew you SWABA membership at this meeting. Renewing at the meeting will save you postage. Color copies of the December newsletter "Pounders Press" will be handed out to paid up members that are present.
Tailgating is encouraged, please bring your extra tools and other items to sell or trade.
Driving instructions: The school is located 2 miles west of Moriarty, NM, off historic Route 66.
I-40 to Moriarty exit
at end of ramp turn right (west) on to old Rt. 66
Shop is located at the corner of Martin Rd. and old Rt. 66
it is a beige building with red trim
Phone Number for Chad Gunter 505-270-1007
Phone Number for Brad Gunter 505-205-9815
Phone Number for Robb Gunter 505-281-8080
Items to bring to the meeting:Safety glasses, a chair, dish for pot luck lunch and an Iron in the Hat
The trade item this meeting is a Christmas Ornament. Please remember bring the item with you.
Henry Pomfrit is an instructor with the Herefordshire, UK school of Technology
Demo Jan 31-Feb 1, 2009
cost for the demo $50.00 1 day
$75.00 2 days
Demonstration will be on the Journeyman Certification Grille as per Mark Aspery
Hands on clinic Feb 2-4, 2009.
Cost for the Clinic $250.00 for both days
Clinic will be on forging the intermediate grille as per Mark Aspery consisting of four different forged corners with two "S" or "C" scrolls having a different type of scroll end on each end joined with a hot collar and fastened to the frame in a traditional manner.
Clinic limited to 10 students Pre registration required for the clinic
$50.00 discount if attending all 4 days
Location is at Dragon Forge Ltd Pine Colorado ( Highway 285 south west of Denver CO.) Contact Craig May @ 303-838-2619 evenings after 6:00 pm or email drgnfrgltd@aol.com drgnfrgltd@aol.com
This event is sponsored by Southwest Artist Blacksmith Association, Arizona Artist Blacksmith Association with help from the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum. Demonstrators are Craig May of Pine, Colorado and Jim Pepperl of Silver City, New Mexico. Click here to see the bio's for both demonstrators and click here to see the description of the demonstrations planned
On both days there will be tailgaters and vendors selling their wares Pre-registration for the conference is requested.
Click on the PDF file link below to see the registration form to complete and send in.
3rd Annual Blacksmith Conference (PDF_Conf_registration_page.pdf)
file size : 89 KBPlease contact Gary Williams at 505-792-4851 for additional registration information or email him at swabawebmaster@comcast.net.
On Saturday, February 14th, Ben LoBue has invited attendees to an open house at his shop from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Directions to Ben's Shop:
From the Farm and Ranch Museum entrance turn left (east) onto Dripping Springs Road, Go 3.2 miles, turn right on Soledad Canyon Road (this will be the third paved road), stay on the pavement From the firehouse it is 1.5 mi. to Minniec Road, Turn right on Minniec Road. 5086 is the next to the last house on the right. The shop is behind the house.
There will be signs at the turn onto Minniec Road.
Go to New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum for more information on the conference.
Places to stay in Las Cruces: Here is a brief list of places not far from the Farm And Ranch Museum:
Comfort Suites is offering a special rate of $89.99/night for conference attendees
575 522-1300
2101 S. Triviz Dr.
Fairfield Inn
575 522-6840
800 228-2800
2101 Summit Ct.
Holiday Inn Express
575 527-9947
2200 S. Valley Dr.
Comfort Inn and Suites
575 527-1050
800 424-6423
1300 Avenida de Mesilla
Ramada
575 526-4411
201 E. University Ave.
Items to bring to the meeting: Safety glasses,Iron in the Hat
The is a special raffle drawing for this event: TBD
This event is sponsored: Southwest Artists Blacksmiths Association (SWABA) This is a juried art show that awards monetary prizes for the best blacksmith items in the following categories: 1.) Architectural Hardware,
2.) Furniture,
3.) Blades,
4.) Functional blacksmithing (anything not covered by the above categories) and
5.) Sculptural blacksmithing (pieces done strictly for artistic purposes)
The art show will be judged by master blacksmiths Robb Gunter, Charly Fary and Frank Turley.
This art show and conference is taking place at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds in Capitan, New Mexico about20 miles North of Ruidoso or 10 miles West of historic Lincoln, NM.
Nationally known Western Artist, Virgil Stephens will donate an original drawing of a Grizzly Bear blacksmith working at an anvil to be used for a Tee-shirt promoting the event.
Need 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
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
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: 505-838-0568
email Thomas at thomaspowers@zianet.com
Click here to visit the Friends of the Bosque del Apache web site