Oklahoma OK

On Friday morning we headed west. It was about 480 miles to Sulphur, Oklahoma where we would be attending the Saltfork Blacksmith Conference. 

We arrived at Country Days RV park right at dark. That's never good when you have to  set up camp. Debby our host had given us the gate code and we proceeded to our lot. After set ting up I went to open the fantastic fan vent on top.  It felt different cranking it up, so I cranked it down. Or so I thought. We discovered it parted ways with the Casita some where along the road.

We had needed to cover it regardless. The forecast was no rain that night.  We found a plastic Walmart bag and the RV duct tape Lizzie our 10 year old granddaughter had given us. It worked in a pinch. No ladder to the top, no problem, we're a team. The blacksmith stepped from the bumper to the spare tire, and then I gave him a shove, I mean a boost!

Wouldn't you know it after we got in bed later that night, it did rain. The plastic and tape worked.

The conference started bright and early the next morning at 8 AM, we just didn't make it there quite that early.

Peter Ross a blacksmith, who does beautiful historical work, was one of the demonstrators. It was not the first time we have seen Peter work. However it was the first time I had spare time to watch the demonstrators. I always love watching a craftsman who is left handed! 

Then there was Ken and Marylou from Ken's Custom Iron.  This husband and wife team are so much fun to watch. You can feel the love and see the love between them. They work together perfectly! And man, or should I say woman, can she swing a hammer!

My friend Mark, talks with Oklahoman Ed McCormick. The works this man has done are amazing! His niece put together a book of his works. 

This pocket knife was BIG. probably 24 inches long and worked just like a small pocketknife!

Ken and Bernie are caught sitting down for a chat.

Mark, Bernie and Ken are discussing the shape of anvils. As the saying goes, you're never too old to learn. Right Ken??

Marylou served dual purpose for the conference, sales woman and demonstrator.

The Saltfork group prepared the best meals ever!  3 meals Saturday and 2 on Sunday. All could be had for a donation. One of my favorite things Saturday night was the smoked bologna!

Besides smoked bologna, they had smoked ribs, brisket, ham, and pulled pork. The dessert was always Mrs. Fields pecan pies. If you went away hungry it was your own fault.

There were not many vendors, in fact only three the first day and two the second day.

There were a few more tailgaters, including me. I sold Osage Bluff tongs along with jewelry and tee shirts for the BAM boutique.

My luck wasn't so good as when I attended this conference 6 years ago. I bought a few more tickets this time but  did not win their tool box.

Look at this piece of coal. Does anyone have a stocking that big???

On Sunday evening after break down, a room was reserved in town at a Mexican restaurant for those who wanted dinner. 

I'm hoping we convinced several of their guys to come to our conference.

Mountain View take 2

This was our second trip to the beautiful Mountain View Arkansas. The first time we went was October 2011.

This time we were leading a caravan!  Two other couples each took their own Rv's and followed us.

One of our first stops was just across the Missouri state line at Mammoth springs Arkansas.

The water is beautiful, as are the grounds . . .  minus the goose poop.

It was onto Ozark RV Park. There we set up camp for three nights. Never mind it's a dry county, or the RV park posted no alcohol. We never saw those warnings. But luckily we were never turned in to authorities. 

Thursday night we went to music at Ozark Folk Center. Six different groups played and danced the night away. This area is full of traditional music and folk dancing. 

Friday after breakfast at Iron skillet, we walked just a few steps to the Folk center. 

There we saw the broom maker, 

the stained glass artist, 

the potter (never mind his frog cups!)

the copper jeweler, 

the printer, 

the gourd artist, and

we visited with the lady in the cabin, (who had to be freezing).

Saturday morning the six of us, Bernie, myself, Terry, Debby, Tim and Rita headed to P.J.'s Rainbow cafe. What a menu they had!

I had fried bologna (it would have been my dad's choice). I also opted for fried grits. It did not disappoint.

Rita went for chocolate gravy and biscuits. She shared it with us willing to taste it. It's made with real Hershey's cocoa. It was similar to warm thin pudding.

We were very cozy around this small table. We had to wait outside to be called because the waiting line would not fit in the door!

There were hundreds of cookie jars on wall top shelves, all were for sale. 

After breakfast we took in some of the shops along the main street. We then went to Blanchard Springs  to tour the cave. You go down via an elevator about 11 stories. The great room you walk through is as wide as 4 football fields end to end. The tour was a comfortable 58 degrees, year round. You walk out to a waiting bus that returns you to the hospitality shop. 

This is our official (LOL) group photo!

After touring the springs we took about an 11 mile trip to the county where it was legal to consume alcohol! We visited Gravity Brewworks. The girls opted for wine, the guys tried a couple of the beers. We took along cheese, sausage and crackers. 

Back at camp, while soup was heating up, someone presented the Casita with a cast iron FROG. #idonotlikefrogs

This was our hilarious neighbor who told us we were breaking all kinds of rules drinking alcohol beverages. However after he had a few samples, he wasn't about to tattle on us! The retired policeman was hilarious. Here he's showing us his pocket knife (a mini box-cutter).

So in summary, we went to music shows Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Plus we took one in at the afternoon session at the Park.

A fun trip was had by all!!!

One more machine

Let's just say it's a 7 year itch.  Of course I fully expect it to last much longer. However it's been almost 7 years since I fell in love with old sewing machines. 

This is a 1935 Singer #127, I found on Facebook market place. It was located just 30 minutes away.  I drooled when I saw the set up.

The seller said it had been donated to her church at Lake of the Ozarks and she purchased it with hopes of sewing. She never followed  through on the sewing part.

This was in the drawer. The drawer that locks with the same key that keeps the cover on the machine!

I always like to find out the history on any machine I acquire. I found  Oliver E. Beas (1928-2002) from Washington Missouri served in the United States Navy during World War II. He was an electrician mate third class. This could possibly be the same man?.

The knee bar in the top of the picture is a gem. A lot of times you'll find the old machines with that missing.

This machine actually has two. One can be used when the machine is set down into the table. The other is for table top sewing.

If my counting is correct this might be machine #22.

If this quilt could talk

My friends, Pat McCarty, Jim McCarty, and Karen McCarty Wright lost their mother December 12, 2018 at 88 years young. Evelyn L.  McCarty, "Dolly" as she was known to friends, was a well known quilter. Not only did she piece quilts, and design them, but she published numerous articles on making quilts. She also was a collector of sewing machines (be still my heart) and fabrics. Unfortunately I was never able to meet her in person.

This is a picture of her on the cover of this April 1986 quilt magazine. Her article inside is entitled Sets and the Setting! a series of three articles that answer the needle worker's lament - I've embroidered a set of quilt blocks - what do I do now?"

When the family was dividing up her quilts, all the quilts and tops were placed on her bed. Each of the 6 children from oldest to youngest were able to pick one piece in rotation. It kept going until all were gone.

Son Pat noticed sister Karen had picked the "anvil" quilt as his mother had called it. Pat said to Karen, "Mom always called that the anvil quilt". You see Pat is a blacksmith.  Karen knew he must have over looked it, so she traded him.

Pat asked if I would finish it for him.

This was a note Dolly had safety-pinned to the corner of the quilt top.

First of all I had to find matching fabric. I asked a friend who deals in vintage fabric where on Facebook I might ask for help. She gave me a link. Two hours after I posted a picture of the fabric, a quilter from Rhode Island came to my rescue. She sent me 3/4 of a yard FREE. I in turn sent her one of my quilt charm necklaces as a token of my appreciation.



The next problem . . . I don't hand applique. However in our circle of blacksmith friends I knew Eileen S. did. I asked her if she was up to the task and she heartily agreed. 

Here it is after Eileen added the 20 leaves. 

Ready for the quilting frame. 

Let's go now!

I wanted the solid off white  blocks to have tons of quilting. This heart design really made it pop!

In the meantime, since Pat called this the anvil quilt (It's really called a flower basket) I figured I could use the pattern to make a quilt for our Blacksmith Association conference auction.

Here it is in Bob and Sheri S.'s  loft. They were the high bidders at the Blacksmith Association of Missouri conference !!!

July 25th we had a gathering of over 70 blacksmiths and their wives at our house and shop for a hammer in. 

I thought this would be the perfect time to present it to Pat, since several members had a hand in its completion. I'm not sure who's eyes were the wettest!

Showing it off to everyone.

Now it's home on Pat's bed. I know his sister Karen is happy that she traded with him. Of course, his Mother is smiling down on it too!


God is Good!

Missouri Folk Arts At Lohman’s landing June 15, 2019

Apprentice Matt Dickson made this garden bench with guidance from master blacksmith Pat Mccarty of Washington Forge in TAAP 2019.

2019 apprentice Keith Whiteside is forging Ozark riverways fishing gigs today under the watchful eye of master gigmaker Ray Joe Hastings.

Ray Jo Hastings, Alex Tappel Lisa Thompson, Bernie Tappel Keith Whiteside, Bob Alexander and Matt Dickson pose for a picture in front of the beautiful iron park bench Matt made.

Bernie and grandson Alex work together. 

Lisa Thompson completed her business sign during a 2019 apprenticeship with master blacksmith Bob Alexander at his Scrub Oak Forge in DeSoto.

Bob Alexander, a real great left handed blacksmith hammers away

Music in the evening.