Doris Day

Due to Doris' normal work day falling on Easter Saturday, we are changing the working day to Saturday, April 14th .  

To view where we meet and the application process go to:

Australian Blacksmiths Association (Victoria)

To work please bring safety equipment - natural fibered clothing, leather apron, goggles, earmuffs or plugs; work gear - hammer etc; and $4 for coke.

The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago

This is The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago made between the years 1974 - 1979.  You might be asking why this has been added to a blacksmithing blog.  What Judy did was to gather women who where crafts people using traditional women's craft to build this installation about women.  What would it look like using blacksmithing for an installation of the same ilk?  Would it resonate today?

I have included the link to the original source at the Brooklyn Museum, and to Judy Chicago's web site.  The Brooklyn Museum also shows details of the table and descriptions.

Judy Chicago, the Dinner Party - the Brooklyn Museum.

Details of the Dinner Party

Judy Chicago's web site

Basic Blacksmithing by J. B. Stokes

               
                   I fell upon this little gem while searching for something else.  It is an electronic
                   version of basic blacksmithing which I found in the FAO publications.  FAO is
                   the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.  On their website
                   they give their objectives as:

Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO's efforts - to make sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.

FAO's mandate is to raise levels of nutrition, improve agricultural productivity, better the lives of rural populations and contribute to the growth of the world economy.

One thing that they do is to publish information essential to living skills and one of those is blacksmithing.  It is also possible to buy the book and a couple of others which I think would be a nice thing to do.

Basic Blacksmithing by J. B. Stokes
It can't be reproduced in anyway without permission.

January Report

Doris Report

• At present there are 15 paid up ABA Vic women members who attend / or plan to attend  Blacksmith Doris days.
• Approximately fourteen previous Doris members have not renewed their memberships.
• There are over forty-two persons outside of ABA Vic memberships on the mailing list for updating of Doris events.

December Meeting

• The December 2011 meeting was held on Saturday, 3rd.
• Beka Hannah helped build fires for those who needed help.
• The women made a punch to add to their tool kit.
• The women continued with their own projects.
• The round table discussions at lunch time continue to be helpful to the Doris members as each woman shares their knowledge and experiences.

At the moment Blacksmith Doris is held six times a year on the first Saturday of every second month.  The dates for 2012 are as follows:

• 4th February
• 7th April
• 2nd June
• 4th August
• 6th October
• 1st December

Doris Days are for women only unless directly invited.