[TheForge] Testing?

[JAMES REVELLS]

Hej!
    Yes, this is a test.  While I have been receiving the list for a couple 
of weeks, I have not been able to post to it yet.  Once I am able to post to 
this list I need to talk to y'all about doing a Blacksmiths Festival here in 
southern Vermont.  I have gotten approval from the local merchants group I 
am a part of  to see if one can be set up for the summer of 2008.  The 
desired time frame from the Committee's point of view is lat June to late 
August.  So what time would be good for any of you interested?  I will be 
contacting ABANA & the local blacksmiths groups here in New England later 
this week.

 Besides being a metalsmith, I am part of a group of local merchants, called 
Celebrate the Valley (http://www.celebrate-the-valley.com/), that is trying 
to increase the number of visitors to our area in southern Vermont which is 
known as the Deerfield Valley or Mount Snow area.  The committee puts 
together several different events each year, which are used as fund raisers 
for local charities.One of the suggestions I have made is to sponsor a 
Blacksmiths Festival.   It is under consideration by they committee, but I 
need more information on who might be interested in being a part of it.  The 
event  would likely become an annual event if it proved to be successful. 
We are about two hours from both New York & Boston.  This is a seasonal 
tourist destination in Vermont, so there are an abundance of rooms 
available, we also have a couple of campgrounds in the area.

    My concept of the event is a festival ground of smiths & related 
craftsmen/women demonstrating to the public how items are made, with some 
notable smiths giving classes to other smiths after the public is gone, 
along with some sort of competition for the smiths.  Something like a 
combination hammer in & craft show dedicated to metalsmihing.   What I am 
looking for is information on what smiths would want  to see in such an 
event & what has been successful in getting the ironware buying public to 
show up to buy stuff, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your assistance,

Jim Revells
Olaf's Plunder

"A Different Kind of Art Gallery & Gift Store"

Open 10 AM to 6 PM
Additional Hours by Appointment

See our web site at:
http://stores.olafsplunder.com

802-464-6200

23 West Main Street
Post Office Box 1926
Wilmington, VT 05363