Traditional sign making

I don't normally do traditional for but for this I went all out. To try and bring in some business I started looking at forged sign brackets, thinking of other markets I could appeal to. So I set out to design my own one for my business, I was thinking of designing it in my own aesthetics but as I already had a wall bracket like that I wanted something that stood out from everything else I'd made before.
Here it is in pieces before I riveted it together and made the anvil sign as you can see It's very different to what I normally do.

 
Here it is fully built, there were a few areas that proved difficult with drilling and riveting but it came together in the end and the anvil looks fantastic!!! 

I've started putting on the first coat of paint and and will give you a final update and photo when the painting is complete.

 

First Market Stall

Last Sunday was my very first Market stall at the Harbourside market in the Bristol Center. After a week of non-stop forging and preparation for this stall, I was very pleased with the layout and how it all went. I also learnt a lot and have some new ideas for the next one. I intend to always have something new at each stall I do so that there is always something fresh to look at. And a huge thanks to all for their help and support.

To those who still haven't checked out my website please take a look for a load more images of my work.

http://jbullblacksmith.wix.com/hammerandtongs    

For those Who picked up a business card at the market stall today please take a look at my website and Facebook page.

Website:- jbullblacksmith.wix.com/hammerandtongs

Preparing for my first market stall.

This Sunday ( February 23rd ) I will be running my very first stall at the Harbourside Market here in Bristol. So I'm spending this week making as much stock as I can in preparation for it, this has been a good opportunity to try and make new products I've never done before like curtain tie backs, Latches, etc. These are just some of the products that I will be selling at the stall this Sunday, It's between 9am and 4pm so please come on down and show your support for the local Bristol Blacksmith.  

 

A quiet Christmas

I know its been a long time since I've done a blog update and I need to get back into the habit again. After a very busy November it seems to have quietened down this month but I can talk about some of the pieces I've been working on some of these haven't even made it on to the Facebook page yet. So here's your early bird special.

These ones you should recognize as they are on the facebook page and I believe that one of them is on the website too. But to those of you who only read my blog here are two sets of coat hooks mounted on to wood which I think is a lovely added touch.  

Here are my two recent commissions I've had this month, The main one being this huge cupcake stand which I must admit has been one of the biggest challenges I've done since I set myself up as a business. I know its not a great photo as I still have to get hold of some cupcakes to take some professional photos for the website and Facebook page but as you can see full of petals and flowing forms. I would say this is not normally my style of work but it came out very well and showed that I can take on anything!!  

Roses are always popular it seems no matter what time of year, which is good news for me, but its always even better when I know that the rose is being given to a someones partner as a gift. I do love making roses, especially the red painted ones. I've got a feeling I'll be making a lot of these over the next two months for valentines days where expect a big demand!       

Making jewellery has been a small pass time which I've started to become quite fond of. Here are a few of the ones I made recently and an idea of what is to come.  

This is one I'm very proud of and hope it will become very popular. I keep getting asked if I do smaller guitar hooks that could be done so more people could afford it and here it is, version one of the design and I want to get a guitar on it as soon as possible. This style guitar hook I'm pricing at £50. What do all think for the price? Consider the other two hooks are priced at £320 and £120 this one seems like a bargain!!     

Poppies, poppies, poppies and just a few more poppies.

As a lot of you who read my blog will have known that I have been raising money for the poppy appeal by forging steel poppies and hand painting them. For every poppies sold £5 went to the poppy appeal. I was surprised that they took off better than I hoped and was still getting orders for poppies days after remembrance day. But after finishing off the last poppies to be picked up we finnaly have a total.

The total money raised for the poppy appeal is....... £125!!!

I very happy with this, I was aiming for £100 and we beat it so, very very happy indeed. I will be making more poppies for remembrance day next year and use this year total as a target to beat for next year year.

I'd like to thank both my awesome mum and my lovely girlfriend for helping with the advertising and selling of the poppies down at the Cabot circus poppy day while I was in the workshop making more. Also a big thank to Andrew Thomas for giving me the idea to make the poppies. A thank to Margret Neagle for giving me more ideas on how to raise more money for next year. I'd also like to thank the Bristol post for such a lovely article on the steel poppies and for putting me on the front cover of the Weston Daily Press!!! It really helped to get the message out there. Also a thank you the British Legion for all their support and last but not least a huge thanks to everyone who bought a poppy we wouldn't have done it with out you!!

    

I made the papers!!!!!!

Yes for those of you that didn't know I made it in two newspapers on Thursday the 7th of this month.  Not only did I get a big article in the Bristol's evening post I was on the front cover of the Weston daily press!!!!

I've been raising money for the poppy appeal by forging and selling poppies, when the Bristol post found out about this they phoned me up for an interview and came to my workshop to take photos on the same day!! I was very happy to hear it would make it in to the papers but I never thought it would make the front cover. My aim is to raise £100 with every poppy sold £5 goes to the poppy appeal and so far I've raised £85, So not that far to go now. If anyone is still interested in purchasing one of my poppies Please contact me for details.

This has given my business a big boost in the right direction as I've had a lot of phone calls about inquires, so fingers crossed this is the kick my business has needed.