May Pinterest Challenge-- Hand Forged Key Holder

Welcome to the May Pinterest Challenge Blog Hop, hosted by My Pinterventures. The purpose of this Pinterest Challenge is to motivate all the participants of this hop (and you too) to not just pin, but to make it happen! 

This month, my husband actually did the challenge with my middle son.  They wanted a blacksmithing project and found this inspiration pin.  It led to a website where they sell forged items.

They drew up their own plans and made the project work their own way.



We have spent the past year or so enclosing a shed on our property to turn into a home blacksmith shop.  My husband inherited a small coal forge and lots of tools from his great uncle and all three of my boys have been fun learning alongside their dad.


Hammering the steel to make it longer and thinner to make the swirls

You have to keep heating the metal to keep it soft and pliable 


Learning how to use the point of the anvil to make the curls

One end of the rack all finished and set aside to cool 

They turned to making the hooks next 

Punching down the steel rods to make it nice and thin at one end

Breaking off the hook from the rod 

When they were ready to start the second side of the rack they had to work together to split the warmed steel 




Figuring out where to put the three hooks
Using a punch to make a starter hole in the hooks 

Alec got to use the drill press to drill the holes

All finished and ready for painting; they used rivets to hold each of the hooks onto the base
 and drilled holes for attaching it to the wall at the two ends.

They strung it up and Alec spray painted it


To join next month's #pinterestchallenge, click here to sign-up ⇒ June Pinterest Challenge.

Now let's see what other things Pinterest inspired! Head over and visit the other hosts to see what they crafted, cooked, built, or tried!

Pinterest Challenge Blog Hop
Erlene - My Pinterventures • Lauren - Mom Home GuideDebbee - Debbee's Buzz • Laurie - My Husband Has Too Many HobbiesMarie - DIY Adulation • Julie - Sum of their StoriesMarie - The Inspiration Vault • T'onna - Sew Crafty CrochetPili - My Sweet Things • Debra - Shoppe No. 5Roseann - This Autoimmune Life • Terri - Our Good Life • Marci - Stone Cottage AdventuresLeslie - Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever AfterKelley - Simply Inspired Meals • Joanne - Our Unschooling JourneyJenny - Cookies Coffee and Crafts • Gail - Purple Hues and MeRebecca - Hello Central Avenue • Sam - Raggedy BitsBeverly - Across the Boulevard • Tyler - Just Enough BlushKristie - Teadoddles • Shirley - Intelligent DomesticationsKelli - The Olympic Nest • Lydia - Lydia's Flexitarian KitchenCherryl - Farm Girl Reformed • Ola - J'adore Le DecorRebecca - Simple Practical Beautiful • Gwen - Geez, Gwen!Michelle - Our Crafty Mom • Emily - Domestic DeadlineMegan - C'mon Get Crafty • Micah - Home Faith FamilyChelc - Inside The Fox Den
Linking Up With: Swing Into Spring,

Oh My Heartsie Girls WW 650 x 635









Comments

  1. Kelli's Olympic NestMay 15, 2018 at 11:13 AM

    How cool. Love that you guys have your own forging shed. Looked like all had a great time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mother of 3May 15, 2018 at 2:33 PM

      We really are loving it; it's new an a learning skill for everyone but we are having fun figuring it all out.

      Delete
  2. MomHomeGuide.comMay 15, 2018 at 11:57 AM

    That’s great they were able to make the key holder together. Your son will probably always remember that!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mother of 3May 15, 2018 at 2:34 PM

      I think so too. He's one of the main reasons we set the forge up; he tried his hand at forging on a field trip and just LOVED it!

      Delete
  3. Pili GomezMay 15, 2018 at 12:22 PM

    Jodie this is Ann awesome project! Not only you have a key holder but more important, they learned and worked together to do it. That’s why I love unschooling so much

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jenny SparmoMay 15, 2018 at 2:58 PM

    I'm impressed! This is awesome & what a fun father and son experience. This key holder will be a keepsake.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mother of 3May 16, 2018 at 6:37 AM

      Thank you! I think they had a lot of fun working side by side.

      Delete
  5. Debra PashkowskyMay 15, 2018 at 6:19 PM

    This is so impressive. They did a great job. Your son is learning a craft and creating great memories working along side his Dad.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Roseann HamptonMay 15, 2018 at 7:58 PM

    What a great skill for your kids to learn! Quite impressive!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mother of 3May 16, 2018 at 6:39 AM

      I love that they get to learn so many "old school" skills. These are some dying arts..

      Delete
  7. Megan ChamberlinMay 15, 2018 at 8:17 PM

    What an awesome craft to learn, and such a great bonding experience!

    ReplyDelete
  8. • Model the Joy •May 16, 2018 at 2:58 PM

    Great workmanship, learning together and made with love!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Shirley WoodMay 16, 2018 at 9:28 PM

    Your boys are learning so many different valuable skills. The forge is awesome and the project is even more awesome.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mother of 3May 17, 2018 at 7:27 AM

      Thank you! I love that they have the chance to learn so many different skills.

      Delete
  10. Lydia FilguerasMay 17, 2018 at 3:49 PM

    Wow! This is seriously impressive! I'm glad the blacksmithing is making a comeback, along with many other skills that used to be necessary for everyday living.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mother of 3May 17, 2018 at 5:01 PM

      Me too! I love seeing old skills and knowledge being resurrected.

      Delete
  11. GwenMay 18, 2018 at 8:17 PM

    This is such a cool project! My son would love to get an opportunity like this. He became fascinated with blacksmithing when we visited Biltmore Estates for Homeschool Days and saw the blacksmith at work. He got a chance to try his hand at it at Rocky Mount Historic Site and fell in love with the art of blacksmithing! Beautiful project and a great opportunity for your family!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mother of 3May 21, 2018 at 6:38 AM

      Thank you! My middle son (the one in these pictures) got into forging when we went to a homeschool day at the Mystic Seaport and he was picked to help the blacksmith make a simple hook after asking tons and tons of intelligent questions.

      Delete
  12. TeadoddlesMay 19, 2018 at 1:12 PM

    Wow, what an awesome project! I love watching blacksmiths work at craft fairs. So neat that your husband and son can do this in their own back yard.

    ReplyDelete
  13. My PinterventuresMay 21, 2018 at 1:50 PM

    Holy smokes this is awesome! What a wonderful project for the kids to do with dad. I'm sure it will become a cherished family treasure.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Beverly RoderickMay 23, 2018 at 9:26 PM

    They did an awesome job with this! How impressive! Your children are fortunate that they have the opportunity to create so many wonderful projects.

    ReplyDelete
  15. KasiaJune 13, 2018 at 11:20 AM

    This is seriously awesome! I do love hand forged iron elements. They look great with any upcycled project. It's great to see that you can still teach young people some valuable skills these days :)Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mother of 3June 13, 2018 at 5:16 PM

      I love that my kids get to learn many "old school" skills. Lucky for them they have a handy dad to teach them.

      Delete

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