We love visits by local authors!
SIGNED copies of Joy Fire’s Contemporary Blacksmithing for Beginners: Tools and Techniques Plus 18 Projects are available for purchase right here at LibroMobile!
About the Author:
Joy has been working with metal for more than 14 years. She runs a blacksmithing and metal fabrication shop where she takes commissions and forges her own designs. Her work is meant to be a gift to you. Each object honors the physicality of existence and offers the opportunity to be reminded of and grounded in your physical self through tactile interaction.
#joyfire #womanblacksmith #localauthors #santaana
It is pretty weird to be doing anything “normal” when things feel pretty damn bleak out there, but I wanted to tell whoever’s algorithm lets them see this that wrote a book about blacksmithing. Creating craft and art is an act of self preservation, joy, and resistance. Blacksmithing is especially meaningful to me, and I want other people to get to do it too. This book is meant to be accessible to all, EVERYONE can be a blacksmith. This is anti gatekeeping, this is gate unlocking and opening and then tearing off its hinges. Or at least it’s a small push open. It’s what I can do with what I’ve been given. I know how hard it is to find a place to learn and practice, but if you are able to find/acquire the tools to forge I hope this book can guide you through some first steps. I’ll be right behind you cheering you on.
Release date Jan 28, 2026, links to order in my bio.
Also, check out @inclusive_blacksmiths for resources on where to learn to forge and grants and scholarships and just great community. This book would not have happened without them.
#Blacksmithing #Forging #LearnToForge #ForgingHowTo #BeginnerForging #BeginnerBlacksmith #HowToForge #BlacksmithProjects #ForgingProjects #ForgingGuide #ForgingStepByStep #ForgingBook #HowToForgeBook #BlacksmithBook
Photos by Emilio Ashford. (@emilio.ashford )
The first two are maybe my favorite forging photos ever. I feel like they capture the flow and rhythm of forging. Stillness and speed in sync. I’m really grateful Emilio found me for his project about OC craftspeople and excited to see how it turns out.
Always remember, feeds are not reality and photos can make you look way cooler than you actually are!
Much love to ya. Remember to be kind. Keep doing your thing, one step at a time.
#blacksmith #forging
Contemporary blacksmithing for beginners 🙏🏽
Available through @schifferpublishing from the wonderful blacksmith @joyfire
What are you waiting for? Let's get forging
Come see some forging! Really honored to have this opportunity thanks to @libromobile , Santa Ana’s only independent bookstore! They are carrying my book, which is cool, but also they are an awesome organization, be sure to check them out. And come see me do some forging on June 6th from 7:30-8:30!!! I will be overly enthusiastic and talk too much. 💕
#Forging #blacksmith #Santana #community
Squishy squish, bendy bend. It’s not beautiful technical forging or innovative and stunning designs like so many of the blacksmiths I admire. It’s just big. Which is fun and challenging in its own way. With so much of my mind occupied by being the best parent I can for my kids maybe this kind of project that doesn’t take a lot of thinking is perfect. I just love forging and I’m lucky I get to do it. Thanks fire, thanks steel, thanks muscles. #blacksmithtools #forgingpress #squish #hot
Are you coming to the @ca_blacksmith_association spring conference? If you are lmk and I’ll see you there!
I’ll be doing a demonstration of the spoon project from my book, Contemporary Blacksmithing for Beginners. And I’ll be there for open forge time so you can try it out right after!
The chapter for this project is available for free on my website if you can’t make it 💕
You can order the book online now (I prefer bookshop.org) and I’ll have some copies there with me at the conference.
I love you. Keep on forging. One step/hammer swing at a time.
#BlacksmithClass #forging #howToForge #BlacksmithProjectsForBeginners
All photos by Pierce Valenzuela (@jerryntherest ) that didn’t make it into my book, Contemporary Blacksmithing for Beginners.
Speaking of which…Come by the @craftinamerica center today to hang out and ask me questions and stuff about the book!
Stay till 4:30 to learn from expert silversmith Randy Stromsoe.
Plus it’s the last day to see this beautiful display of tools as well. What a great Saturday!⚒️
#blacksmithtools #glasstools #blacksmith
Paolo Santo for some chill at the shop. Unfortunately it didn’t fix me.
Internet vs reality: This is the one day a week I have a couple hours at the shop. The first time I’ve gotten to forge for several months, and it was about 10 minutes. That’s my life with a toddler and a baby! They are hilarious little gremlin goofs and I love em more than air.
#forgingandwelding #sniffsniff
Hey, I’m going to be hanging out @craftinamerica on Saturday the 28th, 3-4 pm. You should come by!!! I’ll tell you more about my book and sign it for you if you’re into that sort of thing. You can buy a book ahead of time, or I’ll have some there if you decide you are interested. I’d love to see you!
Plus, after 4 you get to hear from expert metalsmith @stromsoe.studios talk about his work with silver and pewter and the legacy of silversmithing in CA.
AND (this is really cool) you can bring your own silver piece to ask him about its history and restoration (if needed).
And AND of course you will get to see the fantastic work in the current show Tools of the Trade, which is officially ending that day.
Please come, it’ll be really fun!!!
Link in bio for all the info.
#blacksmith #silversmith #metalsmith #blacksmithtools
Woohoo! Big thanks to @joyfire for sending us a copy of her amazing new book Contemporary Blacksmithing for Beginners!
It's gorgeous and fully illustrated, with lots of great projects to work through. Can't wait to share it with our students!
Just received my copy of the blacksmith techniques book by joyfire, looking forward to learning and mastering new skills, thank you for sharing your knowledge
