If you are interested in improving your forging skills in a more formal way, the Artist-Blacksmith’s Association of North America (ABANA) has developed a 3-level certification curriculum.  This curriculum was created to develop the fundamental skills and techniques in blacksmithing using a series of projects culminating to a final project at each level showcasing the student’s acquired skillsets. The level one certification covers the most fundamental skills based on 16 separate elements. This class will focus on the beginning skills of the level one projects allowing the students to continue the curriculum on their own time and speed. Further information regarding the ABANA curriculum and list of projects is available on their website.  Basic skills covered are safety, tool nomenclature and proper use, hammer control, tapers, forging to specific shapes and sizes, introduction to toolmaking and heat treatment. Greg AmEnde is a Level One certified instructor for The Artist-Blacksmith’s Association of North America. Students will need safety glasses, dust mask or respirator, leather work gloves, (welding gauntlets not needed) and should wear jeans, a non-flammable cotton shirt and/or jacket, and closed-toed boots or leather shoes. Our forge is an outdoor building that is only semi-enclosed; please dress accordingly. For full-day workshops, please bring a lunch to be on the safe side, as there may or may not be time to get food during a lunch break.