News Archives
Thankyou
We would sincerely like to thank all the festival and market organisers who have allowed the Tree Project to come to their event to demonstrate leaf forging. Many thanks to the Kinglake Shire Council, ABC Kinglake Ranges, the Hildebrand Festival, Hurstbridge Farmers' Market, Alexandra Timber Tramways & Museum, St. Andrews Market, Whittlesea Shire Council, Eltham Town Shopping Centre, Upper Yarra Historical Society, Marysville Market and the CFA. Thanks also to the Peter Brock Foundation for lending us a marquee for these events.
Although our public leaf forging demonstrations are over, as the blacksmiths forge the branches and start to form the tree, we'll be posting pictures of the tree's progress on this page. We plan to have some of the major branches complete by the weekend of the 19th and 20th September when the Australian Blacksmiths' Association (Victoria) will be running demonstrations and an exhibition of metalwork to celebrate their 20th Anniversary. This event will be held at The Briars Park, Nepean Highway, Mt. Martha. Admission is free and all are welcome. More details closer to the event.
Sunday 26 July
SOON TO COME: more news of leaves arriving from our blacksmith friends overseas, blacksmiths and welders get together in August to make branches and more leaves and start joining it all together.
We are still making leaves for sponsors, so if you haven't received a picture of your leaf yet, don't worry. We have over 100 finished leaves about to be photographed and sent out later this week and more leaves being forged at the moment. We'll be taking leaf sponsorships only until mid-August, so if you know anyone who would still like to sponsor a leaf, please let them know sponsorships will be finishing in a couple of weeks.
Monday 13 July
Left: Cliff giving his new anvil a workout. Right: Leaves for the CFA branch
Left: Ash and Paul Right: A finished leaf
Left: Letter stamps for stamping the leaves Right: Chris hard at work
Our final leaf forging demonstration was held at the headquarters of the CFA. This was a special demonstration where the blacksmiths forged leaves for a CFA branch. The branch will have a leaf representing each division of the CFA. Thanks to the CFA for having us and feeding us lunch!
Sunday 12 July
Left: We spent the morning forging leaves at the Marysville Market, surrounded by green trees and still-black hills Right: Andy at the anvil
Left: Ray is always popular with the kids Right: Paul & Cliff hard at work
Left: Writing wishes for the wish box which will be buried under the tree Right: There's always a pile of newly made leaves at Doug's anvil before morning tea.
Left: A pair of gumleaves being forged Right: At the end of the day we made fondue over the forge from a recipe Paul learned from the French blacksmiths when he was in the Ukraine. How to make it: a handful of grated gruyere cheese, a handful of swiss cheese, a bit of white wine, some black pepper and a splash of lemon juice. Heat until runny. Dip pieces of bread in fondue. It's handy if you know a blacksmith to make you a fondue fork!
Thanks to the beautiful people of Marysville who made us feel very welcome. The Marysville Market is up and running again and is worth a visit. Our support team of Rachel, Pam, Sandie and Amanda took some time off to go shopping. Our favourite things were: possum fur socks, lemon myrtle biscuits from Crumbs, roast pumpkin chutney, soy candles (favourite fragrances: vanilla and moroccan spice) and a magnolia plant which produces flowers smelling of bubblegum. Rachel, our caffeine addict reports that the coffee is brilliant. Thankyou to the lovely Ian and Shelly for inviting us to Marysville.
Saturday 4 July
Many people came out today to see the blacksmiths forging leaves at St. Andrews Market.
Left: Ash gets to work Right: Steve fires up the forge
Left: People gather to watch the forging Right: Dale stamps names on leaves
Left: Jill, our newest blacksmith, forges a pair of beautiful copper leaves under Paul's guidance Right: Andy makes leaves. Thanks to Alvin (not pictured,) who cranked the forge blower most of the day.
Left: Doug and onlookers
Left: One of our younger audience members and Mum
Despite the cold Melbourne weather and intermittent rain, many people turned up to see the blacksmiths today. Our collection of international leaves is growing and on display today were small branches from Germany, America and Canada, more leaves from England and from our fellow smiths in Western Australia and Queensland. Our thanks go to the wonderful organisers of St. Andrews Market who hosted us today.
Also this week, we've been very touched by the Peel River Artist Blacksmiths from NSW who not only sent us lots of stainless steel and copper leaves for the tree, they also sent a donation of $100 to go towards the project. Many thanks.
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