Penland Iron Workshop Students Show Impressive Skills Completing Campus Project

photos and information courtesy Penland Sketchbook

Penland School of Crafts summer’s session 5 iron workshop with Hoss Haley and Warren Holzman brought together a talented bunch of students with big ideas and impressive skill. Together, the class designed, constructed, and installed a new bronze and steel handrail on campus. The project included eight custom supports, hours at the power hammer, 44 feet of forged cap rail, and a whole lot of teamwork. We think the results are just stunning.

Heat, patience, and an eye for detail make all the pieces come together smoothly.

The new railing is a big improvement over the standard blue railing it replaced.

Penland School of Crafts is a national center for craft education located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. Penland offers 1, 2, and 8 week workshops in books & paper, clay, drawing, glass, iron, metals, photography, printmaking, textiles, and wood. The school also sponsors artists' residencies, outreach programs, and an exceptional craft gallery. The gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday and is located on the campus at 3135 Conley Ridge Road in Penland NC, just outside Spruce Pine NC. 

 

Spruce Pine NC Annual NC Mineral and Gem Show

photos courtesy of NC Mineral and Gem Festival

August 4 - 7, 2016    The Annual NC Mineral and Gem Festival    This popular event features 60 dealers from all over the world with gem stones, mineral specimens, fossils, jewelry, beads and lots more. If it is made of stone, you should be able to find it here. 

Since the early 1950's Spruce Pine NC has been the host of this annual Festival and has welcomed visitors from around the world to shop for beautiful jewelry, gemstones, minerals, beads, crystals, fossils and more.


The Festival features gem, jewelry and mineral dealers from across the country showcasing their merchandise to fit every budget. Whether you are shopping for an engagement ring, a special stone for your own setting, a custom designed piece of jewelry or a special crystal display for your home, you can't miss the NC Mineral and Gem Festival.   

There will be a BBQ on Saturday, a fundraiser for the  the Parkway Fire and Rescue and new equipment. Come help out the fire department. 

The Show will be open 10 AM to 6 PM daily and Sunday 12:30 - 5 PM at 12966 South Hwy 226 in Spruce Pine NC. Admission is $3 for adults, children are free. There will be plenty of parking plus a free shuttle.