Joe B's blog

check my website please

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Hi folks,
Just got my website up and wondered if some of you could take a look and give me a critique? It's pretty simple so far but I like an easily navigated site. The nav label "Beside the Stream" is the name of my blog.


Searching for an identity

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How come I keep getting HTTP error 404 messages when I try to type in comma separated words in the tags field?
That's not the subject of my blog. I am searching for a name for my decorative ironworks business. A name is an important thing when it comes to people's perception of who you are and what you do. I do fine hand forged ironwork, using traditional blacksmith tools and techniques. The term blacksmith is one I am proud of, but it carries a lot of baggage and connotations that are unhelpful. Most everyone immediately thinks I do horseshoes even though I bill myself as an artist blacksmith. I have used the name Cocorico Forge in the past. This name has problems because no one knows how to pronounce Cocorico and some customers have even shown anger when I say it is a French word for what a rooster says each morning. So I'd like a name that is easily pronounced, lacking in foreigness, lacking in political or religious connotations, and reflective of the work I do. Perhaps I should create a symbol for the blacksmith formerly known as ?


hello and question about who buys this stuff

Hi gang,
I hope I'm posting to the right place. This is my first time using the forum and unsure but here goes.
I am an artist blacksmith residing and working in Knoxville, TN. I've been a blacksmith off and on since 1979 but mostly as a hobby except for a while during 2000 to 2004 when I tried making money at it. Now I have jumped in the deep end of the pool and hope to make a living from it. I have hooked up with a bunch named SCORE which is a group of retired business people who donate their time to act as mentors for people like me. I understand the basics of business because we ran our own electronics design consulting business for six years. What I don't understand is how to advertise and market my fine hand forged ironwork. We know that craft shows are not necessarily the best way from previous experience. But galleries seem to charge large amounts (in one case 60% !) for selling my work and they get a commission for anything I sell within 100 miles of them.


Hello

Hello everyone,
I have been a blacksmith off and on since around 1979. Just couldn't quit my day job till a year ago last March. So now I'm getting cranked up to work in metal more or less full time. While going through some old folders of sketches and designs (I cannot throw anything away), I ran across a paper copy of ArtMetal from Spring 1994. I wondered if it still existed so searched on the net and found you guys. I am located in Knoxville, TN. We have a local guild called the Clinch River Blacksmith's Guild that meets once a month. I'll try to come up with a picture or two to send. All for now. Just glad y'all are still around.


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