When I was invited to teach at Touchstone, my first thought was yay! of course. My second thought was .. how close is Touchstone to the Center for Metal Arts? I first heard of CMA on Instagram a few years back, after seeing some mind-bogglingly large power hammers and some equally heavy-hitters on their teaching roster.
So, what is it?  A non-profit forging school in Johnstown, PA, housed in the historical Cambria Iron Company's Blacksmith shop and associated buildings, built in the 1850's. They are restoring the facilities there one power hammer at a time, led by the amazing Patrick Quinn. There is already a full blacksmith shop, and courses that range from 1-week workshops to 6-week 'forging focus' programs. Some programs are FREE if accepted, due to generous grants.
It is about 1.5 hours from Touchstone. So, I flew to Pittsburgh a day early, rented a car and drove out there with my friends Francesca Urciuoli (assistant for my Touchstone class on mokume gane) and Annette Campbell (who was also taking my Touchstone class). Patrick was so generous with his time, giving us a whole tour of the building and answering all our questions. He ven found some 'tiny' hammers for us to buy!
What he is doing is so important for the history of America during the Industrial Revolution, but also to preserve and pass on the traditional skills of the blacksmith, and to encourage those skills to be used for personal expression and in an atmosphere of inclusion. It is an impressive place in so many ways.
Confession: blacksmithing is a secret hobby of mine; I know just enough to get myself in trouble, and I wish I had the time to devote to learn more, especially in terms of making my own tools and perhaps forging out my billets. I know that if I do get the time, this is the place where I want to learn. Find out more about them on their website.

I've recently returned from five fabulous days teaching at Touchstone Center for Crafts in Western Pennsylvania. They have an extensive campus; besides my mokume gane box making class, there was a blacksmithing class, ceramics, and textiles. There is even a glass-blowing studio! Students and teachers alike stayed in either dorm rooms or cabins, and we all ate at a central dining hall. It felt like a proper retreat, well for the students anyway! It was a lot of fun for me too, but I left wanting to go back as a student. There is nothing like that feeling of being able to just work in the studio all day, no driving, no cooking, no cleaning, no TV, no emails. Many of my students went back to the studio after dinner, working till the wee hours. I really enjoyed one evening hanging out the with the blacksmiths (thank you Addison de Lisle!), and getting to know the ceramics and textiles teachers too.
Over the five days, students learned two different ways of patterning mokume gane, and each made about four finished patterns. Those patterned pieces then became the lids of small boxes - along the way they learned about texturing, forming, soldering, clean-up and of course patinas. I was impressed with their creativity - no two boxes alike.
My assistant Francesca Urciuoli was a huge help with everything from teaching to taking photos - thank you Francesca!
Look for this class to be taught online later this year, and in other 'away' locations next year (at a school near you?).
Last three pics show a field trip to Ohiopyle State park, just a 20 minute drive from Touchstone. Yes, it was quite a large snake! I also really enjoyed the fireflies, not something we see on the West coast.