The next meeting of the Georgia Custom Knifemakers Guild will be held on 2/10/07 at the Twin Blades shop in Statesboro GA. The board will meet at 8:00 until about 9:30. Coffee and donuts will be available in the Cabin where you can sign in and get a name badge. The general membership meeting will be held at 9:30, followed by demonstrations and lunch, with more demonstrations to follow lunch. President Carl will give us all some pointers on things to do and not to do around a forge(safety), Charlie Mathews will demonstrate his method of cutting the bevels on dovetailed bolsters and scales, and Ken Simmons will do a presentation on shop safety.
Some of us are going to have a mini hammer-in on Friday. If you are interested an want to join in the fun, you are welcome. We will have a social on Friday night hosted by Twin Blades for those that get to Statesboro on Friday. We will have some snacks off the grill, some stew and can promise a good time. More information will follow as the time draws near and the details get ironed out.
As we do at each meeting we will have a drawing for a hand made knife. The money raised from the sale of the tickets will be used to fund the John Poythress Scholarship. The knife will be donated by Twin Blades(a picture will follow at a later date). This money is going for a great cause, education of a knifemaker, and is in memory of a great man, our founding President John Poythress, so don't feel bad about buying more than one ticket.
Don't forget to bring some stuff for the "Iron in The Hat" drawing. It's how we pay for lunch. The more you bring, the more tickets we sell and the better we eat.
One of the best parts of the Guild meetings is the display table. It is a chance to show your stuff(you can put prices on the knives if you want to sell them). You will see every kind of knife on the table from first knives to real show pieces, so don't hesitate to show what you have. It's a chance to learn as well as show. If you have questions there is nothing like showing someone what you mean, rather than having to try to describe it. The display table always generates a lot of conversation, so bring what you got.
It always makes planning easier if we know how many people to count on for the social on Friday night and for lunch on Saturday, so if you would respond by sending me an e-mail to twinblades@bulloch.net it would be appreciated. If you aren't sure now and decide to attend at a late date just come on. We will have plenty to eat and the more knifemakers the better. If you are from out of state, we would be glad to have you come. We have a special membership available for those that have to cross borders to get here.
A list of nearby hotels and directions to Twin Blades shop will be posted on the Georgia Guild web site. (http://georgiaknifemakersguild.com/)
Charlie and I are looking forward to a great meeting, and hope that everyone can be there.

Well Guys, there it is!
Don't think about it, just come. We are going to have a good time and get to talk about, look at and play with knives!
Can't get no better.

Sounds like this will be a good meeting---again---for the GCKG. I am planning on making both Friday night and Saturday. If everyone gets their schedules worked out, I am hoping to have guests come to both.

Glad you mentioned about bring your knives to show. I am hoping to bring a piece of John's that you guys may have seen but have not seen totally finished. John was working on a katana and had it all finished except for tying off the end of the handle. I took it to the Jones Brothers in Danville VA---John held them in the highest regards---and asked them if they would finish tying the handle. I am going to pick the piece up the last of this month at our sister Guild's meeting in Troy NC. I am so very excited to get this piece back.

This piece is what "lit the fire" in Avery, my grandson, to want to go into the shop with his Pappy. When John first started grinding on this peice Avery was enthralled. He loved to see those sparks come flying off that long piece of steel. It took another year or so before Avery got over being scared of the noise but what could you expect from a 5 year old at the time.

I truly can't wait to bring this piece home.

See you guys in Statesboro on the 10th.

Could you please post a map.I need to get it to a couple of newbies.Thanks Robert

For directions and a map to Twin Blades, Check out the link in Harry's post above and go to the Fire and Ice news letter. There is also a link that Jamey set up that will send you the same information.

Ice?!?! Not going to be that cold down there is it?
Guess it won't matter much once we get the forges perking on Friday.
Soon.

"Ice" Woops!
Should have read "Steel and Fire". I guess I'm not use to all this cold weather we've been having. It actually got down to 28 the other night.

Charlie , count me in for Fri. nite !

Joe

Hey Joe, bring some of them purty folders you been making. I want to see one up close and personal. See ya Friday.

Looks like I should be there Fri night through Sunday