Intro to Blacksmithing: Forged Flower with Robert Burns

Learn how to hammer and mold hot steel while you make a beautiful decorative flower! All-Day Workshop Date: Saturday, December 12th, 2026 Time: 10am-5pm Description: Transform a single bar of steel into a beautiful, handcrafted flower! In this all day workshop, you’ll learn traditional blacksmithing techniques to shape and form each element of a petaled flower from one piece of metal. Work through the process of creating individual elements and bringing them together into a dimensional floral sculpture, exploring how heat and hammering can turn solid steel into something delicate and organic! This class will involve hot metal, fire, and swinging a hammer over several hours so it will be somewhat physically demanding so some stamina is required. No previous blacksmithing experience required – just come ready to work with hot metal and get creative! Each student will leave with a unique steel flower that makes a lasting decorative piece or a special handmade gift. Tuition: $120+ $30 materials fee Materials: All materials will be provided. Students should wear natural fibers such as cotton and denim. Uncuffed pants and closed-toe shoes are required (no shorts or sandals permitted). Long hair should be restrained. Safety glasses and hearing protection are provided; however, participants may bring their own if preferred. We recommend bringing a water bottle to stay hydrated. This workshop is in an open air studio, bring a coat to keep warm before the forges get fired up! Location: Contemporary Craft – Timmons Studios, Blacksmithing Studio (5688 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201) Cancellations and Refunds: Workshop cancellations are decided three business days before the start date. If workshops must be cancelled due to insufficient enrollment, the entire class fee will be refunded through Eventbrite, or you may leave your workshop fee in your Contemporary Craft account for future workshops. Refund Policy: Student refund requests must be made at least three business days before a class begins. There will be a $25 cancellation fee. We are unable to refund materials cost for this workshop. No refunds will be given without three-business days notice. Processing of refunds takes approximately three weeks. About the Artist Robert Burns has been forging and working as a blacksmith since 2008. Robert started his business Wilderness Ironworks in 2010 and has done the work full time for 12 years. Robert has been published in Blade magazine, Field and Stream, Knife magazine, and Sur le Tableu. Robert has also had work in the Metals Museum in Memphis Tennessee. His main focus is on connecting historic techniques with contemporary knowledge and design.