Old Time Way

Here are just a few of the pictures from the August 2010 shoe making class. Thanks everyone involved for helping make it a huge success!  Next class September 18th. 2010 John C. Campbell Folk School. Look for an update with a link to register soon.

The April 2010 Shoe Making class at Rivercane Rendezvous met end exceeded all expectations. The students were devoted despite weekend rain. No lost soles at the end thankfully. 11 pair of beautiful hand made boots were finished last week.  One pair was a size 14, perfect fit.

The class started making patterns, and cutting leather.  Sewing eyelet trim, or any decoration was done on the boots next. This always is the creative place for a lot of students, and this was an exceptional group. After the eyelet trims were on, the Vamps (toe and tongue area)were sewn to the quarters(uppers). The next step was to sew the boots up the back, and add the foxing( heel and ankle support).The soles were made to fit each students foot. The shoe was then fitted to the foot, and glued onto the sole with the foot inside, thus ensuring a perfect fit. The last sewing was to sew the shoe to the sole. After that the rubber grip is attached to the bottom of the shoe and cleaned up.

This is a practical way of making footwear that fits you and looks good . Look in the Classes page for the next shoe making class.

Beaded Knife sheath

This sheath is done in applique and lazy stitch on braintan leather. 

✢ Beadwork ✢

¤Every cloud has a silver lining. Here is a Beaded Tree of Life bag by Peggy Patrick Among the many colors used are sky, powder, pony trader and mediteranian blues.¤ (sold)

✢ Chuck & Peggy Patrick Live ✢

¤ Chuck and Peggy Patrick will be doing a live radio broadcast of Old Time Mountain Music Friday the 19th of February at Young Harris Georgia’s station WYHG 770 AM 12pm to 1pm. The host David Brose is a well known folklorist and historian for the John C. Campbell Folk School.

Peggy comes from a family of musicians. Her father was local square dance caller in Blairsville,Georgia. His mother before him filled that function for the community. Peggy began singing in church as a child with her sisters. She plays guitar, clawhammer banjo, and does vocals.  Chuck plays fiddle, mandolin, harmonica, and tenor banjo. They have often played in bands with other musicians in their area, including,  legendary left handed fiddler from Hiawassee, GeorgiaRoss Brown.

Chuck and Peggy have been playing music together since 1974. They play a variety of insruments including fiddle, banjo, and guitar. When they married Chuck and Peggy began to perform locally, and have never stopped. You can download a full recording of Chuck and Peggy Patrick’s cd, “Still Old Time” and  ”Ross Brown,Chuck &Peggy Patrick Play Your Request”  by going to the Music page.¤

✢ Color of the Fire ✢

¤ Chuck Patrick is a damascus knife maker and blacksmith. A blade-smith is a blacksmith with a special understanding of metallurgy that  blacksmith does not necessarily have. Chuck Patrick is a blacksmith, yes , but he does so much more than make horse shoes and sharpen plows.

Chuck Patrick made his first knife while living in the Alaskan bush country. When his need for a superior tool led him to spend days on end trying to come up with a blade he could use the way he needed to in this tough environment where you are not forgiven by nature if you fail. From this humble beginning he has become one of this nations leading expert  Blade-smiths and metallurgist.

Chuck has been and continues to be consulted by many top knife making companies, about his Damascus steel, as well as his heat treating genius. Chuck seems to be in tune with the fire as he works in it. He can tell by the color of the fire and the steel, what the temperature is with out even looking at the thermostat. In fact Chuck Patrick can tell if the thermostat is wrong!

Chuck Patrick has traveled throughout the U.S.A. teaching knife making. He continues to teach locally and  in the southeast. He will assist  Dr.James Batson former president of the American Bladesmithing society (ABS), at the John C. Campbell Folk School in January 10-16 2010. The class name  is The American Hand Forged Knife. ¤

To see photos from thi class: Knife Making Class 2010 Photos