"What's really interesting with this craft is that it combines the skills of working with different metals, mainly steel, and the creative artistic design elements that people incorporate into the item," said Luke Shultz, member of the Pennsylvania Artist Blacksmiths' Association (PABA). "We call ourselves artist blacksmiths, as opposed to the traditional (image) of a blacksmith from 200 years ago."

The PABA gallery meeting will be held on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Paradise Community Center, 6 Londonvale Road, Paradise, located just off Route 30.

The group is part of the Artists Blacksmith's Association of North America (ABANA), one of two chapters in Pennsylvania. "We cover eastern Pennsylvania, with some members from surrounding states," said Shultz of the 20-year-old group, which boasts about 200 members who have a general interest in working with metal. "(That interest is) mainly blacksmithing or forging, but we also have some people who do tinsmithing, silversmithing, general fabricating, and other disciplines within the umbrella of metalwork," Shultz said. The group holds regular meetings, all of which are open to the public. Meetings are often held at a member's shop or historic blacksmith shop and include demonstrations of certain skills or projects.

The gallery meeting, which is always held in December, is traditionally located in Paradise. "We call it our gallery meeting because it is a little different than the rest of our meetings," said Shultz, who noted that the meeting is a showcase of metal-related items. "Members bring in examples of what they worked on throughout the year or collections they might have of antique tools or things they want to sell."

Another highlight of the event is the Ironmaster of the Day competition. "Any member can make an item designated for that competition," explained Shultz, who said that the items are displayed at the meeting and voted on to determine which maker will be Ironmaster of the Day. This year's designated item to create is a holiday wreath. "The person who makes (a wreath for the competition) creates their interpretation of a metal holiday wreath," said Shultz. "They are all making the same thing, but there are so many variations on how people approach making that item."

According to Shultz, interest in the craft of blacksmithing has grown recently. "Blacksmithing ... has seen a great resurgence in the last four years, because of television reality shows like 'Forged in Fire,'" he said. "One of the best ways to get into the hobby is to join an association like PABA, where you can go to meetings and see demonstrations about how to work with metal," he noted. "The (attendees) will be rubbing elbows and talking with experienced (crafters)." Shultz added that the organization has a lending library that features several hundred volumes of books, DVDs, and periodicals.

For more information, readers may search for "PABA PA Artist Blacksmiths' Association" on Facebook.