Iron Osprey Designs, LLC

05/03/2026

Chasing and Repousse Class May 16

Ever wanted to bring metal to life? Create a face, a creature, a design that almost leaps off the surface of the metal to capture your eye and imagination? Kirk Sullens is an accomplished artist who has been creating beautiful pieces with chasing and repousse for decades and is now offering a class (with a tooling set provided) in St. Augustine, May 16th at Iron Osprey Designs, LLC/ Iron Osprey Forge. The class will start with a small project and numerous templates to choose from, and then move into working with somewhat more substantial metal. You will learn how to lay out your pattern, the various tools and base substrates (resistant materials) used to bring a flat, two-dimensional drawing to life, capturing light and shadow, creating hollows, shadows and prominences on your piece. This is a great skill for anyone and a valued addition to any metalworker. Register at https://iron-osprey-designs.com under classes (Kirk Sullens Chasing and Repousse) or follow this link: https://www.iron-osprey-designs.com/booking-calendar/kirk-sullens-chasing-and-repousse

There are several spots remaining and this is a great opportunity to work with an outstanding artist. (see some of his work at www.kirksullens.com ) This is an all day class. Lunch, snacks, soft drinks are provided, as are all the tools you need.

No experience needed. Ages 15 and up (parent required for < 18 y.o.) . Class costs $120 for the entire day and you leave with two projects and tools* to work at home ( * for those who register at least 5 days prior to the class).

03/21/2026

A great class on traditional joinery is coming up in April. Kirk Sullens - Artistry with Utility, an artist with 4 decades of experience will be teaching a one-day class on traditional joinery and participants will not only learn many new techniques but also craft several tools to keep as well as completing a beautiful item for their home.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GRpajLBSY/

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02/12/2026

Lots of stuff happening at the forge. New forges, a new shop arrangement, and new classes. Plus, lots of activity with the Florida Artist Blacksmith FABA - Florida Artist Blacksmith Association N NE regional meetings each month. New class options coming including specialty classes with visiting instructors, more FABA related classes (a metal casting demo and workshop for the April 11th FABA meeting) and just lots of energy and fun.

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02/12/2026

Welcome to Iron Osprey Forge. 2026 is starting off with a bang. Lots of great students from 10 to 82 years of age. And we are beginning to book specialty classes with other instructors (a colonial axe class, a metal casting workshop under FABA, with a repousse and chasing class to come soon). Also, Iron Osprey Forge is one of the few that includes both solid fuel and propane forges in the introductory classes, so students get to sample both.

Note: For ALL classes – The posted classes are for adults 18 and older. A sandwich lunch and soft drinks and snacks are provided in each class. There are class options for youth younger than 18 but these must be arranged directly with the blacksmith. Message him at [email protected] and register for classes on the Iron Osprey Designs website www.iron-osprey-designs.com
Intro to Blacksmithing (8 hours) This class gives you a thorough introduction to the blacksmith’s craft, including drawing, tapering, cutting, bending, scrolling, planishing, and more. You will also learn how to hammer effectively and safely. You work with both coal and propane forges and complete two projects to take home for immediate use. This class is a thorough introduction to the craft. THIS is a requirement before taking any other blacksmithing classes**
Full-Day Knife class (this is a FULL day, approx. 11 hours and does count as an Introductory Course** - not requiring the Intro To Blacksmithing). In the class you will learn the basic ways to move metal, hammer safely and effectively, learn basic heat treating and will be introduced to grinding your blades.
Introduction to MIG welding (not stick, not TIG). This class is designed to give a broad overview of what a typical hobby/blacksmith 110/220 V MIG welder can do. Students see the difference between a 110V and 220V machine, learn to see the puddle and run a bead and will work on samples based on their interests. I started this class as there were no other options available to folks but now there are a few other options available. Please call and discuss what you want to learn and I can help decide what works best for you.
Call/email to schedule
Level 1 and Level 2 Blacksmithing classes (assorted topics/projects). These are classes, typically one-on-one, where students build on the skills learned in the intro course. As they are individual, contact our blacksmith (Doug) to arrange time and projects. Classes range from 6 -9 hours.
Date Night Blacksmithing: Step into the world of smithing with what is guaranteed to be one of the hottest date nights you’ve ever had. This is a light taste of metalworking and you leave with almost a dozen items you have crafted. Part of the items involve food and you’ll use your project to eat a meat/cheese/fruit board with sparkling cider on the side. This typically lasts 4 hours although some couples have stayed for the entire evening!
Contact Doug to arrange.

01/25/2026

We have had some impressive youth this month. One 10 y.o. who worked strong through a 6 hour day (planned on 3 and then kept going as he was able). He stayed focused and intent all day. I have worked with youth younger than 13 many times, but most start flagging after an hour or two. John was unique.

Yesterday I worked with a mom and son with a unique situation. Malakai lost his eyes around 6 years of age. His mother persuaded me to let him visit the shop and to see what we could do toward his desire to hit hot metal. He is 11 years old. We discussed the realities of his circumstance and the dangers in an unsighted person handling 2000 degree metal but then focused on what he COULD do.

He was able to shape a small letter opener sword by hammering on the anvil while I held the metal. Not every blow hit, but he could tell by feel and sound if he missed. He used a short grip to better feel where the hammer head was. He did all of the hammering and shaping of his 'sword', I only held it and moved it slightly. We then tried the leaf blank. He held the hot leaf with vise grips and resting the grips against the edge of the anvil was about 50 percent accurate with his blows. (I took the vise grips between hammering to hold in the torch).

Then we switched to cold work and he finished texturing the leaf holding the stem both with vise grips and with his fingers. He also was able to dish a small bowl and a scoop with copper.

Although he realizes he won't be forging hot steel independently, he and his mom are planning on setting up a small area at home to do copper and sheet metal work.

12/12/2025

Hi Folks. I haven't posted in awhile. It's been a busy year with some travel to expand my skill set, attend to some family matters and so on. But I am back in the shop, the shop has been reorganized, I have a new hip and am hopping around quite easily now (yeah!) and new classes and projects are in the future. The Jan - April classes will post soon, with some new options as well.

Iron Osprey Forge is still the center of operations for the Florida FABA - Florida Artist Blacksmith Association North Northeast Region and we have monthly FABA meetings (typically the second Saturday of the month, with some variation at times) open to the public. These usually have a demonstration of a skill or project, some food and camaraderie and open forge time. You do not need to be a FABA member to attend or to play.

Our region also won the President's challenge at our annual conference in October (see below) with our floating city.

I hope to see some new faces and would love to see some others visit more often.

11/21/2025

December Classes are now available on the Iron Osprey website.

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07/26/2025

Ryan Rowe and I worked for a while today in the shop. It was a warm day...we shut off the forge after we hit 96, lol. He did up some more of his exotic damascus.

07/18/2025

FABA NNE region meeting tomorrow at Iron Osprey Forge , 102 Marshall Circle, St Augustine. 9 til 3ish

07/14/2025

Was able to assist a bit with HandsonMetal's installation of a chandelier at Flagler College. This is a reproduction of the original chandelier at Flagler's hotel, going into what is now the dining hall.

07/07/2025

Folks, one week post- op I can confidently say the July FABA meeting on the 19th is a go and we will add a FABA Thursday on the 17th as well. New hip is in, I can walk a mile and a quarter easily, and so should be swinging a hammer again in a week.

Hope to see you there.