Dinner is always more delicious when cooked with freshly-made tools.

Half beginners and half advanced/intermediate students, this Penland iron crew is learning a ton with teaching artist Anna R. Koplik. Entitled “Tongs, Hammers, and Other Slammers,” the ongoing eight-week concentration is all about making things that help you make more things.

To make the forks, students employed forging, forming chambering, and used the power hammer. To cook their dinner, they used a charcoal grill.

What’s it like to teach a workshop with a variety of skill levels?

We asked instructor Anna Koplik:

The most important thing is to be sure that everyone is only comparing themselves with themselves.

Different levels just means that some people are making one of everything and others are making ten of everything. Or some are making something simple and others are making something very complex.

For the beginners, I remind them that three weeks ago they had never lit a fire or held a hammer.

The more advanced students are having side conversations with me. I’m able to draw what they need and they are like ‘Got it!’

Stay tuned for more from our Spring Concentration!