Forged Steel Stocking Hook with Danielle Brannigan at Contemporary Craft – Timmons Studios – Pittsburgh, PA

3-Hour Workshop

Date: Thursday, December 3rd, 2026

Time: 6pm-9pm

Description: Bring a little handmade charm to your holiday traditions by forging your own stocking hook! In this 3-hour workshop, you’ll learn the basics of blacksmithing as you heat, hammer, taper, bend, and twist steel into a functional and decorative stocking hook. Add texture and decorative details to create a unique piece that can be enjoyed year after year. No previous blacksmithing experience is required - just come ready to work with hot metal and get creative!

Tuition: $80 + $20 materials fee

Materials: All studio materials are included*

*This workshop is in an open air studio, we recommend bringing a coat to keep warm before the forges get fired up! 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 designed for students ages 16 and up. Exceptions may apply, please reach out to Jamie Boyle- jboyle@contemporarycraft.org for inquiry.

We really want you to join us in the studio! Full and partial tuition scholarships are available to offset some of the financial burden of attending a class. Please fill out the application here; you can expect to hear from someone on the CC staff within 2 weeks.

Location: Contemporary Craft - Timmons Studios (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. No refunds will be given without three-business days notice. Processing of refunds takes approximately three weeks.

If you require accessibility accommodations, please let us know by calling 412.261.7003 and we are happy to assist you.

About the Artist

Danielle Brannigan is a Pittsburgh-based silversmith, blacksmith, artist, and educator who works across jewelry, small- and large-scale sculpture, metal fabrication, and welding. She loves working with all forms of metal, with a particular affinity for steel and copper. Her practice is rooted in experimentation, hands-on making, and discovering new possibilities within the material. She has a special interest in reclaimed steel and recycled materials, giving new life to materials through transformation and reuse. In her current explorations, Danielle is experimenting with enameling steel, exploring the interplay of color, surface, texture, and form. As an educator, she encourages curiosity, experimentation, and a willingness to push the material in unexpected directions.