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The Canadian Champion, Fniday, JuIy 14, 2000 - DAY7 Sykes has -his own distinct style he calis 'organic' t ram FLAME on DAY2 don't do it again," he said, showing off arms only slightly scarred by scorch marks. At its'basic level, a blacksmith heats up iron in order to stretch, spin or mold it in a new way. "It's like stiff plasticine. tt's actually quite nice to work as long as you remember you have to use bools," said Mr. Sykes. "Strike when the iron's bot. That's where that saying came from." And if the tools aren't there, he makes them. "Blacksmiîhs are notorious for making their own tools becauae you're always doing somne- thing different," he aaid. Bis unusual carcer was launched after a col- lege course in gold and silver smithing led indi- rectly to a blacksmith apprenticeship with famous former Newmarket smithy David Norrie. He bas also acquired farrier and welding papers, and will teach smithing at a cost of about $100 a day for basic tessons. Since setting up his Moffat shop in the mid- 1990s, Mr. Sykes has been embracing the ephemneral joys of artistie blacksmithing. Today he makes everything from- custom designed coffee tables and candlestick holders t0 arbours, gates, chandeliers, door handles, hinges and brackets. From his years as a wheelwright aI the former Halton Agricultural Museum (now Country Heritage Park), he mastered the art of restoring wagons and carniages. And he does commereial projects, including "I1 have my own style. It's organic,"I Ile said. "Wilth nature, if you don't do them night, it doesn't look right. You've got to put them together like the real thing."9 DAIM 3YKES Milton's banner brackets, which can be found holding up the names of various sponsors and touting upcoming; eventa on Main Street. His own designs are often lestooned with ses- sitively-crafted leaves, vines and grape clusters. "I have my own style. tt's organic," he said. "With nature, if you don't do themn right, it does- n't look right. You've got to put themn together like the real thing." But with the trade aIl but lost to dust-ridden history tomes, the future of smithing is uncertain. Money is the cause. Apprenticeship can mun up to seven years, during which cah is scarce. Given that, how many youths will opt to follow in the footateps of the village blacksmith? "tt's an artistic thing. It takes a lot of suffering to get ouI there and make tome money," said Mr. Sykes. Visit his webaite at starpages.comltvillage- blacksmith. Or caîl the shop at 854-0516. PINTARI