How long since the last blog?

Yes, I know...it's been a long time since I last posted a blog....can I plead busy at work, family commitments, boredom, idleness, third dose of covid??? No, probably not...anyway, at least I'm posting something now. 

There are plenty of demos coming up, and I hope I'll meet some of you in person at them. In March I was at East Herts and I was at Colchester earlier this month. Both demos were full days, and most folk stayed after lunch too! Woodturning clubs seem to be full of the nicest people who make great audiences to work with. It was exciting to be demoing in person again, even if a few butterfly nerves were fluttering away inside me. Happily, I had a great time at both clubs and the demos are coming fairly frequently as we move into summer. The afternoon session at Colchester was particularly enjoyable with lots of audience participation on trying out an idea I'd casually mentioned in the morning as something I wanted to try in the future - it turns out that future was just after lunch! 

East Herts Woodturners Demo March 2022

Colchester Woodturners Demo April 2022

The afternoon's collaborative fish platter at Colchester Woodturners...

I'm especially excited about a visit to Sweden in early May where I'll be demonstrating at SweDendro along with Colwin Way, I believe! And if all goes to plan, I'll be one of the demonstrators at the Irish Woodturners Guild Seminar in October - I was on their demonstrator list for 2020 but we all know why that didn't happen! 

I've been doing some turning over the Easter break, though not as much as I had expected to get done. But I have had fun doing it, and even left one piece uncoloured! I was also lucky enough to get to visit The Woodturning Shop for one of their open days this month, shortly before a trip to Portugal to visit my son, partner and grand-daughter! (That really was the highlight of the Easter break...) I bought some new texturing tools - you can never have too many - from Simon Hope...I love them and there's a video on my YouTube page putting them through their paces.

Below are my most recent turnings - check out my YouTube page on Saturday 23rd April 20:30 UK time for the newest video - the natural edged column shown below!

...and that excuse at the start about family commitments...here's the hustle and bustle of family life in rural Portugal where our grand-daughter lives...it's more exhausting than the view would suggest!

Finally, I'm having a virtual Open Workshop on Saturday 23rd April at 19:30 UK time - if you'd like to 'pop in' via Zoom, perhaps with a question or two about colouring techniques or texturing techniques, then let me know by filling in the form here. If you want to know about upcoming events, demos and workshops, then join my Mailing List.

​Happy turning!