BWOTY and Makers Central 2019

I've just finished the most exciting few days of my woodturning life so far - the British Woodturner of the Year competition (I didn't win...) and Makers Central 2019.

Chuffed or what! British Woodturner of the Year 2019 at the Oxo Gallery, London

 The Oxo Gallery on London's Southbank, hosted an exhibition called Celebrating British Craft, which also included the Guild of Master Craftsmen's British Woodturner of the Year competition. The opening and awards ceremony was on Thursday 9th May. It was amazing to have a piece selected for inclusion and even more amazing to receive a Highly Commended award. Chuffed doesn't really cover it! 

The next day, I was in my car heading to the NEC at Birmingham for Makers Central 2019 - a gathering of YouTube makers from across the globe to celebrate the spirit of making and crafting. I was fortunate to be asked by Terry Smart of Chestnut Products to demonstrate their products over the weekend, including their new metallic paints, which I've had a sample set of for a few months. It also meant I got to meet many of the people who have been watching and enjoying my videos for the last couple of years - and hopefully entice some new viewers and subscribers. And of course, I got to meet many fellow makers and see friends I've made through YouTube and Facebook woodturning groups. And more stickers, it was a bit of a swap-a-thon, to be honest - watch out for the shout-outs in my next videos.

There were plenty of stands to spend money on as well, but I was very restrained! Well, I only bought two things - a new extractor from Record Power (thank you for the extra discount for buying the show sample) that would have been useful to have had on my lathe at the show to collect sanding dust, and a new, improved fingernail profiling arm for the Proedge from the Robert Sorby stand - hopefully arriving in the post in a few days' time.

​Finally, I collected a bag of pen turning goodies from Taylors Mirfield, which I had won in a raffle raising money to buy equipment for a girl with special needs. It was a great prize to win: not just pen kits, but bushings, extra refills and centres for turning between centres - no mandrel needed. It's been a few years since I've made a pen, but there's a drawer full of pen blanks, including some I cast myself in resin, that have been gathering dust in my workshop for a while. I'll be rooting amongst it for the perfect blanks to make these pens with. So, thank you, Dan from Taylors Mirfield!

Some of the demo pieces made with Chestnut Products' stains at Makers Central 2019

A great raffle prize from Dan at Taylors Mirfield

This was the second Makers Central - bigger than last year's - and hopefully there'll be another one next year. Thanks to everyone who made it possible! And thanks to everyone who took the time to come and chat while I was on my stand. I'm sure to forget some names, so let me know if I've missed you out! Special thanks to Tony who spoke to me on Sunday and said how much he liked my videos and loved the music on my credits - he's the first person to mention this to me and it absolutely delighted my wife as it's from one of the songs she wrote for her musical 'Soul Circus - Buried Treasure' that premiered at last year's Brighton Festival. Thanks also to Kathryn, Wayne, Phil, Alicja, two great blokes from Wexford, Dave, John, Yuval, Martin, Bob, Chris, Jane...and everyone else whose name eludes me.

Finally, thanks to Terry who made this weekend possible for me by asking me to demonstrate for him. If you're free in August, you'll be able to see me at Chestnut Products' Woodturning Weekender. I can't wait!!

Until the next time - happy turning!