Spring Ahead: What I'm Working On and What's Coming

As winter turns to spring, I wanted to share what's happening in the workshop and what I'm excited about for the months ahead.

The demonstration calendar is filling up. I'll be at Yandles in April, and various club demonstrations throughout the season. These in-person events feel increasingly precious as we becoming more involved with the internet and social media. There's something about demonstrating live, answering questions in real time, seeing people's faces as techniques click into place.

My Tuesday evening live streams on YouTube will hopefully come back. They’re free to watch, a chance to ask questions as I work. These aren't polished, edited content. They're real turning in real time. The chat moves fast, but I try to answer as many questions as I can.

At The Woodturning School, we have some exciting guest tutors lined up. Emma Cook returns in June with her faux hollow form and carved bowl techniques. She brings genuine creativity and infectious energy to her classes. Also in June, Colwin Way will be teaching Nick Agar’s Viking Sunset Bowl for his first visit of 2026. This is a masterclass in decorative turning that changes how you think about what's possible on a lathe.

My book "A Maker's Mindset: 30 Lessons from the Lathe" is progressing. It's not a technical manual. There are plenty of those already. It's about the thinking behind good work: the attitudes, observations, and philosophy that transform technique from mechanical repetition into genuine craft.

"Woodturning: Form and Formula" continues to find readers who want to think more deeply about proportion and design. The Golden Ratio and Rule of Thirds aren't strict rules. They're starting points for understanding why some shapes feel right and others don't.

Spring is the season when people move from thinking about making to actually making. The days are longer, workshops are warmer, and there's energy in the air. What will you create this spring?

Class Recommendation: Spring classes are booking now. Find your next project at The Woodturning School.

Book: https://www.thewoodturning.school

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@msabansmith

Cross-Reference: Full spring preview on The Woodturning School blog (Tuesday 31st March)