There’s plenty for you to enjoy and learn from in this Spring edition of the Marquetarian.

There are loads for you to check out in this Spring edition of The Marquetarian. We have a really packed magazine here that we are sure you are going to enjoy.

For starters there’s the Sutton Coldfield Group's beginner's workshop where the supervised training of "newbies" to marquetry is conducted. You would be surprised to see how many new marquetarians come into being via this route - it is wonderful to see.

We then move onto the Sutton Coldfield Group's established marquetry workshop where seasoned practioners of the art show how it's done to premier level. You will learn a lot from this article.

We have a book review on Bill Ferster's "Painting with Light" publication, which is already proving to be rather popular. This book concentrates on laser work in the medium of marquetry.

Laser cutting is attracting many new participants to the joys of marquetry, and Bill's book certainly helps them on their way with copious tips and examples of laser cut marquetry. Laser cut marquetry explores many new aspects of marquetry that you probably never knew was possible. Well worth a read.

Talking about laser cutters, there's the start of a new series which demonstrates the possibilities to be found when using a laser cutter to actually do highly controlled sand scorching in order to produce a darkening effect wherever required. This is a fascinating subject that is a must to read for those who own a laser cutter.

A superb table of the various scalpel blades available to we marquetarians is included in this edition of The Marquetarian. You would be amazed to see how many variations there are, and their specific uses. Very interesting to be sure.

Vic’s tips and our Social Media Officer’s report are well worth checking out. Especially as our Facebook page has taken off so spectacularly. We are getting copious new members of our Facebook fraternity joining that element of our growing influence every day. We just need to convert as many of them as possible to becoming Marquetry Society members proper as we can. But we are working on that.

And don’t miss more exhibits from this year’s International Marquetry Exhibition. There’s plenty of beautiful marquetry there for you to enjoy – we think you will like it very much.

Happily, we have found an entire half page of space (carefully done for a well filled spring 286th edition) of our very useful identification chart of veneers. These are all unusual figuring and grain patterns. These veneers are all genuine examples taken from veneers with odd characteristics in our veneer reference library and they are all featured in accurate colours. This series will provide a rather helpful guide for you when comparing veneers for your chosen marquetry project. Part 24 is at last back on schedule (for the time being while we have been able to find a little spare space). Each veneer example featured is taken from accurate scans of the genuine veneers and carefully colour balanced against the actual veneer itself in order to ensure it matches both the printed and true veneer as far as modern technology will allow us.

But, and then again, don't forget our regular 'Readers Letters' 'Chairman's Chatter' 'Independents Corner' and much, much more.

So, as is always the case, we have yet another excellent issue for your perusal!.