Hi, friends!

Alan certainly intends to do his utmost to keep to those high standards that Ernie set; from the look of this Winter issue, it looks like that goal has been admirably achieved.

There is only one problem with the magazine and it is this; we are afraid that the only way you can get your hands on a copy of The Marquetarian is by becoming a member of the Marquetry Society! it is an exclusive publication after all - and how about this for a recommendation: around 99% of the readers of the Marquetarian keep every issue they have ever received, they never throw them away! how many magazines can you say that about?

So then, let's take a look and see what you will find in the Winter issue of the Marquetarian.

First off we have a full colour article featuring our coming 60th Anniversary 2012 International Marquetry Exhibition. This will be a very exciting exhibition which will coincide with Her Majesty The Queen's own Diamond Anniversary and the 2012 Olympics - a rather important year to be sure! Just wait until you see where our 60th Anniversary International Marquetry Exhibition is to be held - you will be most impressed!

Computer aided marquetry cutting will probably be a new idea to most of you. Laser cutting is now quite a well known technique, but laser cutting does have a noticeable drawback whereby it tends to scorch the edge of the cut leaving a slight burn line. The computer aided marquetry cutter however, overcomes this problem by performing blade cutting. But, how this all comes about, well, you will have to read this very informative article to find out!

Blisters, bubbles and splits in veneers are a common nuisance in marquetry circles. They can be the bane of the marquetarian - generally not appearing until the marquetry picture in question has been removed from the press ready for flattening and polishing. Sometimes things like bubbles do not make their existence obvious until the warmer weather expands the air in the bubble and produces a bump in your perfectly flat picture. This article shows you how to avoid such problems before they occur, or if you've been unlucky enough to have fallen victim to one these nuisances, how to cure it.

An article by Don Eacott advises beginners and independents on how to go about starting out on the enthralling journey that heralds their new marquetry hobby. Don covers many of the problems those new to the art often encounter, and of course, Don provides the answers to most of those problems. A very enjoyable article is this article of Don's, and is most certainly well worth reading.

The white dot menace many of us encounter when doing our final flattening is covered by three very well respected marquetarians indeed. These three (two of them are Rosebowl winners, so they should definitely know what they're talking about!) go into the reasons for the white dots appearing in the first place, and then they tell us how to avoid them in the first place - and then if you do unfortunately find them lurking in your beautiful marquetry piece, how to get rid of them. Of course, prevention is much better than cure, so all three of them guide you through the processes of finishing your picture and avoiding the formation of these white dots ever happening in the first place.

Andrew Smith's "M to Y of Marquetry" carries on with the second part of his 1996 reprint of his article on producing marquetry miniatures. Andrew always had a way with miniatures, and thanks to his generosity, he imparts his expansive knowledge of marquetry miniatures freely to us readers of the Marquetarian.

Ernie Mills covers the subject of picture hangers. This is a topic most of us don't investigate too deeply, probably we just nip down to the local 'do it yourself' supermarket / store and purchase a standard picture hanging kit. But there is a lot more to this subject than meets the eye.

Ernie takes us through a series of various picture hanging possibilities and materials. It is amazing to find out just what would make a good quality picture hanger. Ernie of course advises us appropriately - you will be amazed at how inventive Ernie has been on our behalf! Do check this one out, you will love it!

A new series on marquetry tools is well worth a read. It looks at some of the more obscure tools which we don't always consider. The series starts in this issue with a look at the compass circle cutter and the humble metal straight edge.

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!.