SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — A block of wood spins on the lathe, and within minutes, Lonnie Bott turns it into something unexpected — a pen, a bowl, a toy that might end up in a child’s hands halfway around the world.

Bott works from the basement of his dome-shaped home in Springfield where his woodturning has become both a personal craft and a way to connect with others. What began as a practical solution years ago has grown into a passion he now shares through classes, community events and simple handmade gifts that travel far beyond the Lowcountry.

From pens and bowls to thousands of hand-turned spinning tops, Bott’s work blends precision and playfulness — and reflects a belief that even the smallest objects can carry meaning.

Bott’s journey to where craftsmanship meets community began far from the Lowcountry.

“I grew up in Dillon, Montana,” Bott said. “My father had a cattle ranch.”

Montana’s long, cold winters, however, were never quite his calling.

“I don’t like the winter. I don’t like the cold,” he said.

By 1999, seeking both opportunity and a milder climate, Bott relocated to the South.

At the time, life was shifting. His family was growing, but his salary as a teacher at Brigham Young University wasn’t keeping pace.

“I put my résumé on the internet,” he said. “A company in Ridgeland brought us down here.”

That job, designing roof and floor trusses, lasted just a year before the company closed. But the setback led to a new chapter at Gulfstream Aerospace, where Bott spent 15 years in completions engineering. When layoffs came again, he pivoted once more, eventually landing at the Savannah College of Art and Design, where he now marks a decade on the university’s special projects team.

“We build anything that’s one of a kind,” Bott said. “All of their museum displays, their exhibits, the unique features in their buildings — that’s what we do.”

It’s a fitting role for someone whose creativity thrives on the unconventional.

A craft discovered by chance

Bott didn’t set out to become a woodturner. In fact, his introduction to the craft came out of necessity while working in the theater at BYU.

“I was the technical director for the theater and dance department,” he said. “We did an opera set in Notre Dame Cathedral, and it had all these ornate features. I had to create them, but not in concrete.”

Faced with the challenge, Bott turned — literally — to a lathe.

“I’d never done it before,” he said. “But there was a lathe in the shop, so I thought, ‘I’ll figure this out.’”

He did more than that. He fell in love.

“It was an absolute blast,” Bott said. “I loved it.”

From there, curiosity turned into commitment. He watched tutorials, took classes and began experimenting. What started as a one-time solution grew into a lifelong passion.

The art of slowing down

Today, Bott describes woodturning as more than a hobby; it’s a kind of therapy.

“For me, it’s so relaxing,” he said. “The way the wood just peels away when you’re turning — everything else just goes away.”

That sense of calm is something he now shares with others. Bott teaches beginners, starting them with one of the simplest and most satisfying projects: pens.

“Pens are the most basic project,” he said. “I teach people how to do it, and I get them hooked.”

From there, students often return, eager to learn how to craft bowls, jewelry and more intricate pieces. Bott even hosts “date nights,” where couples can create their own custom pens together.

For $50, participants each leave with a finished piece and often a newfound appreciation for the craft.

A community built on craft

Bott is also a member of a local woodturning guild, part of a national association dedicated to the craft. The group meets monthly in Savannah and offers free access to demonstrations and hands-on learning.

“Anybody can come,” he said. “We’ll show you how to use the tools, how to be safe and help you get started.”

Safety, he notes, is one of the biggest lessons for beginners.

“The biggest mistake people make is going too fast, too soon,” Bott said. “There’s potential to get hurt, so you want to take your time.”

For those willing to learn, the rewards are immediate — and often addictive.

Finding beauty in every material

Bott works with a wide range of materials, from traditional woods to acrylics and even stone.

“Any tree that makes fruit, a nut or a flower is beautiful to turn,” he said, listing magnolia, pecan, walnut and apple among the woods he has worked with, although poplar is his favorite.

His workshop, in the basement of a home he has spent the past several years building, is filled with pieces that showcase both skill and imagination: jewelry, intricately shaped bowls, custom furniture components, experimental forms and the spindles that will eventually finish off the winding staircase.

One piece, designed to resemble a raindrop hitting water, still makes him laugh.

“Sometimes I think it looks like that,” he said. “Other times, I think it looks like a cow pie on a rock.”

Craft with a purpose

Beyond the artistry, Bott’s work often carries a deeper meaning.

While at Gulfstream, he crafted pens from the wood used in aircraft interiors, presenting them to clients at closing.

“They thought that was the coolest thing ever,” he said.

He’s also made thousands of spinning tops — small, simple toys that have traveled far beyond Savannah.

“I’ve got spin tops in 28 different countries,” Bott said. “I give them to missionaries, to pilots, anyone traveling. They take them to the kids.”

During community events, Bott creates one-of-a-kind keepsakes for children, from Harry Potter-style wands at Halloween to hand-turned tops during Christmas celebrations.

“We’ve had kids stand in line for hours,” he said. “They love it.”

The joy of the spin

In a recent demonstration, Bott transformed a small block of wood into a brightly colored spinning top, complete with delicate burn lines and hand-applied pigments. Within minutes, the piece came to life, spinning effortlessly, balanced by careful design.

“Something to keep your fingers busy,” he said. “Or just something to help you check out for a couple of minutes.”

That, perhaps, is the heart of Bott’s work.

In a fast-moving world, his craft invites people to slow down, focus and create something tangible — and something lasting.

From a Montana ranch to a Savannah workshop, Lonnie Bott has built more than a career. He’s built a life around making, teaching and sharing the simple, enduring joy of watching something take shape, one careful turn at a time.

To schedule a class or a date night, call Bott at 912-228-0234.