Connecting people in the turning community
Turned Connections is an initiative of Women in Turning to foster stronger relationships within the woodturning community. By turning and exchanging small beads, we can forge new connections at symposiums, classes, and club meetings. Our mission is to unite turners and build a more connected community, one bead at a time.
The goal of this project is to inspire you to engage with fellow turners and build new friendships. Beads are an ideal object for this purpose. They're small enough to easily carry with you to events and simple to mail to people you connect with online. Best of all, you can string your collected beads together on a lanyard or paracord braid to create a visible testament to all the connections you've made.
While we're starting with beads, we hope to expand this initiative in the future to include other turned objects like ornaments or tops. The possibilities are endless as long as they encourage us to connect with each other.
You have many chances to connect with other woodturners at symposiums, classes, demonstrations, and club meetings. By sharing your talents and inspiration, you can make these interactions even more meaningful.
Here’s how to start connecting with your beads:
Bring them to events. Carry your beads with you to classes and demonstrations to easily share them with others.
Involve your club. Have a selection of beads available and encourage your club members to trade one with you.
Share them with others. Beads are small and easy to mail. Send them to people you already know, or arrange a bead exchange with another club.
Show off your collection. Start a conversation by displaying your beads and encouraging others to get involved.
Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate. From beginners working on the basic skills to professionals applying their distinct style, we hope this will grow into something everyone in the woodturning community will enjoy.
Turners: We suggest adding a tag, or initial to your beads, giving them your unique personal touch. Alternatively, you can include a tag with your information.
Recipients: Take a picture with the person you exchange beads with, take notes, or exchange contact information to build the connection you are making!
Your beads can be any shape, size, and material you can imagine. This makes it a great project for everyone, from beginners looking to build fundamental skills to seasoned turners who want to express their unique style. It's also a perfect way to use up those beautiful small pieces of wood that are too nice to throw away but too small for other projects.
Remember, these beads are not meant to be jewelry. This being said, the size should be appropriate for use on a lanyard, keychain or paracord braid. Ask yourself if you would wear it on a lanyard to judge the appropriate size.
A 7mm hole is an ideal size to ensure the bead can be threaded on paracord string or other medium. While it's fine if your beads have a different hole size, a consistent size will make it much easier for people to string their beads together.
Beads also do not have to be traditional shapes, nor does the hole need to be in the center of the bead. Creativity is key!