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SheTurnsWood

Demos & Classes

Woodturning, Made Approachable

I’m Emily Ford—a woodturner, instructor and demonstrator. I make functional art and handmade gifts, and I teach the skills that make the lathe feel a whole lot less intimidating.

View My Available Demos & Classes

sheturnswood

2.2K posts

20.8K followers

4.4K following

Woodturner | Woodturning Instructor
Functional wood art • Handmade gifts
Rattles • Tops • Bowls • Urns
Utah, USA
⬇️ Shop handmade & learn

https://sheturnswood.etsy.com

Dolly was a national treasure and a true icon. 💗

As we remember the Queen of Country Music, let’s also remember the love, joy, and kindness she spent her life encouraging us to share with one another.

I grew up listening and watching this woman and her love, kindness and confidence was always in fashion.

One of my favorite reminders from Dolly:

“If you see someone without a smile today, give them yours.” — Dolly Parton

The world could always use a little more Dolly. 💕

Dolly was a national treasure and a true icon. 💗

As we remember the Queen of Country Music, let’s also remember the love, joy, and kindness she spent her life encouraging us to share with one another.

I grew up listening and watching this woman and her love, kindness and confidence was always in fashion.

One of my favorite reminders from Dolly:

“If you see someone without a smile today, give them yours.” — Dolly Parton

The world could always use a little more Dolly. 💕

Hair up? ✅
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Safety glasses on? ✅
.
Dust collection going? ✅
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Had enough time to rough out a few blanks before my phone went off to remind me about a dentist appointment for all the kids.
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TBC
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✌🏻

Hair up? ✅
.
Safety glasses on? ✅
.
Dust collection going? ✅
.
Had enough time to rough out a few blanks before my phone went off to remind me about a dentist appointment for all the kids.
.
TBC
.
✌🏻

It’s that time of year.
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Are you a planner? I am not but I have been having a ball making ornaments to the point I get to have a sale to clear out some space in my shop!
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#woodturner
#christmasinjuly

It’s that time of year.
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Are you a planner? I am not but I have been having a ball making ornaments to the point I get to have a sale to clear out some space in my shop!
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#woodturner
#christmasinjuly

New tools!!
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Thank you to @crownhandtools for the gouges. I’m excited to give them a try.
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#woodturner
#woodturningtools

New tools!!
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Thank you to @crownhandtools for the gouges. I’m excited to give them a try.
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#woodturner
#woodturningtools

I’ve been making rattles going on 11 years now. They are still 100% my go to quick turning project when I need to feel like I have accomplished something ina short amount of time.
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What’s your go to?

I’ve been making rattles going on 11 years now. They are still 100% my go to quick turning project when I need to feel like I have accomplished something ina short amount of time.
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What’s your go to?

My husband thinks he is hilarious.
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#woodturner
#caglue

My husband thinks he is hilarious.
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#woodturner
#caglue

It was 92° in my shop at 9pm tonight- that’s with the ac going as hard as possible.
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This Phoenix born girl was feeling right at home. I got to play with some gorgeous frog hair figured maple though so it was worth it 😍
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#woodturner
#woodturning
#platter

It was 92° in my shop at 9pm tonight- that’s with the ac going as hard as possible.
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This Phoenix born girl was feeling right at home. I got to play with some gorgeous frog hair figured maple though so it was worth it 😍
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#woodturner
#woodturning
#platter

I’ll let you in on a little secret…

The Fourth of July has been my favorite holiday for as long as I can remember.

Maybe it’s because I have a degree in History, Political Science, and Folklore, but this day brings together everything I love. Our stories, our traditions, and that we the people have the power to determine what happens next. (Call me cautiously optimistic)
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I love America’s story. The good, the bad, the triumphs and the struggles. The moments that make us proud and the lessons that remind us we can always do better.
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As we celebrate 250 years, I’m grateful for this home, this community, and the freedoms that allow us to pursue the lives we dream of. Seriously, who would have ever thought this history nerd would end up as a woodturner?
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However your holiday ends up , I hope it’s filled with family, laughter, good food, fireworks, and gratitude.

Happy Independence Day. ❤️🤍💙🇺🇸

#FourthOfJuly #America250 #IndependenceDay #Home #StarsAndStripes

I’ll let you in on a little secret…

The Fourth of July has been my favorite holiday for as long as I can remember.

Maybe it’s because I have a degree in History, Political Science, and Folklore, but this day brings together everything I love. Our stories, our traditions, and that we the people have the power to determine what happens next. (Call me cautiously optimistic)
.
I love America’s story. The good, the bad, the triumphs and the struggles. The moments that make us proud and the lessons that remind us we can always do better.
.
As we celebrate 250 years, I’m grateful for this home, this community, and the freedoms that allow us to pursue the lives we dream of. Seriously, who would have ever thought this history nerd would end up as a woodturner?
.
However your holiday ends up , I hope it’s filled with family, laughter, good food, fireworks, and gratitude.

Happy Independence Day. ❤️🤍💙🇺🇸

#FourthOfJuly #America250 #IndependenceDay #Home #StarsAndStripes

Do you ever feel like you’re stuck in a rut? Maybe you w found your niche. It’s all about perspective.
.
😁

Do you ever feel like you’re stuck in a rut? Maybe you w found your niche. It’s all about perspective.
.
😁

Small oak tops in production mode today. They are taking about 35-45 seconds right now. It really depends how many of my kids come to tattle about who’s not doing their chores.
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These are what I call Purse/Pocket Tops. Throw a handful of these in your purse, or if you wear men’s pants (with amazing deep pockets) throw some in your pocket, and you’re set for great fun around any flat surface.
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#woodturning
#woodturner
#sheturnswood

Small oak tops in production mode today. They are taking about 35-45 seconds right now. It really depends how many of my kids come to tattle about who’s not doing their chores.
.
These are what I call Purse/Pocket Tops. Throw a handful of these in your purse, or if you wear men’s pants (with amazing deep pockets) throw some in your pocket, and you’re set for great fun around any flat surface.
.
#woodturning
#woodturner
#sheturnswood

Working on a large rub of walnut tops. Look how nice that @rmpfinishes paste wax goes on!! So smooth 😍
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#woodturning
#woodturner
#finishes

Working on a large rub of walnut tops. Look how nice that @rmpfinishes paste wax goes on!! So smooth 😍
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#woodturning
#woodturner
#finishes

Big changes about to happen over here.
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Any guesses?

Big changes about to happen over here.
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Any guesses?

Home. My garden. Family. Getting to turn. Pretty wood. All my happy tools. I love it!

Home. My garden. Family. Getting to turn. Pretty wood. All my happy tools. I love it!

I got to give a quick bowl refresher to this guy! I have had him in class before and I just love his determination and attention to detail!
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100% would recommend having this guy in your class he’s a delight. We knocked out a couple of small bowls and just had a grand ole time.
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He belongs to @cutthroat_woodworks (who is also awesome)

I got to give a quick bowl refresher to this guy! I have had him in class before and I just love his determination and attention to detail!
.
100% would recommend having this guy in your class he’s a delight. We knocked out a couple of small bowls and just had a grand ole time.
.
He belongs to @cutthroat_woodworks (who is also awesome)

Finished up my last day of classes for the New Mexico Woodturners yesterday.
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What a great crew!! The whole experience was incredible. Each class was vastly different and I’m afraid I may have learned more than the students did about having to present things differently to different people.
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A great time was had and I am deeply humbled to be able to share this woodturning thing that I love so much!
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Finished up my last day of classes for the New Mexico Woodturners yesterday.
.
What a great crew!! The whole experience was incredible. Each class was vastly different and I’m afraid I may have learned more than the students did about having to present things differently to different people.
.
A great time was had and I am deeply humbled to be able to share this woodturning thing that I love so much!
.

I had the great joy and pleasure to have these fine ladies and members of #womeninturning take a class with me today.
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A big thank you to @cutthroat_woodworks for being my lovely assistant.

I had the great joy and pleasure to have these fine ladies and members of #womeninturning take a class with me today.
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A big thank you to @cutthroat_woodworks for being my lovely assistant.

New Mexico Club- rinse and repeat. Same class new people totally different experience.
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Loved teaching this group, some stretched my skills and some taught me to laugh at myself. Loved every minute.
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#woodturning #woodturner

New Mexico Club- rinse and repeat. Same class new people totally different experience.
.
Loved teaching this group, some stretched my skills and some taught me to laugh at myself. Loved every minute.
.
#woodturning #woodturner

First class day done for the New Mexico Turners!
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It was a busy day but the students all did an amazing job!
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#woodturner
#woodturning

First class day done for the New Mexico Turners!
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It was a busy day but the students all did an amazing job!
.
#woodturner
#woodturning

Rattles.
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My favorite demo I do… the reason I started turning on the first place. Still one of my favorite things to turn.
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My baby is now 11 and he turns them with me sometimes.
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#woodturning #woodturner #sheturnswood

Rattles.
.
My favorite demo I do… the reason I started turning on the first place. Still one of my favorite things to turn.
.
My baby is now 11 and he turns them with me sometimes.
.
#woodturning #woodturner #sheturnswood

I was lamenting to a good friend of mine about not wanting to “waste” a beautiful peice of wood on “just a rattle” and their response surprised me.
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“Make it a show piece!”
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I was lamenting to a good friend of mine about not wanting to “waste” a beautiful peice of wood on “just a rattle” and their response surprised me.
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“Make it a show piece!”
.

The @aawoodturners symposium is next week and a bunch of the woodturners over here on instagram get together do a collaborative exchange. Bring a piece and another turner gets to finish it however they see fit.
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It didn’t work out for me to attend this year but I will be there in spirit.
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A big thanks to and shout out to my exchange partner @wkswoodworking for his contribution I hope he is happy with the outcome for the finals he provided.
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I lucked out and had a hollowform that one of the finials fit in, added some texture and @rmpfinishes lily pad milk paint and am very happy with the results.
#woodturner
#woodturning

The @aawoodturners symposium is next week and a bunch of the woodturners over here on instagram get together do a collaborative exchange. Bring a piece and another turner gets to finish it however they see fit.
.
It didn’t work out for me to attend this year but I will be there in spirit.
.
A big thanks to and shout out to my exchange partner @wkswoodworking for his contribution I hope he is happy with the outcome for the finals he provided.
.
I lucked out and had a hollowform that one of the finials fit in, added some texture and @rmpfinishes lily pad milk paint and am very happy with the results.
#woodturner
#woodturning

I am SO excited!
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My new lathe being delivered…to my new shop!
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Surprise!
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If you watch closely there is a clue to where the new shop is!
.

I am SO excited!
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My new lathe being delivered…to my new shop!
.
Surprise!
.
If you watch closely there is a clue to where the new shop is!
.

What an incredible experience.
.
I would 1000% recommend running away to the Smoky Mountains for a class at @arrowmont_school this Western US girl fell in love with East Tennessee and am dying to go back already.

What an incredible experience.
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I would 1000% recommend running away to the Smoky Mountains for a class at @arrowmont_school this Western US girl fell in love with East Tennessee and am dying to go back already.

High fiber diet anyone?

High fiber diet anyone?

A week at Arrowmont with the Duck River Woodturners. What an amazing experience!
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If you’ve never had the chance to visit, it’s an excellent facility and the scenery for this Western United States girl was absolutely jaw dropping!

A week at Arrowmont with the Duck River Woodturners. What an amazing experience!
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If you’ve never had the chance to visit, it’s an excellent facility and the scenery for this Western United States girl was absolutely jaw dropping!

Look out New Mexico you’re next up in my rotation! Can’t make it to the symposium in Raliegh? FOMO got ya down?! Have no fear I will be teaching in New Mexico!! Come join us for a lot of fun and maybe a little bit of education while you’re at it!

Look out New Mexico you’re next up in my rotation! Can’t make it to the symposium in Raliegh? FOMO got ya down?! Have no fear I will be teaching in New Mexico!! Come join us for a lot of fun and maybe a little bit of education while you’re at it!

There is something soooo satisfying about drilling out a twig pot.
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#woodturning
#woodturner
#robust

There is something soooo satisfying about drilling out a twig pot.
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#woodturning
#woodturner
#robust

A Cut Above Bowl Co Platter meets Milk Paint Half and Half… did not disappoint. Thanks milk paint for making an incredible product. Every finish tells the grain’s story a little differently.
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#woodturning
#woodturner

A Cut Above Bowl Co Platter meets Milk Paint Half and Half… did not disappoint. Thanks milk paint for making an incredible product. Every finish tells the grain’s story a little differently.
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#woodturning
#woodturner

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