[Irish]

I won the bid on a new large cannon ball with a 10" diameter gourd on ebay. It has a strong mottling to the surface with a lot of little blemishes ... just perfect to imply an old battered oriental crock or urn.

The background burning is on 100% cotton, acid free rag watercolor paper, Somerset Velvet and 11" x 17". It I get a chance to add to the paper burning later today I will post the updates.

Susan

[Pyrographer]

Nice burning. I didn't know people sold gourds on Ebay but why am I not surprised. Curious how much you paid for that gourd?

Nedra

[Irish]

A buck sixty! I also won a bid on two blemish free, beautiful smooth skin colored cannon balls about 8" in diameter at $3.00 and a very large curved neck kettle gourd about 22" tall at another $3.00 that I will cut along the vertical to create two serving matching dishes.

Not too bad

Susan

[Pyrographer]

You got a good deal but the ones I saw on ebay weren't great deals especially once you add shipping charges to them. I can get them from local gourd growers much cheaper and the ones in NM, AZ and California are thicker than the ones we used to get in Texas and eastern part of country. I am not a gourd expert and I can't remember why but the ones out this way are quite a bit thicker than the ones I used to get and I do love these so much more except when it comes time to carving. I could cut those thin ones with a knife, I can't do that with these but these do make such nice bowls and such and not as fragile.

If you're going to be getting into gourds now you might want to check out the big gourd growers, Welburn and the other one in CA and the one in AZ. Gosh, I forget the names but these are the biggest gourd growers and the ones all the gourders use who don't grow the gourds themselves.

Nedra

[Irish]

How kind of you to extend this advice ... but ... LOL ... I have been doing gourds forever. You might want to check out my thread here on the message board showing my gourd dragon banjo as one little example.

I simple seldom share them here as I can not scan them. As I don't sell chair space in classes but instead love to give my teaching and instructions away for free here on the message board, using flat surfaces makes it easier for everyone to enjoy.

Wellborn's prices really are not that competitive when you realize that you, the pyrographers, has no choice before hand what gourds they throw into your box. Just like my wood pieces for carving I prefer to see the gourd in advance and decide it that is the one I want or not.

I guess that if you are simply mass producing ... whipping them off ... a blind assortment would do well enough.

Just my opinion. Oh, I haven't had a thin gourd yet. My preferred seller is out of Alabama and has ones that have been about 1/2" thick.

Susan

[Lindy]

Susan that is absolutely gorgeous! I really want o get into gourd burning once settle down a bit more. By the way your Christmas patterns downloaded beautifully and I'll have some pictures to email you at the end of the month. Right now I'm doing Peace On Earth pattern as a Christmas card. Once it's done I'll post it.

Thank you for sharing your projects with us as they are truly inspiring!

Lindy

[Mottles]

Mottling, did someone say mottling? I love gourds with mottling that's how I chose my WCI handle Mottles.

Say girl, that is one fantastic cannon ball gourd, and the dragon is fierce! Beautiful work....
Love the burning on paper look, something I haven't tried, now you got me wanting to try it too. So much to do so little time!
Kathy

[Micky]

Great pattern and beautiful burn.
I received a gourd from a fellow burner at a pyrography get together in Kansas last year, but have been afraid to burn on it--was not sure if it had to be prepared in some way first. It is really fun looking-large body, slender neck and then another "bubble" on the end of the neck. It looks a bit like a goose or swan. Now you have me thinking I need to get that out and have another look at it.
Thanks for posting!!! It is just fun to see all of the different things that can be done with the old burner.
micky

[squbrigg]

Beautiful gourd burning Susan, and that dragon looks splendid. Them Chinese Dragons are quite whimsicle, with their long flowing beards and all! I do prefer the more contemporary beaste, such as on your banjo!!!! LOL Beautiful work ma'm, no matter where the beaste comes from!

"Dragons dread, ....get back to bed!" ..... Sherri Finch ( Dragons All Around)

Bob

[Irish]

Hey Lindy - Thanks for the very nice comments. I'll be sure to watch for your thread.

Big Grin Mottles! I feel in love with this gourd when I saw the photo. My first thoughts were that it looked like an old hard used crock. I know many people tend to stay with the smooth, clean surfaced gourds but I just though burning one with such physical character would be fun.

Micky, Gourds are so different then wood, paper or canvas. They have a very thin layer of 'hard wood' that covers the inner core. It's the inner core that gives a gourds it's thickness. I believe they must be the 'original plywood' of nature.

Hey Bob ... Grin ... they are fun and can be contorted, bent, twisted and just down right folded into any position this one seemed perfect for this gourd.

I didn't get very far yesterday but here is a little of what I have added.

Susan