[Mottles]

Hi All: Totally pyrography...
Thought I'd share my latest gourd I just finished today. It's based on a Native American design by the Mimbres. After doing the usual cleaning and cutting of the gourd I begain the design process.
I drew the birds (quail) onto the gourd keeping in mind that I wanted to use pyrography solely. When the burning in of the design was completed I used an awl to punch in holes near the rim 1/2 inch from the top of the rim and 1/2 in spacing between holes. I used artifical snew to secure pine needles I collect from my front yard. The size is 5 inches tall and 5 1/2 inches across the rim. The interior of the gourd was sprayed with black acrylic paint. There are four birds equally spaced around the pot. I added one small feather and some beads on the interior for decoration. The pot exterior was left it's natural color.
As always I appreciate your comments.
Kathy

[squbrigg]

That is an interesting piece Kathy. Beautiful design and effect over all. Let me ask, as I know nothing of gourds, how durable is a gourd, or long lasting? No gourds here in Eastern Canada....that I'm aware of.

Bob

[Donna_T]

Kathy,
I've been watching your postings and photos about gourds and I love them. I have a question, too. I've done maybe a 1/2 dozen gourds and even furnished gourds to our club for a project to introduce them to the "alternative" carving project. My question is about how you finish the insides. I normally "spoon" out all the seeds and membrane once they are dried good. Then I sand the inside with a coarse sanding sponge. I've never painted the inside so my question is how do you normally finish the inside of your gourds?

My youngest daughter works with a couple of tribes of Native Americans in Oklahoma and they have summer camp activities for the kids. Last summer I went down to demonstrate gourd work to the kiddos. It was fun and we just did some simple patterns. I did think it was humorous that this ole paleface was teaching those youngins (and some adults) about a craft that their ancestors probably started here. But like many things, they've (and us,too) gotten away from passing along those old crafts and knowledge to the next generation. I usually go down there in the fall and do a pumpkin carving demo so they see that side of carving too.

I love your gourds. I've got several dozen growing in the garden and I'm anxious to see what this year's crop turns up.

Bob, when a gourd is dried and cured, skinned and prepared properly, it resembles thin plywood. It's really quite durable and I've had some sitting around for several years. They may be 1/16 to 1/8" thick--sometimes more. The worst part is the waitng for them to cure, then skinning them (or de-molding) to get them ready. They have a fairly long growing period..I usually plant in early June and harvest at the first frost in late September or October. If you'd like some seeds, let me know cause I saved lots more than I planted this summer.

Donna T

[Irish]

Kathy, Wonderful job. Your burning is exceptionally even ... never have achieved that on a gourd. The pine needle trim is a nice touch to the American Indian motif.

If I may add to the excellent info that Donna T gave about gourds. Please, wear a dust mask when you are cutting, cleaning and sanding them. Gourds do develop some very nasty molds both outside and inside. Plus the dust from the inside is very fine. Work outdoors during the cutting through sanding process so you don't spread the dust around your workshop or home.

After the prep stage, just as a habit, I have always washed the outside with clorox water and then poured the water inside the gourd. Swish it around for a few moments then pour it back out. Let the gourd dry until the next day. That way any remaining mold spores are history

I think Donna said it very very well - they ARE just like working on thin plywood.

Susan

OH! Did you know you can use spackling paste to create some great little sculptures to the inside of a gourd lid. Once the gourd has dried use a palette knife to make turtles, lizards or dragonflies on the inside of the lid where the stem joins the fruit. It's a great way to hide that area plus a fun surprise when someone opens the gourd jar. The spackling paste sands well and can be painted.

[S-Shamrock]

mottles
I like it! I love the native american designs but I'm realy bad at doing them. I had seen them before with pine needles around the rim but I never knew how it was done.
DonnaT
whem you mentioned having gourds growing in your garden it made me think of this so I thought Id post this just for kicks. these are some of the gourds that we grew last year and there are even some ornimentel gourds that dried.


silas

[Colin_Partridge]

Wow I am really impressed the art work is out of this world. Now not only am I impressed but also really interested. I think that it is something I would love to try. Now I take it that gourd's grow like a pumpkin I also was wondering if they would grow in Canada, with our cold winters. But then they dont grow in the winter and our growing season is from about April to Sept. Thanks for the postings it is another medium to try.
Colin

[Mottles]

Hi All:

Thank you for your comments, compliments and thoughts on gourd safety.

Anytime you work with gourds whether cleaning, sanding, cutting or burning. You need to wear safety gear such as a heavy duty dust filter mask or a particulate respirator, safety goggles, rubber gloves. Always use good ventilation in your workshop or work area. I bet all of you already have these items in your workshop.
The use of the rubber gloves refers to the cleaning only.
Bob: Gourds have been around for centuries they've been found in Egypt, Peru, US and many other places. A lot of the time the shape of the gourd determined what type of vessel it would be. They were used for water, food, utensils, dolls, musical instruments such as Susan banjo. Not only are they functional but decorative too. Here is a link to a Canadian gourd website http://www.northerndipper.com/.

Donna T: You've done more gourds than me so I should be asking you the questions. Tee hee.....I finish the inside by mostly scrapping with a coarse dry-wall sanding screen. Then using a metal sculpting tool then I just paint or spray black acyrlic paint inside. I place the gourd in a plastic bag to do the spraying. That is done before I do any of the outer art work.
Congratulations to you and your daughter for your work with the Native American children. That is really wonderful!

Susan: You did what I should have done when I posted my thread. Good recommendations on working with gourd safety. Yes I have heard of using spackling paste and even putty for forming decorative figures on gourding. The lid idea is really neat must try that...thanks again

silas: I enjoy adding the pine needles but I in no way really know much about weaving. I basically just put one into the other and bound with artificial snew wrap. Give it a try!

Colin: Check out the site I gave Bob it's in Canada! It's called Nothern Dipper. There is a farm you can visit in Wilsonville and is nearer the hamlet of Bealton. The website itself has lots of interesting information and examples of completed gourds.

Thanks again everyone for your interest.
Kathy

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

there is a farm in southern california that sells all kinds of gourds and seeds...some so small you can make earrings out of them! the name of their newsletter is the "Gourdzette" a search will turn them up....you want to see some amazing things with gourds! Nice Work Kathy.....we have a whole box of coyote gourds just sitting here, haven't done a thing with them, and we have a vine in the back full of new ones LOL

[Mottles]

Hi Dave: Thank you
I believe your talking about Welburn Farms http://www.welburnfarm.com There is also a gourd farms in Casa Grande, AZ. called Wuertz Farm and Mother Natures Farm in Gilbert. Sorry I don't have email address for them. Welburn has a terrific tutorial they give permission you can down load 'How to Prepare and Work With Gourds'. It's really good!
About those coyote gourds they make great Christmas ornaments or very colorful just piled in a large bowl. You got time Christmas is onlythree months away! tee hee
Note: The Mimbres gourd was actually the top off another gourd I did. I did use pyrography on the design but all but covered it over with acrylic paint so I didn't show it here. It's on my website 'Wren & Saguaro' Not much waste in gourding if any.
Kathy

[Donna_T]

Colin,
I don't usually plant gourds til May myself, so I'll bet they'd grow up your way. You could always start some inside--then transplant them outside. Send me you addy in a private message and I'll send you a bunch of seed for next year. Same for anyone else. I ought to add that all the seeds are birdhouse gourds--rounded bowl with a graceful neck. With good water, you can pick off blooms and have fewer gourds on a plant and they'll be larger. If they don't have good water, though, they will split in the heat.

A great place to plant them is next to a fence, shrub, tree so they will have a natural climbing trellis. Otherwise, they do great on the ground but sometimes get a bit lopsided while growing on the ground.

Donna T