Stacey's Pyro Christmas Gourd

[Mottles]

Title: Stacey's Christmas Gourd
Medium: Pyrography On Gourd
Size: 12 inches Tall 8" round at base

Talking Hi all, sure is quite everyone must be busy with the holidays.
I haven't completed any woodburning of a panel since 'Mandy'. I've been working on home made Christmas gifts. Thought I'd share my daughter Stacey's Christmas gourd I made for her.
This one is different from the ones your used to seeing but she wanted one with bright color. Go figure! LOL
Actually this one was harder to do. I had to cover over my pyrography and still figure out how to make the design show though.
After the usual cleaning the interior (exterior already clean) measured and cut the top. I drew on the Kokopeli design four times evenly around the gourd. Then used my Razortip spear shader to burn in the kokopeli's and the design around the rim. Then I applied a thin wash of brick color leather dye (transparent) over the entire gourd. Let dry overnight. Fortunately the pyrography held true and showed though the leather dye. I then applied two coats of MinWax polyacrylic let dry over night. Then added the pineneedle trim using the artificial sinew. Strung some glass beads on some artificial sinew and stuck the guiena fowl feathers though the last bead. Done!
As always appreciate your thoughts.
Kathy

[justanick]

That is very beautiful work.Do you have any other photos showing the rest of the gourd? I also have a gourd about 10 in around. But the colour is a very dark brown. I am not sure if I want to carve or paint it.My wife wants me to paint a Navtivity scene on it, but now I think I will burn it instead. Thanks for the idea!

[Colin-Partridge]

Kathy wow what a beautiful gourd really impressive I would also like to see more pictures of it if possible I cant wait for my gourds to dry so I can get at them.
Colin

[Mottles]

Originally Posted by justanick

That is very beautiful work.Do you have any other photos showing the rest of the gourd? I also have a gourd about 10 in around. But the colour is a very dark brown. I am not sure if I want to carve or paint it.My wife wants me to paint a Navtivity scene on it, but now I think I will burn it instead. Thanks for the idea!

Hi, thank you--sorry that is the only image and it's all wrapped up. Sounds like you have a nice gourd to work with. I love burning gourds much more than painting them. I haven't actually carved any gourds. If you use pyrography on your gourd please share with us. I don't know how experienced your are with gourding, but if I can help let me know.
Kathy

[Mottles]

Hi Colin, thank you too after Stacey opens it Christmas morning I'll try and get some additional pictures. If I can help when your ready to start your gourd project just let me know. I can tell you though I'm not sure I'd burn four kokopeli's again it's a lot of area. My eyes were crossed by the time I finished. LOL.
Kathy

[Lindy]

Kathy,

That is absolutely beautiful! It never occurred to me to try burning on a gourd. Could you tell me more about "gourding" please? I visited your webpage and your work there is wonderful as well. I liked your instructions on how to attach pine needles to a gourd.

Thank you for sharing!

[squbrigg]

Beautiful work Mottles, the feathers really set it off! Gorgeous finish.

Bob

[Mottles]

Originally Posted by Lindy

Kathy,

That is absolutely beautiful! It never occurred to me to try burning on a gourd. Could you tell me more about "gourding" please? I visited your webpage and your work there is wonderful as well. I liked your instructions on how to attach pine needles to a gourd.

Thank you for sharing!

Hi, first of all thank you for the nice compliment and for visiting my web site--burning on gourds has been around for centuries. Of course in the early days they didn't have the nice burning units me have today. Rather than me trying to tell you more about gourding how about I live you some links to gourding sites. I think you'll find them all interesting. We also had a good discussion in this forum about gourds and how we each work with them. I urge you if you decide to burn on your gourds please wear a safety respirator/mask. The fumes can be toxie to your lungs if unprotected. That rule also goes for cleaning your gourd too. Also I never burn on top of dyes or paints as that can also be toxic.
http://arizonagourdsociety.com/ http://www.calgourd.com
http://www.northerndipper.com
Another way is to do say a google search just put in 'gourds'.

[Mottles]

Thanks Bob for the nice compliment I just love those guinea fowl feather's with their little white dots. grin
Kathy

[Thor]

Very pretty. Good accents and pine around the top too. Thanks for showing it to us.
Thor