 |
Gourd Enthusiasm Growing Around the World
Gourds pLaid an essential role in the daily life of early
cultures. Commonly used as containers and vessels, they were also
used for musical instruments. Some cultures used gourds for
birdhouses and feeders and this is what most people today think
of when they hear the word gourd. Or maybe you can remember a
dipper made out of a gourd at Grandma's house years ago.
Now artists and crafts people have discovered a new medium to
develop their creativity. I'm not sure when the gourd craze
officially started but it worked it's way into my life about
eight years ago by way of an article in a gardening magazine. It
looked interesting and so that spring I decided to grow a couple
gourd plants.
My first creations were, of course, birdhouses. Later, after
some research and book purchases, the world of gourds exploded
and I have found that the creative possibilities are limitless.
Even if you can't come up with your own ideas there are a
multitude of books and tutorials written by gourd artists and
crafters explaining different techniques that can be done with
gourds.
Gourd craft is working its way into the hands of accomplished
artists who have found the gourd to be an exciting new way to
showcase their art. They are not just for crafters anymore.
So now that you have gotten a little gourd enthusiasm of your
own what comes next? Well, the gourd of course. Gourd growers and
suppliers, once few and far between, are beginning to pop up
everywhere. Many can be found on the internet.
Gourds come in all shapes and sizes, from minis to giants. The
name of the gourd can give you a clue about the shape, such as
egg, cannonball, canteen, basketball, bottle and so forth. You
get the idea.
In order to work with the gourd it must be dry. If you happen
to find gourds being sold in the fall at a farmers market they
will most likely be freshly harvested. These will have to dry for
a few months to a year or more depending on size. I personally
don't like to purchase green gourds, as they are called, just in
case they haven't fully matured. Some growers new to the world of
gourd craft don't understand the needs of the gourd artist. They
are only concerned with growing gourds for fall decoration. A
poorly grown gourd, instead of drying, may rot or have a shell
too thin to work with.
I'm in favor of buying gourds that have already dried. This
way surprises and disappointments can be reduced. You still may
have a few along the way though. When gourds dry they produce a
moldy skin that eventually dries on the gourd. This skin has to
be removed before art work can begin. After the skin is removed
you may discover some holes or warts on your gourd. Or during
cleaning you might discover your hard gourd has turned soft once
you got it wet. This is the sign of a thin shell. There are
things that can be done with a thin shell but for the most part
we look for gourds with thick, sturdy shells.
To avoid these problems, look for cleaned, ready to craft
gourds. These gourds have been cleaned for you. Cleaning is a
messy job and you may not have the desire or area in which to do
it yourself.
So come and join in the fun and find out for yourself the
addicting powers of the gourd.
Martha Bloom: grower and crafter of gourds.
Find gourds, ready to craft when they arrive at your door.
http://marthasgourds.com
 MORE RESOURCES updated Sun. December / 10 / 2023
|
|
|
Related Hobbies - Crafts articles:
Preservation and Making
Copies of Your Scrapbook
You put a great deal of time, thought, and effort into your
scrapbook pages. Scrapbooks often are very personalized
creative works that are very meaningful to the creator.
Scrapbook Photographs --
How A Picture Can Be Worth A Thousand Words
For many people, photos are at the heart of their
scrapbooks -- and for a very good reason. We all treasure
photographs of friends and loved ones, and many of us carry
some with us wherever we go in a wallet or locket or keep
photos on our desk at work.
Jewelry and the Art of
Selling
Two of the most frequently asked questions we get at the
Online Jewelry Appraisal Center is:" How do I sell an item
of Antique or Estate Jewelry?" or..
Why Chainmaille Jewelry
Craft
Jewelry is very prevalent, but jewelry that directly
compliments your personal style or makes your statement for
you perfectly is not prevalent. Find out some ways this is
so with chainmaille jewelry.
Starting Your Own
Scrapbook Club
Before I discovered the world of scrapbooking, I was
inexplicably drawn to my local office supply store. I loved
to stand in an aisle surrounded by the different colors of
copy paper.
Turn An Arts And Crafts
Hobby Into A Business
Are you searching for a quick way to make an extra
income? Why not turn that Cooking Interest, Comic Book
Collecting, or Your Retro Clothing Collection Into A Home
Based Business Venture! Most people enjoy hobbies they have
pursued with great enthusiasm for years. Even though they
may find their leisure activities fulfilling and enjoyable
they never imagined making money with a fun hobby! The world
is packed with amazingly talented people.
The Making of a
Slipcover: A Lost Art
Today in this world of fast everything, most of us just
don't have the time (nor patience) to do an all consuming
job of making a slipcover. We go buy them and not always
are they what we want.
Wax Pencils, Stickers,
and Rubber Stamping in Your Scrapbooks
Another important writing implement for scrapbooking is a
wax pencil. Wax pencils are soft pencils designed to write
on glass, plastic and photographs.
How to Value Your
Jewelry at Home or Work
Many thanks for taking the time to read this compact
jewelry article entitled 'How to Value your Jewelry at Home
or Work'. You are about to discover the intricacies and
formulas that highly qualified Gemologists and Valuers are
using, right now, to evaluate and appraise gold, silver and
platinum jewelry.
Plastic, Zinc, Brass,
Embossing and Marking Stencils
Marking Stencils: Stencil is a cut-out form for an alphabets,
numbers, symbols and illustrations. Embossing and Marking
Stencils provide quality of work and save plenty of time.
The Unusual
Characteristics Of Reverse Painting
By stepping backwards in time one can discover an important
part of art history associated with reverse painting on
glass. It was an era that heralded the use of this art form
'en masse' during which people in communities could
directly express in their own original way what they lived,
perceived and felt in their own daily lives.
Handmade Quilts are Made
with Love and Make Great Family Heirlooms!
Today's handmade quilts are more like a work of art than a
bed cover. With all the wonderfully artistic quilt patterns
available to quilters today, we are beginning to see some
absolutely breathtaking quilts glowing with character and
personality.
A Look at Cloisonné
Lapel Pins
Cloisonné lapel pins are the most traditional, if not
the most collectible of the lapel pin types. Most of the
older lapel pins are either die-cast metal or
cloisonné.
The Choice Between
Electric or Nitro Powered RC Cars Can be
Overwhelming!
The roar of the crowd as the cars rush by, the sense of
excitement in the air. Is it the Indy 500? No, it is RC
racing! RC racing, or remote control racing also known as
radio control, is a quickly growing hobby segment that
appeals to both young and old, and men and women.
50 Ideas to Get
Organized and Enjoy Your Scrapbooking Hobby
Scrapbooking is a wonderful hobby! Besides being relaxing
and fun, it also allows you to be creative and to spend
quality time with your family and friends. Plus, it results
in a storybook of lifelong memories.
17 Tips For Getting
Balloons to Last Longer in Hot Weather
In warm weather, latex balloons will typically only last
outside for a day. As you know, sun, wind and heat will
biodegrade the latex.
Production and Pricing
of Craft Show Items
This is where you can really make or break your craft show
career. Being able to produce quality crafts as efficiently
and affordably as possible is the key to making a tidy
profit from craft shows.
Origami Instructions -
Getting Started
The birthplace of origami is still a mystery. Paper was
developed in China in the first century A.
Woodworking: Protection
When Working With Wood - Ignoring Could Potentially Harm
Your Health Or Kill
Woodworking: Basic Safety Tips. Woodworking can be a
dangerous undertaking if you are not careful and choose to
disregard safety guidelines. A circular saw, router, or
other piece of power equipment can disfigure and even kill
if not used properly.
What Is A Reverse
Painting?
Welcome to the world of Reverse Painting on Glass. Reverse
painting on glass has been considered a popular 'art
of the people' for many centuries.
|
|
