Gourd Enthusiasm Growing Around the WorldGourds 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.
MORE RESOURCES updated Mon. October / 07 / 2024 Gallery: AAA Hobbies and Crafts opened in 1984 Courier Post Creative Hobbies Can Really Benefit Your Mental Health U.S. News & World Report Thurston County Fair invites foods, hobbies, arts and crafts enthusiasts to submit their entries The Jolt News The Benefits of Gentler Hobbies Next Avenue A massive hobby and toy party is happening in South Jersey this weekend The Philadelphia Inquirer 10 Crafty Hobbies to Get Creative with This Summer The Everygirl Bookish Hobbies to Pick Up This Fall Book Riot 11 slow living hobbies that lean into a calmer rhythm Country Living UK A Hobby Lobby store is coming to the Honesdale area Tri-County Independent Hobby Lobby opens new store in Massachusetts Boston 25 News Crafts retailer Joann files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as consumers cut back on pandemic-era hobbies The Macomb Daily One Tank Trips | AdhDiy Craft Cafe KSHB 41 Kansas City News What's the secret to this Camden County hobby and craft store's success for 40 years? - Courier Post ‘I rediscovered a long forgotten hobby of mine’ – The simplest way to heal your inner child - Her.ie Experience the magic of Korean crafts in just 1 hour The Korea Herald 6 Craft Hobbies Everyone's Talking About In 2024 Country Living UK New restaurant and new crafts store planned for Bradenton shopping center development Bradenton Herald Q: “How Can I Keep My Many, Many, Many Hobby Supplies Organized?” ADDitude magazine Joann fabric and hobby stores enter bankruptcy; post-pandemic craft decline cited - The Mercury News Halifax hobby shop says it's closing after 78 years in business CTV News Atlantic Metro Library to host Craft Fest at the Downtown OKC Library Jan. 27 Oklahoma City Free Press An A to Z guide of every craft you can try your hand at Country Living UK 12 Stores Like Hobby Lobby for Crafts and Home Decor Apartment Therapy These are the 20 most relaxing hobbies, according to a new study Country Living UK Popular Home & Hobby Influencers Leap from Pixel to Page Publishers Weekly Metal, Fire, ‘Hitting Stuff Hard’: Everybody Wants to Be a Blacksmith Now The New York Times Mazie Ann Fairfax Obituary - Alta Loma, CA (1928-2024) Inland Valley Daily Bulletin Crafts retailer Joann files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as consumers cut back on pandemic-era hobbies Arizona Daily Star 7 Creative Hobbies to Take Up in the New Year Martha Stewart Halifax hobby shop says it's closing after 78 years in business CTV News Atlantic Arts, Hobbies & Interests City of Toronto 16 profitable hobbies that make money Save the Student Six Independent Craft Stores to Visit in and around Boston Boston magazine Rug Tufting: An Old Craft That's New Again Next Avenue Pick up a new hobby in 2024 with these deals on craft kits, Classpass, pickleball sets, and more Mashable Cobblestone Crafts listed for sale after four decades for $679K HollandSentinel.com Best Printer for Crafting 2024: Arts & Crafts Has Never Been Easier PC Guide - For The Latest PC Hardware & Tech News Meet Mike Larisey, owner of Maritime Hobbies & Crafts Ltd Downtown Halifax 8 Craft Hobbies Set To Be Popular This Autumn And Winter Country Living UK A crafts fair is happening in Mandaluyong this weekend GMA News Online Katie McAllister has a multitude of hobbies that all correlate to crafts The Central Trend OPINION: A love letter to arts and crafts Indiana Daily Student How Crafting Saved My Life | Sutton Foster Maria Shriver Opinion | Don’t leave your pandemic hobbies behind UI The Daily Iowan Hobbies & Crafts (Reviews) Business Insider Craft fairs, Hobby Con in Williams Lake this weekend Williams Lake Tribune Movies About People Passionate About Their Craft & Hobby FILM COMPANION The Kit Method Helped Me Keep My Hobbies Organized — and Actually Finish a New Project Apartment Therapy Crafts & Hobbies City of Aurora 4 craft hobbies surging in popularity this summer Country Living UK Revealed: The most popular Christmas crafts for 2023 Country Living UK 11 places in L.A. to get your creativity flowing. Pottery! Neon bending! Bookbinding! Los Angeles Times Crea Weekend art, craft and hobbies fair Rijswijk IamExpat in the Netherlands Business Intel: Crossroads Hobbies and Crafts Roanoke Times Bored at home? Now’s the perfect time to pick up a new hobby CNN Underscored
|