Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Gourd-A-Riffic

Once upon a time I went to Gourd Paradise and marveled at so many lovely art pieces, saw a beautiful garden and had too much fun.

August 1st, I invited Cathy to my friends house to make a gourd project.  My friends Alan and Duane had cleared that date and did ask if we'd like to do some sort of project.  We arrived at 11:00 a.m. and finally left at around 3:00 p.m.  I took some snacks and the guys had cantaloupe and watermelon, so we even had a nice meal break time together.

Cathy and I looked all around the Gourd Shop, then we got to go in the house and see some of their gourd collection - some from used item stores, friends, art shows.  The gourds were all wonderful.  In the guest bedroom Duane had a room filled with dramatic gourd masks he has created.

It is funny seeing the difference in the work.  Alan tends to be more structured and disciplined.  His work is like architecture in ways.  Duane has an artists eye and he can take a funny shaped gourd and create something amazing.  He is very creative with a vivid imagination.

Below is our day in photographs.  It was one of the most fun days I've ever had and I will never forget it.


Not many people have a "Gourd Bank"

These are cleaned gourds.  They come out of the garden
all black and mouldy and have to be soaked and scrubbed.



Duane with an unusual gourd.  His mind is
spinning - now should I make a goose, or ........

These guys share gourds and put on free community
education classes to share their love of gourds.




These aren't gourds but some cool pods they got from South America

Gourd blooms are pretty


They have a very strong arbor.  Those gourds
before they are dry and extremely heavy.






See the necks tied in a knot.  Alan does this when they are very
 little and flexible.  It makes for an interesting gourd.


Totally full of gourds, even climbing up the trellis


We had to have our picture taken by the flamingo


Beautifully crafted gourd masks Duane made













They let us pick a project and we wanted to start simple.  These are egg 
gourds with multi-color alcohol paint.  Easy and fun.

Our masterpieces drying then they get a few coats of clear
I can't wait to put these on my Christmas tree.


Huge wonderful workshop


We had a totally wonderful day.  Glad to have the ornaments
so that when they go on the tree each year I will remember this day.

Gourds displayed everywhere


They can make so many things with gourds and are very creative.




Duane made this scarecrow entirely out of
gourds, even gourd insides.


Alan was demonstrating how to make egg gourds with a lathe.
He makes it look so simple.  He is a real technician.
By trade he's a machinist so that probably carries over.


We just finished gluing on the gold tops for our Christmas ornaments

Our finished projects.  We each did 9 eggs and
they turned out so pretty even for amateurs.
Thanks so much guys for your generosity.

So nice they have this great shop/studio, share
it and their talent with others.

Alan said we could probably use the alcohol paint and make a Peace Rock.  He was impressed with our Peace Rock painting project and the website.   So he went in the yard and came up with a rock.  I gave that a shot and it turned out cool.  Those alcohol paints are fantastic.  I gave them the rock to keep and want to take them another one as a thank you for our great day.  I'm sure they will come up with a Peace Gourd project.



Gourd-A-Riffic

Once upon a time I went to Gourd Paradise and marveled at so many lovely art pieces, saw a beautiful garden and had too much fun.

August 1st, I invited Cathy to my friends house to make a gourd project.  My friends Alan and Duane had cleared that date and did ask if we'd like to do some sort of project.  We arrived at 11:00 a.m. and finally left at around 3:00 p.m.  I took some snacks and the guys had cantaloupe and watermelon, so we even had a nice meal break time together.

Cathy and I looked all around the Gourd Shop, then we got to go in the house and see some of their gourd collection - some from used item stores, friends, art shows.  The gourds were all wonderful.  In the guest bedroom Duane had a room filled with dramatic gourd masks he has created.

It is funny seeing the difference in the work.  Alan tends to be more structured and disciplined.  His work is like architecture in ways.  Duane has an artists eye and he can take a funny shaped gourd and create something amazing.  He is very creative with a vivid imagination.

Below is our day in photographs.  It was one of the most fun days I've ever had and I will never forget it.


Not many people have a "Gourd Bank"

These are cleaned gourds.  They come out of the garden
all black and mouldy and have to be soaked and scrubbed.



Duane with an unusual gourd.  His mind is
spinning - now should I make a goose, or ........

These guys share gourds and put on free community
education classes to share their love of gourds.




These aren't gourds but some cool pods they got from South America

Gourd blooms are pretty


They have a very strong arbor.  Those gourds
before they are dry and extremely heavy.






See the necks tied in a knot.  Alan does this when they are very
 little and flexible.  It makes for an interesting gourd.


Totally full of gourds, even climbing up the trellis


We had to have our picture taken by the flamingo


Beautifully crafted gourd masks Duane made













They let us pick a project and we wanted to start simple.  These are egg 
gourds with multi-color alcohol paint.  Easy and fun.

Our masterpieces drying then they get a few coats of clear
I can't wait to put these on my Christmas tree.


Huge wonderful workshop


We had a totally wonderful day.  Glad to have the ornaments
so that when they go on the tree each year I will remember this day.

Gourds displayed everywhere


They can make so many things with gourds and are very creative.




Duane made this scarecrow entirely out of
gourds, even gourd insides.


Alan was demonstrating how to make egg gourds with a lathe.
He makes it look so simple.  He is a real technician.
By trade he's a machinist so that probably carries over.


We just finished gluing on the gold tops for our Christmas ornaments

Our finished projects.  We each did 9 eggs and
they turned out so pretty even for amateurs.
Thanks so much guys for your generosity.

So nice they have this great shop/studio, share
it and their talent with others.

Alan said we could probably use the alcohol paint and make a Peace Rock.  He was impressed with our Peace Rock painting project and the website.   So he went in the yard and came up with a rock.  I gave that a shot and it turned out cool.  Those alcohol paints are fantastic.  I gave them the rock to keep and want to take them another one as a thank you for our great day.  I'm sure they will come up with a Peace Gourd project.