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"Nature always takes her time. Great oaks don't become great overnight. They also lose a lot of leaves, branches and bark in the process of becoming great."

-Andrew Matthews

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- Feature Article: The Crop is Coming! The Crop is Coming!
- Knowledge is Power
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(1)Pre-Order Sales Are Available Now!
Be one of the first to get your hands on the 2004 crop! Place your order now for the best selection of Canteen and Kettle gourds before they sell out. For more information, click here.

(2) Beginning Gourd Crafting Class - Saturday, February 7th
Last chance to register for this Saturday's Beginning Gourd Crafting with Mary Segreto! Spaces are filling up fast! Sign up now for your chance to learn from such a dynamic pro! Register Now!

(3) On Your Mark! Get Set! Stock Up On Gourd Crafting Supplies!
The 2004 gourd crop is nearly ready for harvesting. Now is the time to refresh and stock up on all of your gourd crafting supplies! And California Gourds is the one-stop shop for all of the latest tools, dyes, pastes, and books. If you've been putting off getting that Detail Master, now is the perfect time to treat yourself so you'll be ready when the gourds are! Order Now!

(4)June Festival Deadline for 3rd and Final Jury Selection - March 11th
Last chance to get into the 8th Annual International Gourd Art Festival on June 26 & 27, 2004! Applications are available online at www.GourdFestival.com. Please note that applications will not be mass mailed. With the second jury process currently underway, the spaces are filling up fast! Get your application in today! Click Here.

(5)Can't Find What You're Looking For?
Send us an e-mail and let us know what your gourding needs are! Your suggestions could be the next great deal on pre-boxed gourds! Your needs are our business!
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(6)Address Book Update
It's time to update your address books with the e-mails for Welburn Gourd Farm and California Gourds! To get information on Custom Orders or to contact Welburn Gourd Farm directly, send e-mails to sales@cagourds.com. To give product suggestions, inquire about an online or phone order (other than Custom Orders) or to contact California Gourds directly please send e-mails to sales@californiagourds.com.

(7)How Can We Serve You Better?
California Gourds is dedicated to bringing you the best gourds, products and service possible! Please let us know how we can serve you better. What would you like to see changed or improved on: web site? newsletter? products or services? Send us an e-mail!

The Crop is Coming! The Crop is Coming!

by Patti Diaz

The most frequently asked question this time of year is "Is the new crop ready yet?". Well, the answer at the time of writing this newsletter is "no". However, the good news is that it is coming soon! So soon in fact, that you are able to place your order now for the first selection of gourds to come out of the fields!

These cream of the crop gourds are the most sought-after of any gourds sold throughout the year! The first pick of gourds are of the highest quality available. And by the looks of this year's crop, probably the best quality anyone has ever seen!

Even with what looks like a sea of gourds, the best of the best are always snatched up the quickest. It's amazing as to how fast these rarest of beauties fly off the farm. Well, not literally fly, but you get what I mean. Already the phone is ringing off the hook with people wanting the details of the crop. So, rather than keeping you in suspense any longer, I thought I would share these photos with you to show the fantastic crop!

If you have ever tried to grow gourds, you know what a labor of love it is, and how challenging it is to even grow one, let alone a huge crop of them. And then the quality may not be what you had hoped. Well, after a full year of growing and drying with a very favorable climate, strickly organic soil, and many hours of labor, soon you will see how great the quality of this crop truly is!

With so many varieties to choose from, your imagination will go wild! Canteens, Kettles, Bottles, Jewelry, Pears, Ipus, and more! However, each variety is in limited quantity. So, be sure to stock up on your favorites before someone else does! Like Denny Wainscott!

Denny came out to the farm the other day on his way out of town. He was eyeballing all of the gourds he was hoping to get after the harvest. And, believe me, it will be no small pile. He had just finished a show and was on his way to meet up with an art collector who is interested in purchasing his latest and greatest masterpiece. Named after the Native American legend of the White Buffalo, this beautiful work of art is inlayed with turquoise, abalone, mother of pearl, and diamond. It is intricately designed and carved with a mere 400 hours of work and a meager price tag of $20,000! (cough, cough) Yep, that's right! And it is worth every penny! He wouldn't choose just any gourd to do such awesome work. He seeks out the best gourds he can possibly find.

And Denny isn't the only one eyeing the gourds in the fields. Nearly every gourd artist and crafter who has set foot on the farm over the past 3 - 4 weeks has made a comment about which gourds they favor, and several build a case as to why they should be allowed to choose first. And I say to them and to you, pre-order online or by phone to be sure you get the best selection of the new crop before they are gone! Take advantage of this once-a-year opportunity and pre-order now! The only regrets you will have is if you miss it!

Be sure to type "New Crop" in the Notes section of your online orders.

Note: If you plan on coming to the farm for Opening Day, the first day the new crop goes on sale to the public, there will be plenty of highest quality gourds available to buy at the farm. Doug has promised to hold back enough of the best of the best gourds so that everyone coming to Opening Day will have a good selection.

To learn more about the great legend of the White Buffalo, click here. To see more of Denny's breathtaking works of art, visit www.morningdewgourds.com.

If you have an article submission for The Gourdzette, we would love to hear from you! Please send article or idea for an article to editor@gourdzette.com.

The Business of Crafting

Whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur or an artist looking for information to help you turn your craft into a small business, Creating a Small Busines: Doing It a Woman's Way! by Barbara Massie could be the book for you!

I recently stumbled across Barbara's book while checking out some new craft ideas at www.hercraftideas.com. The site offers a newsletter and wonderful projects from soapmaking to jewelry making. I discovered the book while reading the 'Crafting as a Business' section. After reading the brief article by Barbara Massie, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy! I am so glad I did!

The book is spiral bound and formatted so you can pick it up and digest the topics in an order that makes sense to you. She has even included a section with definitions for the various business terms you are likely to encounter when starting and owning your own business. This book is a valuable reference and will help you learn the basics necessary for success.

Would you like to win a copy of this book? Of course you would!

Barbara was kind enough to offer us 3 copies of her book as a promotional giveaway! All online orders placed in the month of February will be entered in the drawing to win one of these 3 copies. Start your new year out right and get your craft business on the road to success!

To learn more about ordering this delightful and informative book, click here.

-Andrea Dominguez

*NOTE: All purchase order numbers made from February 1-29, 2004 will be entered into the drawing. Winners will be notified directly.

February 7, 2004 - Beginning Gourd Crafting with Mary Segreto. Click here for more info and to register.

February 20-22, 2004 - Arizona Gourd Society show. For more info, click here.

February 27-29, 2004 - Florida Gourd show. Belleview FL (near Ocala). Workshops, competitive entries, demonstrations, vendors and more! For more info, click here.

February 28, 2004 - Mother Nature Farm's Gourd Festival -- in Gilbert AZ. Contact Sam Kelsall (480-892-5874) for more information.

March 11, 2004 - Final jury deadline for all exhibitor applications to the 8th Annual International Gourd Art Festival. Mail in your application today! Click here.

April 2-4, 2004- Indiana Gourd Society Show in Kokomo, Indiana

April 10-11, 2004 - Georgia Gourd Society Show in Albany, Georgia. For more info, click here.

April 17, 2004 - "It's a Gourd Day" in Elkton, Maryland -- This will be an educational day for “gourding” with vendors and classes at a wonderful facility – Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area. For more details, click here.

April 16, 17, 18, 2004 - Gourd College, Asilomar, California. The California Gourd Society will once again hold its members conference at the picturesque Asilomar conference facility near Monterey, California. For more information, click here.

April 23-25, 2004 - Show Me Gourd Society Festival at the State Fairgrounds in Sedalia MO. The Festival is on Saturday and Sunday with additional workshops on Friday. For more details, click here.

May 7-9, 2004 - The 1st Annual South Carolina Gourd Gathering in Santee SC. For more info, click here.

May 14-16, 2004 - Kentucky Gourd Show

May 21-23, 2004 - The second Gourd Artists Gathering in Cherokee, North Carolina. For more info, click here.

June 5, 2004 - a Great Gourd Gathering at the Condill Farm in Arthur, IL. For details about attending or participating, contact Carolyn Ferdinand at 618-457-7616 or TedFred@aol.com

June 26th - 27th, 2004 - 8th Annual International Gourd Art Festival at the Welburn Gourd Farm. Applications and more information available online at www.GourdFestival.com

Now with this newsletter update, you can keep informed of the exciting happenings of the annual International Gourd Art Festival, held every June at the Welburn Gourd Farm, the October Gourd and Pumpkin Fest, held every October at the farm, and any shows where you can find dried, craft-ready Welburn gourds.

International Gourd Art Festival
Next show - June 26 & 27, 2004

Gourd Art by Kristy Dial. Kristy's work has been featured in Expressions magazine, and she is one of the newly selected exhibitors for this year's festival!

Call for Gourd Artists, Suppliers, Food Vendors, and Sponsors! Applications for the 8th Annual International Gourd Art Festival are available now! Last chance to be in the show! The 2nd jury process is underway! And the final jury deadline is coming up fast! There are a very limited number of booth spaces this year. Go to GourdFestival.com and print off your copy today! Mail your completed application and meet the jury's next review deadline March 11, 2004!