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| GOURD
TIP |
How to Tell the Thickness of
Gourds
by Lorenzo Diaz
I am often asked "How do you know how thick
or thin a gourd is without cutting it open?" Well, my first
thought is to say, "you have to be the gourd; you have
to feel it, and be one with the gourd". But I risk sounding
like something from Star Wars. So, my down to earth response
is simply, find the shape and size you want. Make sure it is
completely dry. You can either ask your friendly farmer (most
will help you) or you can be self-sufficient, right? Look for
green spots (areas). The gourd should feel lighter than it looks
and have a nice brownish color all around. Holding the gourd
in one hand, give it a tap on the side with an open palm. If
it is thin, it will sound hollow. If it is thick, it will have
more of a thud sound. Another method is, while holding the gourd
with one hand, rub the side of the gourd with the other, as
if rubbing a genie bottle. Most likely the gourd genie will
not come out. A thin gourd will sound like paper or sound like
you are sanding it, making a shhh sound. A thicker gourd will
be quieter and will not resonate as much. The most basic way
is to simply pick up the gourd and feel the weight, compare
it to other gourds that are close in size and choose the thickness
by the weight. The important thing to remember is that you pick
a gourd for your particular need. There is a misconception that
thicker is better. It basically comes down to personal preference.
However, if you are not cutting or carving, a gourd that is
thin to medium thin will work just as great. Most musical instrument
makers prefer the thinner gourds to get that beautiful higher
resonance. If you are going to carve, medium to thick gourds
are good. Sometimes too thick of a gourd can crack while carving
(usually at the end of the carve) and can cause you to break
a lot of sawblades. I have heard this many times from professional
artists. Whether your project calls for a thick or thin gourd,
you are now armed with the basic techniques to determine which
gourd is better for the project you have in mind: weight and
sound via thumping and rubbing.
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| CALENDAR
OF EVENTS |
FREE ADVERTISING
FOR YOUR GOURD CLASS OR EVENTS
Post your gourd art classes and your gourd events to the
Gourd
Events Calendar for free! The current month's
events are posted on every issue of The Gourdzette.
Let other gourders know what's going on in the gourd world! Let's
get more people hooked on gourds! Post now on the Gourd
Events Calendar!
************************************************
EVENTS FOR MAY &
JUNE (For reminders & more upcoming events
Click
Here!)
Wisconsin Gourd Festival
Website: www.wisconsingourdsociety.org
Details: May 5-6, 2007 - HERE WE GOURD AGAIN! - The 2nd Annual
Wisconsin Gourd Society Gourd Festival, Waukesha, Wisconsin. Contact
terri schmit at thegourdgirl@yahoo.com
Kentucky Gourd Art Show
Website: www.kygourdsociety.com
Details: "Join us at the Kentucky Gourd Society's 13th Annual
Gourd Art Show, May 18 - May 20, 2007, in Taylorsville, KY. This
year's theme, MS. MINNIE COMES HOME, celebrates the gourd heritage
of Minnie Black. See our website for details, or contact Janet
Barnett, kgs@elkcreek.net
(877)765-8594 or Carol Bishop, gourdlady@insightbb.com
(502)254-5201. There will be finished gourd art and craft pieces,
dried gourds, crafting supplies and gourd workshops. Be sure to
enjoy the Southern Hospitality of the show, our fun-filled gourd
dinner and breakfast fashion show!"
Leiser Farms Gourd Festival
Website: www.gourdfarmer.com
Details: May 19-20, 2007 - Greg Leiser Farms Fifth Annual Gourd
Art Festival and Gourd Sale - Knights Landing, CA. Gourd classes,
vendor applications and all other information can be found on
their web site.
11th National Gourd Show
Website: www.CreativeGourdDesigns.com
Details: 11th Annual National Gourd Fine Art Show Fine Gourd Art
from around the nation May 20 - June 24, 2007 at the Art Center
at Fallbrook 103 South Main At Alvarado in the Historical Downtown
District Fallbrook, California Show hours Mon-Sat 10a-4p Sunday
noon-3p. Contact Diana Tollenaar via the website.
Gourd Artist Gathering N.C.
Website: www.gourdgathering.net
Details: June 1-3, 2007 - 5th annual Gourd Artists Gathering in
Cherokee NC. The website has been updated and we are accepting
applications from TEACHERS for classes and the information for
VENDORS and the vendor application is posted and ready. For further
information, visit the website.
Hawaii Gourd Show
Website: www.ipushow.com
Details: June 15-16, 2007 - Hawaii Gourd Show.
Pennsylvania Gourd Festival
Website: www.pagourdsociety.org
Details: June 15-16, 2007 - Pennsylvania Gourd Society will be
holding their gourd fest. Location: Smucker's Gourd Farm- 317
Springville Road, Kinzers PA 17535, located in the heart of Pennsylvania
Dutch Country. This year's theme: Celebration Gourds. For further
information you may contact Helen Olena 610-775-0526 8am - 4pm
or Andrew Craig 302-249-8091 from 4pm-8pm or visit their web site.
Painting, Gourd Art Classes
Contact: Sue and /or Diane
Website: www.giftsandgourds.com
Details: "Gifts For All Seasons" - a gift shop and painting
and gourd art supply store. We teach painting classes and now
we have gourd art classes every week. They are available Tues.
evenings from 7:00 - 9:00 or Wed. afternoons from 1:00 - 3:00.
Our phone number is 618-466-5580 and our email is sue@giftsandgourds.com
or diane@giftsandgourds.com
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California Gourds is the nation's leading online retailer
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Presently, California Gourds features gourds from several
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