Quote of the Week:

"The grass is not, in fact, always greener on the other side of the fence. Fences have nothing to do with it. The grass is greenest where it is watered. When crossing over fences, carry water with you and tend the grass wherever you may be."

- Robert Fulghum

View Our Entire Catalog!

Save time & money! Order gourds by the box! Learn a new gourd craft, order one of our craft-specific gourd kits complete with instructions!

Click Here Now!

"Thank you so very much for the Gourdzette. I was so thrilled when I opened my mail... I have enjoyed this newsletter more than you know and it makes me want to go to the basement and start painting!"
- Maggie, Butler, MO

"I love your newsletter, particularly the tips and ideas!..."
- Sioux G.

New to Gourd Crafting?

Get started now with the most popular gourd crafting kit on the market!

Click Here Now!

"I really do enjoy you all's newsletter. I like the variety very much and it is also just plain fun to review."
- Circe J., Texas

Fabulous Pine Needle Gourd Kit!

Why not make your very own Pine Needle Basket? The kit comes with full color, step-by-step instructions.

Click Here Now!

"I really enjoy your newsletter, the tips have been very helpful!"
- Deanna H., Montana

- Announcements
- Feature Article: Tips & Tricks for Making Gourd Purses (revisited)
- Calendar of Events
- Festival Update
- Tell A Friend
- Contact Us
- Unsubscribe

(1) SAVE UP TO 40% BY PURCHASING PRE-BOXED GOURDS!
Save money and buy your Welburn gourds without having to meet a minimum order! Pre-boxed gourds save time and money and that savings is passed right into your wallet! Order your Welburn gourds by the box and still get top quality gourds at discount prices! To place your order, call toll free: (888) 873-3622. Or visit the Shop section of the California Gourds web site. Click Here! California Gourds is the official mail order company for Welburn gourds!

(2) CUSTOM ORDERS BY CALIFORNIA GOURDS!
We're turning back the hands of time! From now until Labor Day (Sept. 6, 2004), the minimum order for a Custom Order is just $50.00! Orders must be placed by phone or email with California Gourds! Click Here for Complete Details!

(3) SPECIAL REQUESTS
If you are having trouble locating a box of gourds that suits your needs, give us a call toll free at (888) 873-3622 or send us an e-mail! We are happy to assist you in creating an order that fulfills your need! Most special requests are not available through our website.

(4) GOURD ART CLASSES AT THE WELBURN GOURD FARM - SUMMER & FALL
The schedule of Summer & Fall classes has already begun to be posted for the Welburn Gourd Farm. Already you have several dates and classes to choose from. Click Here and register for your class now!

(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!
E-mail us today!

(6) CLARIFICATION
It seems that there is still a bit of confusion on the relationship between California Gourds and Welburn Gourd Farm. California Gourds is a completely separate company from Welburn Gourd Farm. At present California Gourds ships almost exclusively Welburn gourds. We are working on getting you, our customers the best prices, quality, and service possible for all of your gourding needs. Also, Welburn Gourd Farm maintains their Custom Order minimum of $500. However, California Gourds ships all pre-boxed gourds and maintains a Custom Order minimum of just $50. Click here for complete details on placing Custom Orders with California Gourds!

(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!

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: This article was ran over 2 years ago and was temporarily lost in the archives. After many requests for gourd purse information, we have decided to revisit Jerry's article for your purse-making convenience!

Tips and Tricks for Making Gourd Purses

by Jerry Lewis

Several people have asked how to attach the strap, latch and hinges to a gourd purse so I will try to explain how I do it.

There are so many ways to put the purse together and attach everything that I will group 3 different methods that work well.

Leather------ The hinge latch and strap attachments are all leather. Cut a rectangle piece of leather about 2-3 inches long and 1.5 inches high . Punch holes in the four corners (6 works better for larger hinge)

Cut the gourd lid where you want it and tape it back to the gourd with masking tape.

Line up the leather rectangle on the back of the purse so that it is centered on the cut you made for the lid.

Mark the holes you punched in the leather onto the gourd and drill the holes straight through the back of the purse.

Use 4 or 6 of the type screws shown to attach the leather hinge to the purse.

Hinge on back of purse

Large leather hinge

Hinge from inside purse

This leather hinge can be stained to match the finish you put on the purse.

Next drill 2 holes on each side of the gourd [where the strap will attach] about 5/8 inch below the rim of the bottom part of the purse (not the lid)

Attach the strap with leather strips by tying it through the hole in the gourd and holes you punch in the end of the strap (fold the end of the strap over to get a double thickness before punching the strap).

Next [for the closure strap], drill 2 holes in the front of the lid 5/8" to 3/4" above the rim of the lid (see photo below). Loop [the ends of a] leather strip through these holes and tie a knot in the doubled ends. Attach the brass (or silver) button stem (see picture below) in the center front of the bottom part of the purse. Adjust the knot so that you get a snug fit when the lid is closed and you are finished.

Metal hinges- See pictures for placement of the hinges.

Some wood working talent is needed here to Route or carve a notch for the hinge to fit flush. Be very careful to line up the lid and bottom so that the lid closes properly.

Next drill the holes for the strap and latch the same as you would for the first method (leather strips) but use the screws shown in the pictures to attach the strap and latch to the purse. This method is more complicated and works best with the thicker gourds. Snap latch- This can only be used with a very thin gourd because the snap stems are short. Be very careful when crimping the snap that you don't break the gourd.

I hope this is helpful information.

-Jerry Lewis

If you would like to try out some of Jerry's ideas, now is a great time to get a terrific selection of Welburn canteen gourds, perfect for making gourd purses!

The Welburn's supply of canteens won't last too much longer! But California Gourds still has several of the famous, thick-shelled Canteen Specials from Welburn's ready to ship! Buy yours now before they are gone! Click here!

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.

September 11-12, 2004 - North Carolina Gourd Society's 63rd Annual Gourd Festival. For more info, visit www.twincreek.com/gourds/festival.htm

September 24-26, 2004 - Illinois Gourd Society Festival of Gourds at the Chicago Botanic Gardens.

September 25-26, 2004 - 10th Annual West Coast Gourd Festival at the Folsom City
Park at Natoma and Stafford street in Folsom, California. More Info at (916) 431-3139 or visit www.zittelgourd.com.

October 1-3, 2004 - Ohio Gourd Show in Mt. Gilead, Ohio.

October 3, 2004 - Calabash! A Celebration of Fine Gourd Art -- an annual silent auction of work created by well-known Northern California gourd artists held in the Sonoma County wine country. Live music featuring gourd instruments, organic food and wine, exhibits, demonstrations and more. For details, visit www.calabashartfest.org

October 9th & 10th, 2004 - The Tennessee Volunteer Gourd Society Show will be help at the East Ridge Community Center in Chattanooga, TN. Classes will start on October 8th. For information contact Terry Cline at 7557 Hwy 156, South Pittsburg, TN 37380 or phone 1-423-837-6664. E-mails may be sent to Ann Galbreath at annglbrth@aol.com

October 9th, 2004 - 3rd Annual October Gourd & Pumpkin Fest at the Welburn Gourd Farm! Call Danny for an applications at (760) 728-4271.

October 16-17, 2004 - Alabama Gourd Show. Visit the Alabama Gourd Society website for more details.

October 22, 23, & 24, 2004 - Gourd Fair L.A. 2004. To learn more about the show, visit the California Gourd Society website at www.calgourd.com or click here!

November 6, 2004 - 9th Annual Texas Gourd Society Gourd Show and Sell. Saturday, ~ 9 AM to 4 PM, Travis County Expo Center 7311 Decker Lane, Austin, Texas 78724 Show Contacts: Lee DeKeyser at 512-280-2390 E-mail: flintrock@ev1.net or Eve Dewvall 512-301-2460 E-mail: edewvall@cs.com