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| We are pleased to bring you this full feature
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- Announcements
- Feature Article: Cannonball
Contest Winner! - Under Hopi Skies
- The Gourd Classifieds
- Calendar of Events
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| SPECIAL
ANNOUNCEMENTS |
| (1)
THIS JUST IN - NATIVE AMERICAN BEADWORK BOOK! - NEW
Learn the beautiful beading stitches and techniques of
Southwestern Native Americans. Filled with authentic, striking
projects for you to make - from jewelry to baskets - this extraordinary
book features designs evocative of tribal legends and cultural
traditions. Whether it's a Sonora Weave Choker and Earrings set,
a Huichol Lace Netted Gourd, or a Navajo Bead Rug, these distinctive
projects reflect the beauty and the traditions of Native American
life in the Southwest. Order
Now!
(2) THE GOURD CLASSIFIEDS & PERSONALS!
What would you do with over 20,000 new gourd customers
and friends? Connect with other gourders, sell your wares, seek
out gourd items...all in The Gourd Classifieds! What
a great way to get hooked up with gourd people like yourself!
Find new and used items to use on your artwork! Whether you are
looking for a great deal, selling or trading your gourd extras,
or looking for the next gourd connection, The Gourd
Classifieds are the next best way to getting what
you want! To view all of the ads or to find out how to place an
ad yourself, visit The Gourd Classifieds
at www.gourdzette.com/gourdclassifieds.html!
(3) CALIFORNIA GOURDS COMING TO YOU!
For our subscribers who live in or around New Albany, Indiana,
Ojai, California, and Grass Valley, California, be sure to stop
by Ben Franklin Crafts to select from top quality,
craft-ready California-grown gourds! You can also find a wide
range of leather dyes, ink dyes, stamp pads, pigment powders,
and applicators for your gourd coloring needs! Be sure to ask
about their gourd art classes!
(4) WE LOVE FEEDBACK!
Check out our web site and let us know what you think!
If you are one of the many, many people who have ordered Magic
Sculpt from us recently, please let us know what your thoughts
are! Whatever the subject, we would love your feedback! E-mail
us at editor@gourdzette.com!
(5) PHONE NUMBER UPDATE
Please update your phone books for California Gourds. Our new
toll free number is (888) 548-7571, and our fax is (951) 443-5245.
Thank you! We appreciate your loyalty and continued patronage!
|
| FEATURE
ARTICLE |
And
the winner is...
Under Hopi Skies
by Agnes Sowle
Skill
level: Intermediate
Materials
Clean cannonball gourd
Craft glue
Wood putty
Sandpaper
Pencil
Compass
Scissors
Heavy paper or blank stencil plastic
Ruler
Tape
Denatured Alcohol
Acrylic craft paint (black and red)
Acrylic varnish
Paintbrushes
Brush-on or spray varnish
Metal or other stand
Tools
Saw appropriate for cutting gourds
Gourd scraper
Woodburner Pen
Fine line tip for pen
“Dot” tip for pen
Step 1
Using compass, draw a circle in the bottom (stem end) of the
gourd. Using saw, cut out circle. Save piece. Scrape inside
of gourd though hole and empty. Glue circle back in, fitting
carefully. Let dry, then putty any cracks or gaps left in seam.
Again dry, then sandpaper smooth. This circle will be the bottom
of the gourd. Gourd is now ready for design.
Step 2
Decide where you want Hopi bird design and circles on gourd,
keeping in mind that it has a top and bottom. You will want
the main design to be about center on one side and the circles
interspersed around the gourd. Create Hopi bird design for gourd.
In order to avoid copyright infringement, I develop my own designs
using historical Hopi designs I find in books about historical
Hopi designs or from internet. Make a template for design. Draw
out on firm paper or blank stencil plastic and cut out.
Step
3
Tape template on the gourd, and using a sharp pencil, draw around
design with pencil. Fill in interior lines. This will be your
main design. For the circles, use a compass to draw a few small
circles on gourd. Then using ruler, draw in designs in the circles.
I use small squares, a combination of lines and squares, and
small designs arranged in lines to represent shards of Hopi
pottery. Next, draw a wavy line around gourd at about halfway
to serve as a guide for your “stars” You will place
the stars on the upper part of the gourd. The design is now
ready to wood burn.
Tip: To accommodate
for the roundness of the gourd, I clip in from the edges of
the paper template in several spots and then overlap the papers
to form to the gourd. Then I trim any places where the folded
seams do not meet exactly on the outline.
Step
4
Using the woodburning pen and the fine line tip, carefully outline
all of the lines of your designs, except the wavy line you made
as a guide. Using the “dot” tip and your wavy line
as a guide, burn small dots around top part of gourd.
Step 5
Using very fine sandpaper or sand foam, gently sand over the
burned design to remove any rough spots and residue left from
burning. You don’t want to scratch the surface of the
gourd, but you do want it to be completely smooth before painting.
Then clean off any pencil that remains.
Tip: You can
simply erase the pencil, but I like to clean the gourd with
denatured alcohol. It not only removes pencil lines but also
cleans any remaining residue from the burning and leaves a perfectly
clean design for painting.
Step
6
Use the small brush and acrylic paint to fill in the pictures
you have traced. I use very small paintbrushes: size 2 filbert
and size 1 or 0 round or liner. When you are done painting,
let the paint dry for 24 hours.
Step 7
Follow the directions on the varnish or sealer you have chosen
to put a protecting finish on your gourd.
TIP: I use acrylic
varnish applied with a good quality wide, very soft artist paintbrush,
and use two or three very thin coats. With the round surface,
I apply the varnish to one half at a time and let dry thoroughly
between coats.
Step 8
Place on stand and enjoy!
Thank you, Agnes!!! And Congratulations on being the Winner
of our Cannonball Contest!
Be sure to check out the next full feature issue of The Gourdzette
where Agnes has created an expert level project to do with cannonballs!
We are very excited and know you will be, too!
For a great deal, order Cannonballs by the box and Save! Each
box contains eight 5"-6" beautifully symmetrical cannonball
gourds! Order
your Cannonballs now!
Share your inspiring gourd projects! And see your ideas in
a future issue of The Gourdzette! Send your project
ideas and articles to the Editor at editor@gourdzette.com!
We love hearing from you!
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|
THE GOURD CLASSIFIEDS |
| Buy, Sell, and Trade your gourd tools, supplies,
fetishes, embellishments, and more in The
Gourd Classifieds! Clean up your studio and
get rid of those gourd items you no longer need! Place your "FOR
SALE" ads in The Gourd Classifieds
and get two lines of text plus a bold title for just $15.00*.
"FOR TRADE" & "WANTED"
ads are FREE! All ads will be viewed on the web
by thousands of other gourders for 30
days!!! PLUS your ad will run in one issue of
the widely viewed newsletter, The Gourdzette,
the longest running online newsletter for the gourd community.
To place your ad, contact Patti at editor@gourdzette.com
or call (951) 639-3681. To view all current ads, go to The
Gourd Classifieds on The
Gourdzette
web site or just click
here!
*Each additional line or partial line is $5.00 per line.
FOR SALE
| CUSTOM WEBSITE
for artists and crafters. Personal & business sites. Special
price includes professional design, optional free secure shopping
cart, custom logo & MORE! 5-pages with up to 25-products
or images. Only $79 + $30/year hosting (includes domain name)
Limited time so hurry! References & free consultation.
pagestarts@aol.com.
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WANTED
| Gourd Instructors Wanted
- Looking for all specialties of gourd crafting to
start up gourd art classes. Contact Ben Franklin Crafts in
Ojai, CA, Grass Valley, CA, and New Albany, IN. |
Place your ad in the Gourd Personals
and find other gourders like yourself to share
your time with! You choose how long you wish to have your ad run
on the web, viewed by thousands of other gourders! PLUS your ad
will run in one issue of the widely viewed newsletter, The
Gourdzette. Create your own gourd patch! Fantastic
for Gourd Art Instructors searching for teaching venues!
Click
Here for Pricing!
GOURD PERSONALS
Attention
Instructors - Great way to get students to your classes
or to find a new place to teach.
Your ad including your name listed here! |
For questions regarding The Gourdzette or The Gourd
Classifieds, please contact us via email at editor@gourdzette.com
or call (951) 639-3681.
The Gourd Classifieds are copyrighted
and the sole property of California Gourds.
|
| CALENDAR
OF EVENTS |
FREE ADVERTISING
FOR YOUR GOURD CLASS OR EVENTS
Email us with your gourd art classes and your gourd events,
and we will add them to our Calendar of Events for free! The Calendar
of Events is posted on every full issue of The Gourdzette.
Let other gourders know what's going on in the gourd world! Let's
get more people hooked on gourds! Email our Editor at editor@gourdzette.com.
************************************************
September 15-17, 2006 -
Illinois Gourd Society Festival of Gourds at the new location
at the Morten Arboretum. Workshops, demonstrations, competitive
classes, raffle, vendors and more. For more info, visit www.illinoisgourdsociety.org.
September 16, 2006 - Mississippi
Gourd Festival at the Gourd Gracious Farm in Collinsville, MS.
We will have another Traveling Gourd to raffle. Updates can be
found at gourdgracious.homestead.com/gourdfestival.html
September 16, 2006 -Gourd Music-Making
a Shekere by Terri Schmit, hosted by the Wisconsin Gourd Society.
Class will be held at The Gourd Guy, 2099 County Road E, Blue
Mounds, WI. Contact Teri Adler at adlerdesign@centurytel.net
or 920-836-2324 to register.
September 21-22, 2006 - Pre Festival
Classes—Zittels Gourd Farm, 6781 Oak Ave. Folsom, CA. For
pictures, descriptions and sign-up information, visit www.folsomgourdarts.com.
Payment is due at the time of registration and classes will fill
on a first come first serve basis, so sign-up early and enjoy
2 days of camaraderie and gourd fun!
September 23, 2006 - Wisconsin
Gourd Society Fall Membership Meeting/Potluck and Open House.
Noon-4 pm at The Gourd Guy. For more information go to www.wisconsingourdsociety.com
or contact Terri Schmit at thegourdgirl@yahoo.com
September 23-24, 2006 - The 12th
Annual Folsom Gourd & Arts Festival will be held at Folsom
City Park, Folsom, CA. Applications are available at www.FolsomGourdFestival.com.
Contact: FolsomGourdFest@aol.com
or (916) 431-3139.
September 23-24, 2006 - Tri-Valley
Wood Carvers Annual Show, Included will be judging categories
for Gourd Carvings and Gourd Burnings. Displays and vendors wanted.
This event will be held in the Senior Center 5353 Sunol Blvd,
Pleasanton CA. 94566. For more details go to www.tri-valleycarvers.com
or contact Ken Morgan 925-462-6586, e-mail:kjasmorgan55@comcast.net
September 29-October 1, 2006 - Ohio
Gourd Show - new location in Greenville, Ohio at the DARKE COUNTY
FAIR GROUNDS. Show dates are 9-30, & 10-01. WORKSHOPS will
be held 9-29, 9-30, & 10-01. The new location is approximately
25 miles from the Dayton Airport. Workshop Instructor's application
now online. Phone: 937-447-2845 E-Mail: tvmosipple@koakonnect.com
October 7-8, 2006 - Coyote Melon
Festival at the Mojave Drums Retreat Property in Meadview, AZ.
Festival Hours: Saturday, 10:00AM to 7:00PM and Sunday, 10:00AM
to 4:00PM. For more information, click
here.
October 12-15, 2006 - New Mexico
Gourd Society's 2nd Annual Celebration of Gourds. Albuquerque
Garden Center, 10120 Lomas Blvd. NE. Gourd classes all four days.
Festival dates Saturday, October 14, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday,
October 15, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Demonstrations, special exhibits,
vendors, arts/crafts booth, featured gourd artist raffle, door
prizes, entertainment. Class schedule and registration form can
be obtained on our web site, www.newmexicogourdsociety.org.
October 14, 2006 -Gourd Music-Making
a Shekere by Terri Schmit, hosted by the Wisconsin Gourd Society.
Class will be held at Sew What?! Supplies in West Allis, WI. Contact
Teri Adler at adlerdesign@centurytel.net
or 920-836-2324 to register.
October 21-22, 2006 - Alabama Gourd
Society Festival. This year's festival will be held at the Cullman
Civic Center in Cullman, AL. For more info visit
www.alabamagourdsociety.org
November 3-5, 2006 - Sunshine Gourd
College in Bradenton, FL. Please see www.sunshinegourdcollege.com
November 4, 2006 - Making a gourd
ornament by Mary Rose Mansour, sponsored by the Wisconsin Gourd
Society. . Using beeswax and the Ukrainian style Kistka, you will
learn design and color balance as you "play" on a mini-gourd
to create this wearable art form. Bring shirt/smock for clothing.
Time is noon – 4pm. Contact Teri Adler at adlerdesign@centurytel.net
or 920-836-2324 to make your reservation or for any questions.
November 4-5, 2006 - Virginia Lover's
Gourd Society presents the 5th annual VIRGINIA GOURD FESTIVAL
-- Saturday 8:30a-5:30p and Sunday 10a-5:30p at Richards Fruit
Market, Middletown, VA (Use I-81 Exit 307 in Stephens City) Vendors,
workshops, demonstrations, silent auction, food, entertainment.
All the details: americangourdsociety.org/virginia.html
November 11-12, 2006 - Texas Gourd
Society 11th Annual Lone Star Gourd
Festival. Waco Convention Center, 100 Washington St., Waco, Texas.
For more info, visit www.texasgourdsociety.org
|
| SEE
YOU NEXT TIME! |
|
|
California Gourds is the nation's leading online retailer
of quality hard-shelled gourds. Our quality hard-shelled gourds are
sold throughout the continental United States, Canada, Hawaii, Australia,
and more. Dedicated to service and to the gourding needs of our customers,
California Gourds seeks out the best pricing and quality of each gourd
we sell.
Presently, California Gourds features gourds grown in
California. Get wild on gourds! Craft a gourd today!
Visit our web site at http://www.californiagourds.com/
HOW CAN WE SERVE YOU BETTER?
California Gourds is dedicated to bringing you the best gourds,
products, friendly service and prices 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! Or give us a call: 888.548.7571.
To contact California Gourds:
E-mail: info@californiagourds.com
Phone: 951-639-3681
Fax: 951-443-5245
Toll Free: 888-548-7571
California Gourds
31752 Pepper Tree St.
Winchester, CA 92596
If you have a pressing question about an order or any
other issue, please give California Gourds a call at (951) 639-3681
or toll free at 888-548-7571 Monday through Thursday 9am to 3pm (Pacific
Standard Time) or send an email to info@californiagourds.com.
We are happy to answer any questions!
This newsletter is a copyrighted publication of California
Gourds. For information on reprinting this publication in whole or in
part, please contact the Editor of The Gourdzette, at editor@gourdzette.com.
To make this your last
edition of the newsletter, click on the link listed in the bottom left corner of this email.
© 2006 California Gourds |