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How To Edge-Bead A Gourd Ornament

by Lyn Z. Page

I love living history. The idea that I can go back in time to experience first-hand the crafts and skills of my Cherokee ancestors thrills me. Of course, I haven’t wanted to let go of my twenty-first century comforts full time, but I have learned to appreciate the ingenuity of Native “crafts(wo)manship”, and have applied it to my own hand-made gifts.

Each year I make Christmas ornaments for my daughters in a continuum of family heirlooms. I produce several with the theme of my logo, Spirit Horse, each one unique, and offered in a variety of sizes, colors and shapes and materials. The common thread among them is edge-beading.

Your heirlooms may present a design dear to your heart, or be simply finished with a border and a bangle of beads.

Here are easy-to-follow directions toward creating your own gourd ornaments from shards of broken or leftover parts, using Size 8 (large) seed beads:

Materials:
· Gourd piece or shard, curved or flat, two to three inches in diameter, any shape.
· Seed beads –Size 8 is large enough for the very young to handle, as well as older, perhaps arthritic, hands to manage and see more easily.
· Needle – Size 8, to fit the bead hole. You may have to try several to get the right size eye.
· Awl or drill – just large enough to make a hole that will accept the needle, and no larger.
· Artificial sinew – split in quarters; this is waxed nylon, strong, flexible, yet sturdy, and available in colors. Or use Kevlar, very strong, thin thread.
· Yarn for hanging.

Step 1
Choose a thick gourd shard or piece 3 inches long and 2-1/2 inches wide. Sand back and edges smooth, tapering slightly toward the back side. Find the center, mark a cross-point and make a line vertically to divide piece in half. Mark a continuous line one-quarter inch inside the edge around entire piece, parallel with edge. Punch a hole in each corner where lines intersect, and then at twelve and six o’clock.
Measure and mark half-inch intersecting lines down from the corner (eleven and one o’clock) holes to eight and four o’clock positions, and then one-quarter inch marks on both sides to six o’clock, as shown. Punch holes in these positions and then erase your lines. You will have a total of 18 holes.

Step 2
Measure out no more than one yard of artificial sinew. Since it splits quite easily into identifiable strands, separate it into four, saving three for use in other ornaments. Thread needle with sinew and tie a knot in the end as you would for embroidery. Push needle through the hole between eleven and twelve o’clock positions from back to front. Pull sinew firmly so the knot wedges into the hole, but be sure not to pull it so hard that it pulls through gourd and out the front.
Pick up 17 beads and thread onto sinew, positioning them all on top of the gourd. Poke needle through to back, bring needle to front and push it up through last bead on right, as shown. Pull it taut, making sure that all beads are still sitting on top of edge. The unsecured beads on the left will be tightened at the end, so do not be concerned about them now.

Step 3
Thread six beads onto needle and push through corner hole at one o’clock. Again, bring your needle to the front and move it up through last bead on the right. Make sure all beads are sitting on top of edge and you can see sinew from hole to edge, as shown.

 

Step 4
To go around the corner, thread six more beads onto needle and push it through the same hole as you did the last set. Then bring needle forward again and push it up through last bead on the right, forming another scallop.

 

Step 5
To complete the edging, continue to pick up six beads for each scallop, and repeat sequence of pushing needle through next hole towards the back, bringing it forward and pushing up through the last bead. Go around the eleven o’clock corner in same manner as you did the one o’clock corner, entering twice through same hole to complete the turn.

 

 

 

Step 6
To finish edging, thread FIVE beads on your needle and push it DOWN (toward the front) through first bead in the hanger scallop. Then put needle through the same hole as you began the hanger. There will be two threads through it. Then, from the back of the ornament, push needle UP through bottom of that first bead and pull tightly upward. Manipulate it with your fingers if it does not cooperate readily.

Step 7
Tying off the thread is done by making a loop (a) with it and pulling taut, close to edge of first bead. Then thread needle back through last scallop set and snip sinew close to bead, making it invisible.

 

Step 8
If you want a simple way to decorate the front of the ornament, begin by threading a new strand of sinew through the unused hole, from back to front. Pick up 34 beads, using another color and slightly larger, or as many as you think will look good. Push your needle up through the first (yellow) bead and through the hole to the back. Pull it tight to the front and tie it off in the back with double square knots, snipping close to the knot. Finish with a yarn hanger, and you have made a simple ”historically-correct”, and unique ornament, made much like Native Americans did a century or more ago.

Vary the size and shape of the gourd piece, add beads in a string, and paint your design on the front for a different look. Sign the back with your name and date, and your friends will value their hand-made decoration.

Handy Tips

There is no need to coat your ornament it if you have not painted it, but a thin coat of shoe polish will make it shine and deepen the color.

Several kinds of needles are available, including “sharps”, and “glovers” (leather) needles. Baker Bay Beads carries glovers needles and knows the needle you need for size 8 beads, but your local sewing supply store will also have a selection of “sharps”. Be sure to take a bead with you when purchasing your needle in person. The eye is the critical area to test. If bead will not go over it, then try a smaller needle.

To add glamour and a festive look, paint your ornament with acrylic “sparkles”, a clear base containing glitter. It dries transparent, leaving tiny pieces of gold behind to reflect the twinkle in your eye as you spread the season’s joy. Spray with acrylic sealer.

Thank you for your project submission, Lyn!!!

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We welcome your articles and projects submission for The Gourdzette! Share your knowledge and favorite craft ideas with other gourders! We would love to hear from you and so would thousands of other gourd enthusiasts! Please send articles, projects, or ideas for articles to editor@gourdzette.com.

December 11, 2004 - Gourd Art Class: Wax Resist on Gourds with Kathy Riker at the Welburn Gourd Farm, Fallbrook, CA. Click Here for More Info.

January 8, 2005 - Gourd Art Class: Gourd Decorating, Woodburning, Basketry at the Irvine Fine Art Center, Irvine, CA. Click Here for More Info.

January 15, 2005 - Gourd Art Class: Spirit Mask with Kathy Riker at the Welburn Gourd Farm, Fallbrook, CA. Click Here for More Info.

January 21-23, 2005 - Gourd Retreat: Southern Style. Hosted by Derral & Charlotte Durrence near Savannah, Georgia. Click Here for More Info.

January 23, 2005 - Gourd Art Class: Gourd Decorating, Woodburning, Basketry at the Carlsbad Parks & Rec, Carlsbad, CA. Click Here for More Info.

February 4-6, 2005 - Arizona Gourd Society and Wuertz Farm Gourd Festival at the Pinal County Fairgrounds. Workshops, competitive entries, vendors. For more information about the show go to the Arizona Gourd Society website or the Wuertz Farm website.

February 5, 2005 - Gourd Art Class: Beginning Gourd Crafting with Dianne Connelly at the Welburn Gourd Farm, Fallbrook, CA. Click Here for More Info.

February 19-20, 2005 - Third Annual Get-away. Three Rivers, California. Gourd Art Classes: Wax Resist Pouch & Spirit Figures. Contact Diana Rookstool at 1820DiRook@aol.com

February 25-27, 2005 - Florida Gourd Show in Belleview FL (near Ocala). Workshops, competitive entries, demonstrations, vendors and more! Click Here for More Info.

March 18-20, 2005 - Georgia Gourd Society Show in Albany, Georgia. Click Here for More Info.

March 19, 2005 - Gourd Art Class: Sponge Painting Rock Art with Kathy Riker ath the Welburn Gourd Farm, Fallbrook, CA. Click Here for More Info.

March 27, 2005 - Celebration of the Gourd & the Annunciation of Spring at the Jardins du Cimiez in Nice, France. The festival traditionally symbolizes the end of winter and a time to make public reproaches to one's spouse, after being cooped up with them all winter (although this is purely optional!). Rich dishes are served and locals exhibit their engraved and painted gourds. Click Here for More Info.

April 1-3, 2005 - Indiana Gourd Society Show in Kokomo, Indiana Competition, workshops, vendors. Click Here for More Info.

April 16, 2005 - "It's a Gourd Day" in Elkton, Maryland. This will be an educational day for “gourding” with vendors and classes. For more information, contact suzi@gourdlady.com

April 23-24, 2005 - Show Me Gourd Society Festival at the State Fairgrounds in Sedalia MO. The Festival is on Saturday and Sunday with additional workshops on Friday. See website for updates.

May 14-15, 2005 - The 2nd Annual South Carolina Gourd Gathering. Click Here for More Info.

May 13-15, 2005 - Kentucky Gourd Show. For full details see the Kentucky website.

June 25-26, 2005 - 9th Annual International Gourd Art Festival. Welburn Gourd Farm in Fallbrook, California. Times: Saturday, 9am- 5pm and Sunday, 9am- 4pm. Relax in the shade of the old oak trees while sipping a refreshing glass of wine poured by one of Temecula Valley's finest wineries. Feast on a variety of deliciously prepared foods and beverages. Witness one of the most amazing competitions of gourd art the country has ever seen!

September 9-11, 2005 - Illinois Gourd Society Festival of Gourds at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. Workshops, demonstrations, competitive classes, raffle, vendors and more.

September 17, 2005 - We had the first ever Mississippi Gourd Festival this past Sept. at our farm and it was a great success. We are going to do it again this coming year on Sept. 17th for that one day only. It will be held at Gourd Gracious Farms in Collinsville, MS . Information and directions can be obtained by emailing gourdgracious@comcast.net. There will be gourd demonstrations, classes and food offered to one and all. There will be a small charge for classes but demos and admission is free.