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| Welcome
New Subscribers! |
| We are pleased to bring you this full feature
edition of The Gourdzette!
- Announcements
- Feature Article: Holiday
Gourd Decór!
- Jasmin's Corner
- The Gourd Classifieds
- Calendar of Events
- Contact Us
- Unsubscribe
The Gourdzette
is proudly brought to you by CALIFORNIA GOURDS!
To visit the California Gourds website, please use www.californiagourds.com
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| SPECIAL
ANNOUNCEMENTS |
| (1) GIFT CERTIFICATES
MAKE GREAT GIFTS!
As the year comes to an end and the Holiday season is full of
hustle and bustle, make your gift shopping a little easier! Purchase
Gift Certificates from California Gourds for all of your gourding
and crafty friends! Click
Here to Shop Now!
(2) FINISH YOUR PINE NEEDLE BASKETS WITH
MORE PINE NEEDLES!
California Gourds is the place to shop for high quality,
inexpensive pine needle bundles for all of your basketry and gourding
needs! Our prices tend to be significantly lower than our competitors!
Stock up now to complete your pine needle projects! We also have
waxed linen available! Order
Now!
(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!
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| FEATURE
ARTICLE |
Holiday Gourd
Decór
by Lauren DuBois
During the holidays gourd crafters around the
globe use different tools and mediums to create their own
gourd cheer.
In Mexico and Peru crafters use gourds to make
nativity scenes. After carving a hole in the side, they insert
tiny little animals and statues. The outside of the gourd
is painted with bright colors. Once set on a table or display
shelf the decoration is complete.
In Africa gourd artists paint gourds of different shapes into
ornaments that are used to celebrate Kwanzaa. They are painted
in the traditional tribal colors.
In America, we paint gourds up to be snowmen,
Santa Claus and even angels. Use your creativity and culture
to inspire the gourd artist in you during the holiday season!
Don’t forget at California Gourds we
have several different gourd projects. Seasonal or otherwise,
we have something for everyone!
Gourd-aments.
With gourds, the ideas are endless! And over the years we
have collected several ornaments from some amazing artists.
As a source of inspiration, take a look at the gourd-aments
adding festive color to our home this year!
From left to right, gourds
by Mary Segreto, Julio Seguil Rios, Geraldine Liermann, &
Marjorie Houston
 Gourd
Angel. Favorite winter decorations around
our house are angels. This year we have gone all out and used
a gourd to complete our heavenly creation.
What you will need…
A 3-inch bottle gourd
Paint color of your choice (for the body)
Black paint
Light pink paint
Paintbrushes
Glue gun
Wire
Spray sealer
Masking tape
Place your tape around the gourd to separate the face and body.
Paint the body…we did two coats. For some extra character
we added a star to the body of the angel.
Paint the angel’s face. Using the black for the eyes
and mouth; the light pink for the cheeks.
To make the halo, curl the wire around the stem of the gourd
or use your finger. Place a dot of glue onto the gourd to fasten
the wire. Keep in mind the glue does dry quickly.
Wind the wire into a set of angel wings. Use your glue gun
to dab another dot of glue on the back of the angel. Place wings
into the glue and hold in place until set.
When you've finished and everything is dry, be sure to coat
your angel with some spray sealer. This will guarantee that
you can use your craft for years to come.
 Gourd
Ornament Garland.
Are you looking for something simple, yet festive to put on
your mantle? Have we got the gourd craft for you!
This gourd strand has been made with cannonball gourds of different
sizes. We chose leather dyes in basic holiday colors of green,
red and gold to stain the shells. After staining you may want
to seal the outside of the gourd with a glossy finish to give
your gourd that extra shine. The inside is filled with a string
of battery-operated lights. (Found at hardware stores)
In order to allow room to insert the lights, we used a power
saw to cut an opening into the bottom of the gourd. We then
used our gourd scraper to clean the inside. After the gourd
was free of seeds and debris, we used a drill to make holes
on the outside of the shell to allow for the light to shine
through when turned on. Once these steps are complete place
your light strand into the gourd.
An added touch would be to place fabric or garland along the
strand of lights. Make this your own special decoration for
hours of holiday enjoyment!
Keep in mind that you still have time to order the supplies
that you need to complete this gourd mantle decoration and your
other Holiday crafts! Go to www.californiagourds.com
to see what's available for speedy delivery!
Have a Safe &
Peaceful Holiday!
From all of us at
California Gourds
Extra Gourd Tip
- Always be sure to use some type of a dust mask when cutting,
carving and burning gourds. The dust can be harmful to your
lungs. For more basic gourd safety, click
here.
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|
JASMIN'S CORNER |
 Visions
of a young aspiring gourd artist. Jasmin Diaz is 6 years old and
has been playing with gourds all of her life. We thought it would
be fun to put her work and words into this edition of The
Gourdzette. We hope you enjoy!
Gourd
Ornaments
by Jasmin Diaz
 I
made these by cleaning a gourd and wash all the gunk off of them.
I put glue on a plate. I had a paintbrush and put glue dots all
over one of the gourds. Then I sprinkled it with green glitter.
I put more dots of glue and then sprinkled red glitter.
On the other gourds, first I washed them. Then I put glue on
it and I did the same think except different. I put glue on a
plate, then brushed it on the gourd. Then I sprinked red glitter.
Then I put glue dots and blue sequins on the gourd. And I put
a red bow on top because I think it will look nice.
After they all dried, I put hooks on them and I hanged them on
the Christmas tree.
Send us your kids'/grandkids' crafts with a write up as to
how they created them, and we will publish them in an upcoming
edition of The Gourdzette! We hope to inspire you with their ideas,
and we hope to encourage the children to continue creating their
art by seeing their projects in print! Please send project emails
to our Editor at editor@gourdzette.com.
Thank you! |
|
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.
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! Or
who knows you might meet Mr or Mrs Gourd Right! Fantastic
for Gourd Art Instructors searching for teaching venues!
Click
Here for Pricing!
FOR TRADE
| I can trade Devil's claws and
coyote melons (buffalo gourds) for jewelry
gourds and miniature bottle gourds. Contact Tamara W. richtamara@vtc.net |
| Will trade Antler sheds (deer)
for jacaranda pods, philodendron sheaths and date palm fronds.
I live in northern Idaho and can find antlers but not the
California stuff. Contact me at eileen00@sandpoint.net |
WANTED
| I am interested in finding any type of beads,
needles, books, tools, embellishments, paints, etc that people
have discarded or are not going to use anymore. I'm interested
in any type of gourd art, so rather than go buy a bunch of
items i know nothing about, I'd like to recycle some that
others aren't going to use. Contact Jen mymaterzntaterz@yahoo.com |
| Want to start a gourd group
for interested individuals in the El Paso, TX and southern
(Las Cruces) NM area. The rest of the Texas and New Mexico
groups are too far away for frequent get togethers. Gourding
is virually non-existent in this area and I would like to
spread the word. Group wanted for sharing ideas, classes,
morale support, etc. Contact me at aardvark1947@sbcglobal.net |
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.
************************************************
December 16, 2006 - ALOHA DAY.
Doors open at 7 AM. Register for Polynesian dance classes (all
ages, men and women), Refreshments, Island Products, Jewelry,
Demonstrations. Take a mini class, $30.00 per person (11 am to
12 pm or 2 pm to 3 pm). The Hula Explained, What it is, what it
is not. What do you do when you go to Hawaii? Fiji? Tahiti? Tonga?
Samoa? New Zealand? Place: Doubletree Hotel Dearborn, 5801 Southfield
Service Drive, Detroit, MI 48228. 7 AM to 5 PM, 313-433-9194,
www.tropicalpolynesianproductions.com
January 19-21, 2007 - Gourd Retreat
Southern Style. For a weekend of gourd fun and good friends, plan
to attend the next gourd retreat. It is sponsored by Charlotte
Durrence and Faye Davis and is held near Savanah, Georgia. E-mail
or call for more information. Charlotte: gourds1@aol.com,
912-754-9479 or Faye: fayedavis2637@msn.com,
912-927-8424. Check the website at
http://www.webgourds.com/southern/
February 2-4, 2007 - Wuertz Farm
Gourd Fesival in Arizona. For more information, visit Wuertz farm
website for details. www.wuertzfarm.com
February 5, 2007 - Gourd Artist,
Barbara McDermott, holds gourd classes in her Murrieta Home Classroom.
Coming February 5, 2007, Monday Evenings, a six week class, Painting
on Gourds will begin. A project will be completed in each class.
For additional class information or to register please call (951)
894-1817 or email mcdeeart@verizon.net
February 23-25, 2007 - Florida Gourd
Show "Gourdin' on the River". Indoor location at the
East Palatka Fairgrounds, Palatka, FL. Exhibits, Vendors, Workshops,
Growers, and Demonstrations. See website for details: www.flgourdsoc.org
April 14-15, 2007 - Santa Clara
Valley Carvers, Chapter #1 of the California Carvers Guild and
West Bay Woodturners 40th Annual Carvers and Woodturners Show
and Competition which will include a judging category for Carved
and Burned Gourds Dates: Saturday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sunday,
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Prospect High School Gymnasium, 18900 Prospect
Road, Saratoga, CA. Tables will be available for clubs or individuals.
Contacts: Ron Richards (408) 255-3391 or Jerry Gin (408) 431-3719
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
or visit our website at www.wisconsingourdsociety.com.
June 15-16, 2007 - Hawaii Gourd
Show. For more information, visit www.ipushow.com.
"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 |
| SEE
YOU NEXT TIME! |
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California Gourds is the nation's leading online retailer
of quality hard-shelled gourds and supplies. Our quality hard-shelled
gourds and supplies 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 and supply we sell.
Presently, California Gourds features gourds from several
California gourd farms, and that's just the beginning. 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: 951.639.3681
To contact California Gourds:
E-mail: info@californiagourds.com
California Gourds
31752 Pepper Tree St.
Winchester, CA 92596
The Gourdzette 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 at the very bottom
left of this email.
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