Spring Gourd Newsletter

I do hope everyone will forgive me to being a bit late with this newsletter. I've
had what I suppose is called "burn out." Really needed a break. Not so sure I'm
over it totally but am slowly getting there. This newsletter should get everyone
in the mood for spring time projects, even though some of us still have a little
time before spring actually arrives.

Even though I don't feel I've accomplished much since the Christmas rush, I did complete
an order for 30 pine needle coiled ornaments in January. Also completed a few coiled
pieces for various reason.

Click photo to enlarge
Here's a few of the projects I've completed lately, I hope you will enjoy them. The first
three photo's the gourds are painted with the faux gourd technique which I now have in
packet form for anyone to turn an ugly blemished gourd into a natural beauty. You can click
here to find that info.

Click photo's to enlarge

UPCOMING EVENTS
I will be attending the Cherokee, NC
Gourd Gathering again this year which is
held May 20-22. I hope to see many of
you there and will share photo's of the
event when I return. I will be teaching a
class on coiling pine needle ornaments
while there, so wish me luck. Here's a
link to the website if you'd like
information. Click here.

PICTURES TO SEE
I know not everyone on this mailing
list has seen the awesome pictures
from the Wuertz Festival, in AZ
which was held in February. So if
you'd like to see them here's a link
to them and some great artists work.
Click here.

NORTH CAROLINA BASKET
CONVENTION
"That Which You Share" is the upcoming
theme, March 17-20, in Raleigh, NC. I plan
to attend on March 18 to check it out.
Here's a link if you'd like info.

LET'S TALK GOURDS
Seed starting is probably on lots of folks minds about now. I know it is mine.
Our weather here has not been very typical so I'm not sure what the spring
will hold. Some people start their seedlings inside because they just can't wait
to get them going, other start them inside because of their short growing
season. Whatever the reason, starting inside is a good way to go for a lot of
people. I thought I'd share a few tips that came to mind and I've learned
about from other gourders. You may already know but doesn't hurt to have a
refresher:
****Seeds from gourds that have been left out and frozen are not as likely
to sprout as those collected before the frost.
*****If a gourd is of the larger varieties the light colored seeds won't
germinate. Use the darker larger seeds. This is NOT true for ornamental
gourds.
****The seeds will germinate and sprout faster if kept warm and moist light
weight dirt.

FREE PATTERN
I must give credit where credit is due here. After making many
of the banana gourd santa ornaments that were candy holders
and wasting many ends of the banana gourd, Bernice Dupre
suggested an Easter basket type design with the other end. So
here's what I came up with. I think it would be adorable to give
to a child at Easter time. Click here for pattern and instructions

Click photo to enlarge