Reduce, Reinvent, Relove
Bringing discarded items back to life!
About Gourds & How I Got Started
I get asked a lot, "how on earth did you start working with gourds?" One year, I decided to plant gourds in my garden. I had grown all different shapes and sizes. Looking at them I realized, now what do I do? After reading many books, watching videos, research, trial and error I discovered I was hooked on gourds! It is quite the labor-intensive process; a year for the gourd to dry as well as cleaning the gourd inside and out. I am unable to grow enough gourds on my own due to our short growing season here in Wisconsin, so I supplement by buying gourds from California. California gourds have a much thicker shell due to the extended growing season and consistent high temperatures.
Gourds are a natural resource that have been considered a staple in many societies. They are one of the first plants to be cultivated throughout the world and have been in use for thousands of years. The gourd is the only plant that experts believe to have spanned the entire globe. Early man decorated gourds by cutting and scraping images using the sharp edge or tip of a hot stick. Many cultures are still using gourds for; bowls, vessels, hats, musical instruments and many other purposes.
Turning a Gourd Into a Piece of Art
I am a self-taught gourd artist, and I have a simplistic design style. Pictured is an example of a dried, uncleaned gourd that I start with. I start by cleaning the inside and outside of the gourd. This is an extensive process that takes several hours of washing, cutting to expose the inside, scraping, and sanding. I then use a wood burner to burn designs onto the gourd. I apply ink dyes specially formulated for gourds to add stunning colors. I drill small holes around the rim of the gourd, and hand stitch pine needles to the rim that have been boiled and soaked in water securing each one individually with artificial sinew. I add a driftwood accent to the top, and seal the gourd with varnish to protect the color. When finished, people often mistake the gourds for ceramic or leather.
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Gallery of Sarah's Gourd Art
"Before" photo of a gourd
You will find several images of gourds I have created below. I do not sell my gourds online, however if there is a gourd you are interested in please feel free to contact me as I do fill custom orders. Prices range from $15 to $125.
Gallery of Sarah's Gourd Birdhouse Art
You will find several images of gourd birdhouses I have created below. Gourd Birdhouse Care: At the end of each season remove the nesting contents through the hole using a screwdriver to break up the nesting contents and pull/shake out. Store the birdhouse indoors in a warm, dry location. To prolong the appearance, re-seal the gourd with an exterior varnish before placing outdoors each season. I used a exterior spray varnish to seal the gourds and placed 3 coats on the gourd. What types of birds in WI/MN use these birdhouses? That depends on the size of the house opening. 1 1/4" hole: Downy Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Wren, Chickadee, Warbler. 1 1/2" hole: Bluebird, Tree Swallow, Finch. I do not sell my gourds online, however if there is a gourd you are interested in please feel free to contact me as I do fill custom orders. Gourd birdhouses are $24 each.
