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Crafting With Gourds
Gourds
are so versatile and there are so many different things
that
can be done with them that there is no way I can begin to
cover them all. Below you will find links to information and
tutorials dealing with different ways to craft with gourds.
There
are a few basics to know though so I will cover those.
First start with a dry gourd. Different shapes will lend themselves
to different projects so find a gourd that will be the best for the
project
you will be working on.
Next you will need to clean the gourd. Why do you need to clean
it?
Because the dried
mold and skin will flake off eventually if you try
to paint over it.
So to clean you wet down the gourd and then scrub the skin
and mold off. A copper scrubber works well, plus a knife and
small wire brush for the stem. I have tried both Chore Boy brand
and the cheaper off brands, but I like Chore Boy best. It doesn't fall
apart like the cheaper brands do.
To wet the gourd you can just place it in a sink full of water and
turn the gourd over a few times letting it soak for 1/2 hr or more
depending on the skin.
Remember, cleaning is a messy job and you may not want to use
the kitchen sink. I am lucky enough to have a laundry tub to use
when cleaning in the house. If it's warm outside you may want
to
find a large tub to use or another method you can
try on a nice sunny day is to put the gourd or gourds in a black
plastic bag. Spray in some water and close it up. Let it
sit in the
sun for a couple of hours and then work on cleaning them.
The secret is to get the skin good and soft. If you are having
rainy
weather or using a sprinkler to water the lawn, just place your gourd
out in the lawn and let it get wet that way.
When the skin is
softened it is time to clean your gourd. I like to use
rubber gloves when I am doing this. I've talked to some people
that
have broken out in a rash because they were allergic to the moldy skin.
Take your scrubby
and start rubbing all over the gourd. Use the wire
brush on the stem and on the bottom where the blossom was.
Sometimes you need to use a knife for stubborn areas. When
everything is cleaned off let the gourd dry before working on it.
When going through
the cleaning process you will sometimes
find a gourd that has a soft spot. That means the shell is very
thin in that area and may not be worth keeping. Sometimes parts
of the gourd can be salvaged and used as pieces in other projects.
| After
reading this information maybe you don't want the bother and would
like the convienience of a gourd ready to work on without the
mess.
See my selection of ready to craft gourds.
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I like to do woodburning
on some of my gourds. You can check out some of the woodburning
tools from Rockler Woodworking.
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Here are a few gourd
craft books.
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at My Amazon Store
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