August Gourd Newsletter

Another month has come and gone and the summer is really
warm here in NC. School here will be beginning very shortly,
which just doesn't seem possible. I am thinking of teachers
gifts now, ornaments always come to mind first, but there are
many other things as well.

WHAT'S NEW
I'm getting ready for the NC Gourd Show coming up
Sept. 11 & 12. Ornaments do well for me so trying to
focus on some new ideas in that area. Click here to see
the new 2004 Ornaments page. Here's a sample:

Another new page "The Antler Basket" is something I've
been playing with this month and find it so much fun.

EXCITING NEWS
I am so thrilled and honored to be able
to say that I have two gourd patterns
that will be published in the September
issue of "Holiday Painting" magazine. If
you are not a subscriber you can check
out the cover here which has one of the
projects featured on the cover.

PAINTING TIP
Tips are always welcome from friends and
readers, here's a tip from my friend, Hellen
Martin of Texas: When painting spread out
wax paper our your area and tape down. Your
piece will not stick to it while it is drying
and you can also use an area beside it for
your palette to put your paints and to mix
them if needed.
Another great tip is to use J.W. etc.'s
Safe-Strip Paint & Varnish Remover to
clean any brushes that you have paint build
up in. But something I learned this month it
will also take paint out of clothes. On a new
pair of denim shorts I got a spot of paint,
used the same paint remover, rubbed into
spot well, washed and it was gone. Really
great stuff. I bought mine at:
www.artistclub.com but you might find it at
your local craft store.

                             WOOD PILE GOURDS
Thought you might enjoy seeing an unexpected vine that came up
at our wood pile this spring and is producing some beautiful
                                                                       gourds, now if the
                                                              gourds I actually
                                                              planted just do this
                                                              well.
                                                              You can click photo to
                                                                   enlarge.

               SPECIAL OF THE MONTH
With so many new ornaments thought it would be only fitting to have the ornaments on special for this
month. If you buy two ornaments at regular price you can get a third one 1/2 off. It must be ordered from this
page with the order link below. Price includes shipping charges. Click any photo to enlarge. Please add to cart
                                                                                                                                    below, but email me your 3
                                                                                                                        choices here

GOURDING IN THE HEAT
Those of us attempting to grow our own gourds now have
many long and fruitful gourd vines in our fields or pots growing. I've noticed that many of the first
leaves of the vines are now dying back, which is normal about this
time of the season. Here in NC it's about time to stop any fertilizer that we would be applying. My vines
have been out since about mid-April. The hot beating down of the sun can scorch your delicate gourds, if
they aren't covered by the vine leaves. I don't normally have this trouble, but have found a couple of
gourds out in the open and have decided to cover them with a light piece of torn cloth. (Actually from my
husband's old tee shirt).
Gourds do grow well in hot weather, but if you haven't had much rain it wouldn't hurt to give them a nice
cool drink once in a while.

One more thing, don't forget to set your gourd up while growing if you want it to set up when it is
mature. If you don't it will continue to lay on it's side and take the shape of the ground on that side.

SPECIAL REQUEST
If anyone has any great tips to share in the
newsletter, I'd love to hear them. It can be
about gourds, painting, coiling. I'd be glad to
put your name and link to your work or website
in the newsletter it's used in. Just click here
to let me know.