Pictures from the 2018 Gourd Gathering.
The Michigan Gourd Society will hold it's
annual Gourd Gathering
July 18 - 20, 2019
690 N Territorial Rd, Ann Arbor MI.
For those who are new, the gourding weekend classes are taught by members and are free. The teachers provide the supply list and you bring your own supplies. Food is not provided (except at the pot luck). You can either bring your own food, snacks and drinks or go out to eat. There is a refrigerator we can use. We also do a pot-luck on Saturday along with a MGS meeting. Carrie will be sending out an email to sign up for items so we don’t end up with too much of any one food. If you have any questions let us know. Below is the class schedule along with supply lists and any pre-steps that should be done prior to class. We do try to stick to the schedule. We may not always finish a project but there is normally time in between or in the evening to work on them. You can visit the MGS Facebook page for photos of the projects.
Mornings: 10am – 12pm
Lunch 12pm-1pm
Afternoon 1pm-5pm – during Saturdays pot luck we will also hold our annual meeting.
The schedule:
Thursday morning- 4 X 4 Quilt squares with a Michigan theme. Anything goes as far as technique. Of course you can do more than one but we are asking everyone for one to add to a MGS gourd quilt.
Thursday afternoon – Scratchboard on Gourd – taught by Sandy LaFaut
Friday morning – Tenerife dragon fly design on gourd – taught by Tammy Goll-Braunscheidel
Friday afternoon- Rabbit Sculpture – taught by Carrie Cervantes
Saturday morning- Vinyl relief – taught by Ellen Rodriguez
Saturday afternoon- Spirit Dolls – taught by Jennifer Schu
You will find there is extra time at lunch to work on your projects, also, we normally stay in the garage in the evening and work on projects too. Please do any pre-steps prior to coming if possible. That way everyone will be at the same starting point.
SUPPLY LISTS
Quilt Squares:
1. 4X4 square shard (as flat as possible). I know, gourds are round but Apples have flatter sides or a large one that has a flat side.
2. Anything goes with the technique you choose, so bring whatever supplies for what you want to do. You can make more than one but we would like everyone to donate one with a Michigan theme to create an MGS quote.
Scratchboard:
1. X-Acto retractable knife with a stencil blade (a curved X-Acto blade would probably work too)
https://www.amazon.com/Jo-Ann-Stores-X-Acto-Retractable-Blade/dp/B004E3IDC6/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?keywords=exacto+retractable+blade+knife&qid=1560601315&s=gateway&sr=8-5
2. X-Acto #11 blade
3. Pencil and Rubber eraser
4. One or two small sanded gourds (3-4”) or an approximately 4x4” flatter piece size doesn’t matter too much. For learning to scratch the flatter piece might be easier and safer. Sharp, pointy tools 😊
5. Something to trade with me, like one of the flatter 4x4 shards or a small gourd. I will be preparing the pieces for the clay based scratch gourds ahead of time so they will be ready for you to ink and work on in class. I’ll bring the clay so if anyone wants to try dipping an extra one you can. Then just leave it there for a day or two to dry.
6. A fine point (01) Pigma pen in black.
7. A lighter color alcohol ink and a darker shade of an acrylic ink. I suggest browns or ochre colors. I use dandelion (yellow) alcohol ink and FW Acrylic Burnt Umber (brown).
I will bring two different patterns to trace onto each of the 2 types of scratch art gourds. It’s going to be easier to learn and teach if we all work on the same thing just this once.
I’ll also bring some small pieces of normal black scratchboard in panel to practice scratching.
Tenerife:
1. Gourd large enough to cut a 4" hole for the Tenerife AND a hole in the top large enough for your hand to fit in comfortably. Cleaned, finished AND sealed inside and out. You should drill 28 holes around your Tenerife hole; 1/4 to 3/8 out from the hole and about 1/2 to 5/8 apart. The most important part is that you have 28 holes and they are spaced evenly. Drill bit size 5/64, if you are using wax linen.
2. 8ft of wax linen, artificial sinew or other spokes material-for the 4" hole, otherwise the amount you need will be different. If you use the same color as you paint the inside of your gourd, it looks really nice.
3. Different color string of choice for the dragon fly.
4. Tapestry needle (18 or 20 gauge)
5. Sharp scissors
6. 1 small odd bead close to the color of the inside of your gourd, plastic/cheap is fine
7. 6" ruler-optional
EXTRA FUN on the Tenerife gourd: If you want to do the RIM, I can help in the evenings.
1. #3 or 4 round reed natural for spokes.
2. #2 or 3 round reed natural for weavers
3. #3 seagrass (the picture looks to be dyed brown)
4. Water pan
5. OLD scissors
6. Old towel
7. Drill and bits
If you don't have the round reed and/or seagrass, don't buy any; I have lots.
Rabbit Sculpture:
1. Skinny tall penguin gourd, any size, any shape
2. Jewelry gourds or small Tennessee spinners, mini pear gourds that resemble the shape of rabbit head
3. Banana gourds, all sizes for ears, feet, paws, shoulders, haunches, etc. Be prepared to cut and shape your rabbits using these banana gourds. They are the perfect gourd for bunnies
4. Dremmel to cut banana gourds in half, cut hole to perch head onto tall gourd, etc.
5. Dowels, thick, thin and something to cut them with like a coping saw, I will have one with me. Will use dowels to connect body parts to rabbit.
6. Two small beads for eyes
7. Round wooden base to glue/perch your gourd onto
8. Wood glue; quick wood can be used to glue round ring to gourd but not recommended for actual sculpture build…you cannot sand it well, maneuver or smooth it to connect joints; it just dried too darn quick!
9. Clay, my favorite is shown, There are other paper clays that are sold at Michaels and Hobby Lobby
10. Once the rabbit is sculpted it will need a bit of drying time.
11. After that there can be tile adhesive applied to mimic fur. I will bring a container of it with me or you can leave your rabbit smooth.
12. Hats, neck tie bows, etc. can be made with clay to add to rabbit. I will bring a few rabbit "models" with me but please use your imagination.
*** Picture of supplies is at the end of the letter.
Vinyl Relief: (I learned this technique in a class from Barbara Moore)
1. Cannon ball or bottom of bottle gourd cut, cleaned and inside sealed.
2. Latex gloves
3. X-Acto knife
4. Alcohol Inks – three shades – light, medium and dark
5. 3 Felt (cut into at least 2 inch squares for applying ink)
6. Piece of soft cotton for final buffing
7. Mister with 99% Alcohol or Alcohol blending solution
8. Popsicle stick for rubbing vinyl
9. Paper towels
10. Heat gun.
11. Brown Shoe Polish & Furniture Paste – I will bring enough for everyone to use.
12. Vinyl & Transfer tape. The Vinyl shape is your preference. If you don’t have a cricket or other cutting machine you can use ‘punches’ in shapes of hearts or leafs, etc. and cut your vinyl that way. Depending on how big the punch and your gourd you’ll need about 40 of them. I do have a cricket and can make the cutouts (leafs, hearts, I do have 2 sets of flags, something simple). Because of the cost of vinyl and transfer tape I’d charge a small $1.00 fee for a set. If you make your own they should be about 1 inch to maybe 1 ½ inch.
Spirit Doll:
1. Long people or sculpture gourd (any length) for body
2. Any rounded gourd for head – sized to fit proportionally to the length of the body gourd
3. Piece of leather or cloth to use as a cape
4. Leather strips for belt, base of figure, hair accessory
5. Bead necklace any length and/or multiple necklaces
6. Wood base / or half canteen (cleaned) for base
7. Doll hair / waxed linen thread for hair
8. Feathers
9. Paint if desired to decorate
10. Optional: rounded gourd(s) for bowl at base
Really anything goes, so use anything on the doll that you please
Quilt Squares:
1. 4X4 square shard (as flat as possible). I know, gourds are round but Apples have flatter sides or a large one that has a flat side.
2. Anything goes with the technique you choose, so bring whatever supplies for what you want to do. You can make more than one but we would like everyone to donate one with a Michigan theme to create an MGS quote.
Scratchboard:
1. X-Acto retractable knife with a stencil blade (a curved X-Acto blade would probably work too)
https://www.amazon.com/Jo-Ann-Stores-X-Acto-Retractable-Blade/dp/B004E3IDC6/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?keywords=exacto+retractable+blade+knife&qid=1560601315&s=gateway&sr=8-5
2. X-Acto #11 blade
3. Pencil and Rubber eraser
4. One or two small sanded gourds (3-4”) or an approximately 4x4” flatter piece size doesn’t matter too much. For learning to scratch the flatter piece might be easier and safer. Sharp, pointy tools 😊
5. Something to trade with me, like one of the flatter 4x4 shards or a small gourd. I will be preparing the pieces for the clay based scratch gourds ahead of time so they will be ready for you to ink and work on in class. I’ll bring the clay so if anyone wants to try dipping an extra one you can. Then just leave it there for a day or two to dry.
6. A fine point (01) Pigma pen in black.
7. A lighter color alcohol ink and a darker shade of an acrylic ink. I suggest browns or ochre colors. I use dandelion (yellow) alcohol ink and FW Acrylic Burnt Umber (brown).
I will bring two different patterns to trace onto each of the 2 types of scratch art gourds. It’s going to be easier to learn and teach if we all work on the same thing just this once.
I’ll also bring some small pieces of normal black scratchboard in panel to practice scratching.
Tenerife:
1. Gourd large enough to cut a 4" hole for the Tenerife AND a hole in the top large enough for your hand to fit in comfortably. Cleaned, finished AND sealed inside and out. You should drill 28 holes around your Tenerife hole; 1/4 to 3/8 out from the hole and about 1/2 to 5/8 apart. The most important part is that you have 28 holes and they are spaced evenly. Drill bit size 5/64, if you are using wax linen.
2. 8ft of wax linen, artificial sinew or other spokes material-for the 4" hole, otherwise the amount you need will be different. If you use the same color as you paint the inside of your gourd, it looks really nice.
3. Different color string of choice for the dragon fly.
4. Tapestry needle (18 or 20 gauge)
5. Sharp scissors
6. 1 small odd bead close to the color of the inside of your gourd, plastic/cheap is fine
7. 6" ruler-optional
EXTRA FUN on the Tenerife gourd: If you want to do the RIM, I can help in the evenings.
1. #3 or 4 round reed natural for spokes.
2. #2 or 3 round reed natural for weavers
3. #3 seagrass (the picture looks to be dyed brown)
4. Water pan
5. OLD scissors
6. Old towel
7. Drill and bits
If you don't have the round reed and/or seagrass, don't buy any; I have lots.
Rabbit Sculpture:
1. Skinny tall penguin gourd, any size, any shape
2. Jewelry gourds or small Tennessee spinners, mini pear gourds that resemble the shape of rabbit head
3. Banana gourds, all sizes for ears, feet, paws, shoulders, haunches, etc. Be prepared to cut and shape your rabbits using these banana gourds. They are the perfect gourd for bunnies
4. Dremmel to cut banana gourds in half, cut hole to perch head onto tall gourd, etc.
5. Dowels, thick, thin and something to cut them with like a coping saw, I will have one with me. Will use dowels to connect body parts to rabbit.
6. Two small beads for eyes
7. Round wooden base to glue/perch your gourd onto
8. Wood glue; quick wood can be used to glue round ring to gourd but not recommended for actual sculpture build…you cannot sand it well, maneuver or smooth it to connect joints; it just dried too darn quick!
9. Clay, my favorite is shown, There are other paper clays that are sold at Michaels and Hobby Lobby
10. Once the rabbit is sculpted it will need a bit of drying time.
11. After that there can be tile adhesive applied to mimic fur. I will bring a container of it with me or you can leave your rabbit smooth.
12. Hats, neck tie bows, etc. can be made with clay to add to rabbit. I will bring a few rabbit "models" with me but please use your imagination.
*** Picture of supplies is at the end of the letter.
Vinyl Relief: (I learned this technique in a class from Barbara Moore)
1. Cannon ball or bottom of bottle gourd cut, cleaned and inside sealed.
2. Latex gloves
3. X-Acto knife
4. Alcohol Inks – three shades – light, medium and dark
5. 3 Felt (cut into at least 2 inch squares for applying ink)
6. Piece of soft cotton for final buffing
7. Mister with 99% Alcohol or Alcohol blending solution
8. Popsicle stick for rubbing vinyl
9. Paper towels
10. Heat gun.
11. Brown Shoe Polish & Furniture Paste – I will bring enough for everyone to use.
12. Vinyl & Transfer tape. The Vinyl shape is your preference. If you don’t have a cricket or other cutting machine you can use ‘punches’ in shapes of hearts or leafs, etc. and cut your vinyl that way. Depending on how big the punch and your gourd you’ll need about 40 of them. I do have a cricket and can make the cutouts (leafs, hearts, I do have 2 sets of flags, something simple). Because of the cost of vinyl and transfer tape I’d charge a small $1.00 fee for a set. If you make your own they should be about 1 inch to maybe 1 ½ inch.
Spirit Doll:
1. Long people or sculpture gourd (any length) for body
2. Any rounded gourd for head – sized to fit proportionally to the length of the body gourd
3. Piece of leather or cloth to use as a cape
4. Leather strips for belt, base of figure, hair accessory
5. Bead necklace any length and/or multiple necklaces
6. Wood base / or half canteen (cleaned) for base
7. Doll hair / waxed linen thread for hair
8. Feathers
9. Paint if desired to decorate
10. Optional: rounded gourd(s) for bowl at base
Really anything goes, so use anything on the doll that you please
The
Michigan Gourd Society
2018 Herb and Gourd Festival
at the
Frederik Meijer Gardens
Grand Rapids, Michigan
was well attended and held in a new addition to the Meijer Gardens facility.
Michigan Gourd Society
2018 Herb and Gourd Festival
at the
Frederik Meijer Gardens
Grand Rapids, Michigan
was well attended and held in a new addition to the Meijer Gardens facility.
To see local and national gourd events click the following link:
www.americangourdsociety.org/events.html
www.americangourdsociety.org/events.html
