Gourds come in all different shapes and sizes, each one a unique expression of nature. They are grown during the springtime.   The drying process is lengthy, but most moderate sized gourds will be finished drying by January.  Lucky for me, the dried gourd makes a perfect object to carve into.  With the outer layer of the gourd hard like wood, and the inner layer softer and easy to cut through. 

 

After the drying is finished the gourd is ready to be cleaned.  Cleaning the gourd includes wiping the surface clean of dirt and scraping the dried out pulp/ seeds from the inside. 

 

Next I start to make some sketches to come up with the design.  The designs are then sketched onto the gourd and it is ready for me to start the carving process. 

I use a high-powered drill made by Foredom Electric Company to carve the designs.  The tool uses a variety of tips that range in cutting out large areas of the gourd shell to creating fine detail.  

 

After I finish carving I will use a variety of techniques to decorate the gourds.  

One of the processes I use is inlay.  Inlay is a method that decorates the gourd by embedding pieces of a different material in it, smooth with its surface.  I first carve out the section of gourd that I want the inlay to appear on.  I use Inlace products to create my own unique colors through combining dyes, crushed stones and metal flakes.  The inlay mixture is poured into the design I carved on the gourd.  After 24 hours, the hardened inlay is ready to be sanded down.  The finished product creates a stunning effect, with the colored inlay smoothed to the same level as the outside layer of the gourd.  I will also inlay objects like ammonite fossils, seashells and crystals.  Some of the crystals used, I have found in the streams that cover my family’s farm in Kentucky. 

 

The gourds are colored with leather dye.  Which works perfectly to cover the hard outer shell and soak into the softer inner part of the gourd.  Another technique I use is pyrography commonly known as wood burning.   After the gourd is finished it is sprayed with a clear permanent, protective gloss coating to seal the final product.  

 

Each gourd comes with a small battery operated touch light.  Without the hassle of a cord, the gourd can be sat anywhere in the room and produce dazzling effects of light on the wall and ceiling around it.