About Gourds...
All of these "gourdwork" pieces started from seeds.
They grew on vines nurtured by the earth, rain and sun.
Gourds are amazing aggressive plants.
Vines can grow 100 feet. A living gourd is 90% water.
Large varieties can weigh 20 or 30 pounds each!
The genetic "magic" inside the seed determines its
particular shape, texture, thickness and size.
Gourds are relatives of squash and pumpkins that develope
a hard shell when mature. It can take several months after
harvest for a gourd to cure (get hard & dry).
Pyrography means "fire writing" - a technique like
wood burning, where a hot tool sears images into the surface.
I fabricate my own small branding irons from copper sheet
to fit a standard wood burner to "burn-in" the many animal
images and designs on the pots.
The beautiful patterns on some gourd's skin are reminiscent
of spalled wood and is natural. It developes as the gourd drys.
While moisture is "wicking" out in the drying process, mold grows
on the damp surface. This mold stains the gourd in the unusual
one-of-a-kind patterns and becomes permanent.
Multiple coats of wax protect the finish.
Gourds are one of the earliest cultivated plants by mankind.
They were utilized as food and water storage vessels,
musical instuments, containers for everyday possessions,
as well as spirital objects. Native Americans, Africans, Asians,
South Americans and Pacific Islanders all used and grew these plants
indigenous to their lands. There's evidence of cultivation as
long ago as 12,500 years ago in Florida.
There are currently 32 varieties of gourds.
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HOME---
TREE---
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ABOUT US---
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look@brookinthethicket.com
HOME---
TREE---
TWIGS---
BUTTERFLY---
TURTLE---
NECKLACE---
MORELS---
TN PEARLS---
ROSE---
SUN SYMBOL---
HISTORICALLY INSPIRED---
SPIDER---
GRAPES---
EARRINGS---
RINGS & PINS---
BRACELETS---
SCULPTURE---
GOURD WORK---
ABOUT US---
NECKLACE--- MORELS--- TN PEARLS--- ROSE--- SUN SYMBOL---
HISTORICALLY INSPIRED--- SPIDER--- GRAPES--- EARRINGS--- RINGS & PINS---
BRACELETS--- SCULPTURE--- GOURD WORK--- ABOUT US---