2020 Workshop Registration

Instructor: Connie and Dennis Brady (Grand Junction, CO)

Level of Difficulty: All Levels

Class Minimum: 10   Maximum: 20

Create a uniquely designed gourd lamp that will cast warm, inviting light upon your walls and ceiling, and showcase your creativity! The "Tree of Life" Gourd lamp class is designed to provide success for all levels of gourd art enthusiasts. Students will use a variety of tools and techniques to illustrate their lamp, including woodburning, carving away portions, filigree, and holes. Connie and Dennis Brady are well-known gourd artists from Western Colorado who travel and teach art throughout the USA.

Students need to bring: Fully charged small drill with extra charges battery pack, drill bits (1/8, 1/4 & 1/2 inch), dremel or power carver with assorted bits for carving and filigree (IE: Saburr and Filigree), woodburner, face mask, apron or cover. (There will be tools to borrow, but to avoid waiting and sharing, bring your own.)

Instructors will provide: Lamp kit ($45 value) which includes a prepared "extra medium sized" kettle gourd, wooden base, electrical components and LED bulb. Also gourd ink/paint, template of tree, and access to shared tools.

Instructor: Karen Brown (Alto, MI)

Level of Difficulty: Beginners

Class Minimum: 4   Maximum: 12

In this beginners woodburning class students will select an image to render on their gourd. Learn how to transfer a pattern, use a ball or writing nib to render and shade your project and then add the details of texture. Let award winning artist and teacher Karen Brown take your pyrography to the next level.

Students need to bring: temperature adjustable woodburning tool, bring tips/pens including ball tip and writing nib

Instructor will provide:  gourd, patterns, handout, transfer paper plus all other supplies needed 

Instructor: Robin Bryson (Quail Valley, CA)

Level of Difficulty: Intermediate (but willing to work with beginners)

Class Minimum: 3   Maximum: 15

Create a unique relief carved antler cross from a gourd, accented with wood burning for shading and a semi-precious stone.

Students need to bring: Carver with Dremel bits #116, 110, 107, 105 (teacher will have some for purchase), controlled woodburner, rounded skew tip, dust mask, eye wear

Instructor will provide: gourd, tutorial, pattern, cabochon, bail, leather piece, and sand paper

Instructor: Vickie Echols (Temecula, CA)

Level of Difficulty: All Levels. Some pine needle coiling helpful but not necessary.

Class Minimum: 5   Maximum: 15

Learn how to coil glycerinated pine needles onto a prepared gourd to make a unique vessel. You will start with attaching a "foot" and working on shaping skills. You will refine your shaping skills while you finish off the rim. We will be using artificial sinew to create a chain stitch.  Most students will not complete this during the class time, but techniques learned and tutorial will help students complete at home.

Students need to bring: sharp pair of scissors, small needle nose pliers, small jewelry wire cutters

Instructor will provide: prepared gourds, glycerinated pine needles, artificial sinew, stitching needle, step-by-step tutorial provided by email after festival.

Instructor: Marla Garber (Frankston, TX)

Level of Difficulty: All Levels

Class Minimum: 6   Maximum: 12

Cut and Sculpt a Green Sea Turtle. Use Quickwood to sculpt the turtle. Paint it and mount on mopani wood. There is a lot to do in this class, but it is fun! Students will learn techniques and should be able to finish their project in the class time.

Students need to bring: gourd saw; drill and drill bits (3/8", 3/32", 7/32"); face mask; paint brushes (flat, angle, liner, 2 dry brushes), glue gun, glue sticks

Instructor will provide: gourds, mopani wood, acrylic rod, Quickwood, paints, artificial grass, sealer

Instructor: Madonna Watermon (St. Louis, MO)

Level of Difficulty: Advanced - Must have knowledge of carver and sander.
Class Minimum: 5   Maximum: 15

Students will learn how to carve 3-dimensional maple leaves and how to undermine carve.

Students need to bring: Dust mask, pencil, electric sander with different sanding grits, sanding paper with different grits, files, high speed carver (needs to use 1/16 burs), various sizes of diamond wheel burs, and small diamond football burs if you have them. 

Instructor will provide: gourd shard, tutorial, pattern, tracing paper, 1/16 (14 round diamond burs and #699 carbide burs)

Instructor: Nancy Amburgey (Marthasville, MO)

Level of Difficulty: Beginner to Advanced

Class Minimum: 2   Maximum: 10

Each student will make a total of three gourds-learning 2 techniques in one class! The projects are NOT related, but the techniques learned are ones that may easily be incorporated into many other future projects. Students will learn to twine a base on a gourd. Also taught is a technique to apply a knot (with and without a spiral) on gourds. Students should finish all gourds in class, however, if they can not instructions will be provided to finish on their own.

Students need to bring: an awl, compass, small needle nose pliers, sharp pair of POINTED scissors or a utility knife (X-acto), apron, gloves, heat gun

Instructor will provide: 5–7 inch gourd bowl, lacing material, banana gourds, rattan, everything else needed to finish projects

Instructor: Shelia Guidry  (Corpus Christi, TX)

Level of Difficulty: All Levels

Class Minimum: 2   Maximum: 15

Tapestry weaving is done with stationery warp threads and weft threads which form the weaving. Students will learn how and where to drill holes for warp and weft threads. Gourds will be predrilled so students can do more weaving in class. There will be several different choices to finish the rim. 

Students need to bring: needle nose pliers if you have them

Instructor will provide: dyed gourd ready to weave, threads, seed beads, needles, supplies for rim

Instructor: Zack Farley

Level of Difficulty:  All Levels

Class Minimum: 15   Maximum: 20

Students will use a wax resist on the body of instrument, glue parts together. Class will get a quick lesson on how to use their finished Ocarina.

Students need to bring: nothing

Instructor will provide: Everything needed including wood, gourds, and glue.

Instructor: Connie and Dennis Brady (Grand Junction, CO)

Level of Difficulty: All Levels

Class Minimum: 10   Maximum: 20

Designed to hang on the wall, the sunflower shape is a great design to learn filigree, woodburning, and shading.

Students need to bring: gourd jigsaw, woodburner, handheld carving tool/dremel/high speed carver, saburrtooth and filigree bits, pencil 

Instructor will provide: gourd, colors, hanger, template, tools available to share

Instructor: Karen Brown (Alto, MI)

Level of Difficulty: Advanced—must have carving basics down

Class Minimum: 4   Maximum: 12

The gourds for this advanced power carving class will have the pattern already applied so we can carve the whole day. The handout will include the instructions for the pattern. All the burrs to carve this pattern will be provided by teacher who will have extra burrs to sell at the end of class. Students should be able to get far enough along to finish their project at home.

Students need to bring: Rotary tool (no battery tools), respirator/dust mask

Instructor will provide: gourds with pattern applied, burrs, handout, and all other supplies used in class

Charley Phillips first carved this pattern in bass wood for the Artistry in Wood Show where she won Best in Show. Charley teaches hand carving and lives in Neward, TX. With her permission we present this class.

Charley@charleyPhillips.com     817-437-5310 

Instructor: Robin Bryson (Quail Valley, CA)

Level of Difficulty: Intermediate

Class Minimum: 3   Maximum: 15

Create a spectacular hanging horse gourd planter. Learn how to burn on the inner part of the gourd. The texture is way different and softer than the shell. Enhanced with ink dye and pine needles woven on the rim.

Students need to bring: temperature controlled woodburner, round skew tip, dust mask, eye wear, small sharp scissors

Instructor will provide: prepared gourd, tutorial, pattern, ink dyes, brushes, pine needles, natural bark, wax linen, needle, artificial plants, embellishments

Instructor: Vickie Echols (Temecula, CA)

Level of Difficulty: All levels. Pine needle coiling experience helpful but not necessary.

Class Minimum: 5   Maximum 15

Learn how to coil glycerinated pine needles onto a prepared gourd and driftwood knob to make a lidded basket. You will start with attaching a rim on your gourd and working on shaping skills. You will refine your skills while you work on the driftwood lid. Learn the technique in class but expect to finish your project at home.

Students need to bring: sharp pair of scissors, small needle nose pliers, small jewelry wire cutters

Instructor will provide: prepared gourd, driftwood handle set in resin, glycerinated pine needles, Irish waxed linen, stitching needle, detailed tutorial emailed after festival.

Instructor: Marla Garber (Frankston, TX)

Level of Difficulty: All Levels

Class Minimum: 6    Maximum: 12

If you haven't tried the Alcohol Ink Pearls, here is your chance. We will burn the pattern, use pearl inks, do some light stippling and filigree. So come make a beautiful gourd! Students should have previous experience with woodburning.

Students need to bring: woodburner and pens, carver with large round ball burr and filigree burr, dust mask, sander or sandpaper, micro paint brush

Instructor will provide: gourd, alcohol ink pearls, paints, instructions, sealer

Instructor: Shelia Guidry (Corpus Christi, TX)

Level of Difficulty: Beginner–Intermediate

Class Minimum: 3    Maximum: 15

Pumpkins will be dry brushed onto painted textured background on gourd. Even if you have never painted, this is a technique that is easy to learn. These pumpkins will be Fall decoration used year after year. Most participants will finish their project during class time.

Students need to bring: none

Instructor will provide: All supplies needed including gourd, paints, brushes, and some form of stand. Students can buy the paintbrushes after class if they choose to.

Instructor: Nancy Amburgey (Marthasville, MO)

Level of Difficulty: All Levels

Class Minimum: 2    Maximum: 10

A small wall hanging will be made by burning and painting a flower during the class. In addition, the center of the flower will include a dream catcher. Students can add feathers, and beads to embellish. Students should be able to finish during class, however instructions for finishing will be provided.

Students need to bring: woodburner (variable temperature works best), skewer and ball tip pens, apron, gloves, heat gun, specific feathers and beads (4-ply waxed thread must go through beads) you want to use as embellishment

Instructor will provide: Everything else needed to complete the project

Instructor: Bill Decker (Greenwood, MO)

Level of Difficulty: Intermediate—Woodburning experience required

Class Minimum: 1    Maximum: 10

Bill will show hot he prepares and lays out a stylized great horned owl on a 3" diameter gourd shard. We will then burn with line and shading. If time allows we will add highlights with transparent stain.

Student needs to bring: adjustable heat controlled woodburner, skew tip for line work, shading tip,  small tip if you have one, drawing pencil, eraser, small ruler, dust mask, X-ACTO type knife, compass, circle template up to 3 inch diameter, round "00" brush, wire brush for cleaning pen tips

Instructor will provide: 3-inch diameter gourd shard sanded and ready for project, tutorial, drill and bit, transparent stain, extra items from the list above to share

Instructor: Toni Mickle

Level of Difficulty: Beginner–Advanced

Class Minimum: 4    Maximum: 12 

Students will learn how to make and construct a turtle with a bobbing head using multiple gourds for construction. Students will stain the parts and decorate the turtle shell, head, and legs.

Students need to bring: apron, dust mask, gloves

Instructor will provide: all other necessary supplies needed for project

Instructors: Connie and Dennis Brady (Grand Junction, CO)

Level of Difficulty: All Levels

Class Minimum: 10    Maximum: 20

Natural embellishments combine to create a personal sculpture with a secret message.

Students need to bring: small flat personal item to embed (button, orphaned earring, stone or ?? about the size of a quarter), woodburner, high speed carver

Instructor will provide: prepared "rock art inspired" gourd shard; clay, access to shared tools, shadowbox frame (5"x7"), embellishements, paint, other supplies needed

Instructor: Karen Brown (Alto, MI)

Level of Difficulty: Beginner

Class Minimum: 4    Maximum: 12

This class is a tribute to Joe Lee—the man who taught Karen to burn gourds. You'll be working on small jewelry gourds to cover them with geometric patterns and shading enhancements. This is a fun and easy project that can be worn a a necklace or hung as an ornament. They sell well year round.

Students need to bring: temperature adjustable burning tool, small spear or small skew pen/tip

Instructor will provide: gourds, eye screws, patterns, handout, cording, and all other supplies used in class

Instructor: Robin Bryson (Quail Valley, CA)

Level of Difficulty: All Levels

Class Minimum: 3    Maximum: 15

Learn how to paint with ink dye to create adorable baby owls peeking out of a tree hole, accented with natural bark.

Students need to bring: a clean, cut canteen gourd, bottom sanded for free standing

Instructor will provide: tutorial, pattern, dyes, micro brushes, formula 49, pitt pen, mod podge.

Instructor: Vickie Echols (Temecula, CA)

Level of Difficulty: All Levels—some pine needle coiling will be helpful but not necessary, must be able to hold needle and thread

Class Minimum: 5    Maximum: 15

Learn how to coil glycerinated pine needles onto a prepared gourd to make a unique vessel. Class will start with a demo on how to make Tyvek beads. You will use pre-made beads to incorporate into your swoosh so you can finish your project. A detailed tutorial will be emailed after class.

Students need to bring: sharp pair of scissors, small needle nose pliers, small jewelry wire cutters

Instructor will provide: prepared gourd, glycerinated pine needles Irish waxed linen, stitching needle, prepared Tyvek beads, emailed tutorial

Instructor: Zack Farley

Level of Difficulty:  All Levels

Class Minimum: 15   Maximum: 20

Students will use a wax resist on the body of instrument, glue parts together. Class will get a quick lesson on how to use their finished Ocarina.

Students need to bring: nothing

Instructor will provide: Everything needed including wood, gourds, and glue.

Instructor: Marla Garber (Frankston, TX)

Level of Difficulty: All Levels

Class Minimum: 6    Maximum: 12

This is a fun project. Let your imagination juices flow. We will use Quickwood to build the entire gnome/woodsmen. Embellishments can be added if you desire.

Students need to bring: disposable gloves if Quickwood bothers you hands, 3 medium dry brushes, heat gun

Instructor will provide: gourds prepped and ready to sculpt, paints, Quickwood, sealer

Instructor: Sheila Guidry (Corpus Christi, TX)

Level of Difficulty: Beginner–Intermediate

Class Minimum: 3    Maximum: 15

We will have fun playing with 5 different brands of alcohol inks, spray alcohol, and blending alcohol solution.

Students need to bring: apron to protect clothing

Instructor will provide: 2 gourds to dye, all dyes, applicators, and all other needed supplies. If time allows, students can purchase more gourds to dye.