Evidently I’m living my life under a rock.
I had no idea that gourds could be made into
100 different things and that a person
could actually make a living from gourd art.
Incredible but true.
I mentioned last week that I had seen Penny’s
awesome gourds on her mantel.
Since then I have been just a little nuts about gourds.
Presenting gourd transformations…
The predictable bird house…even I knew about these.
This is very cool though.
I think it’s amazing that all these gourds look to be about the same size
because I read that no two gourds are ever the same.
Then there is the gourd that’s painted.
This artisan made a bowl.
Love the wavy top.
Here’s a bucket.
I would buy this if I could.
This idea is so different…how do people think of these things?
I’ve saved the best for last.
I love this.
OK…enough inspiration.
Penny sent me a link to an eBay seller
so I bought a couple of gourds.
Here they are upon arrival On Sutton Place.
The next step was to stain them.
I had some Minwax gel stain so that’s what I used.
This is after one coat of stain.
Next step was the wax. I managed to get some on one of the gourds but
I had a hard time buffing it.
It was totally dry but still came off on my rag.
It was totally dry but still came off on my rag.
So I took them to the garage
and sprayed them with a coat of semi-gloss poly.
and sprayed them with a coat of semi-gloss poly.
I should have done that in the first place
and skipped the wax step.
Lots of texture…
and varying shades of stain.
Obviously I can’t quit my day job
and take up gourd art.
I love them though…and this was a fun, easy and cheap project.
When I was messing around with my gourds,
my little dog got bored and this is where she ended up.
Looks pretty comfy.
My posts are few and far between these days.
I appreciate your visits though…don’t give up on me.
I’ll get better at juggling everything and try to find more time for blogging.
Have a really good weekend!
Ann, I love all the gourd ideas. I like the last one the best, too. What a great piece. Your gourds turned out great. I will probably stain my three smaller ones that Babs gave me now that they have dried out and turned colors.
Ann what a perfect Fall addition to your lovely room!! Kathysue
I guess I'm living under that same rock, Ann, because I had no idea that people turned gourds into works of art. The bucket one looks just like wood- amazing! The gourds you stained turned out so well… you must be really pleased at how great they look.
I have to tell you how beautifully the yellow quilt photographed. I really want a yellow quilt now!
Stunning. I knew about the bird feeders but you've found so many other gorgeous pieces too. Love what you produced and you've made it so simple.
Ann, I think your gourds are very pretty and look nice on the table. Painted gourds are very popular items sold in high end shops as well as flea markets in my area of the south. Many of them are true works of art such as those you showed. The fancy ones are nice but I also like the simplicity of the ones you did. Love your fur baby and the quilt.—–Shannon
I had to laugh because when you showed us the sneak peak at those babies, I thought they were pears, lol. I love your stained look and that last gourd art photo is gorgeous.
What a great idea! Who would of thought you could do so many things with gourds. Thanks Anne
I've always admired gourd art. We have one piece. Last year I threw some decorative gourds in the compost bin, and they came up in the spring. I transferred them to the garden, and I had tons of small gourds. Love how you stained and displayed yours.
Great ideas, Ann! The ones you did turned out so nice.
I have an "ancient" coconut picked up by my little boy (now grown) while it as green with the outer covering on it. I set it where is would dry out, the more it dryed the more character it had, turning completely brown. I gave it a nice coat of shellac and still have it and use it in my decor. It's just a part of me.
you did a lovely job of your gords,, I love them, I think they add such a raw natural element to our homes, what a sweet doggie,, looks great in yellow!
I think the gourds turned out really pretty. i haven't tried mine, maybe i'll put that on my to do list this weekend. I really like yours!
Your little dog is soooo cute; she looks mighty comfy!
Take care….jodi
Your gourds look great. I love the first picture with the lines carved into it. Probably 50 yrs ago, I remember my parents growing gourds for my mother to do crafty things, but mostly they became a source for seeds to grow more gourds! (LOL)
Beckie in Brentwood, TN
Ann yours look amazing! Love the way they turned out and I LOVE that adorable picture of your pooch:) Martina
The gourds are lovely…they look great right where you put them!
I like your gourds and the way you placed them adds just that spark of fall in the right way.
I learned this week that if you paint gourds white and drill a small hole bluebirds love to eat the seeds. Don't know why you should paint them white.
I can't post more than once or twice in a good week either. How does everybody do it and life inbetween?
I discovered your blog a few weeks ago, and love your home. I just had to comment today on the photo of your dog. Way too cute!
Just a thought that you may want to protect your table in case the gourds aren't entirely sealed. I once had a pumpkin leach the heck out of a table! Possibly you could find a tray or glass candle plate to set them on. They do look lovely :)
Oh yes, gourds can be an artist's dream! Thanks for sharing all the ideas! Yours turned out great!
Would it be silly of me to say that your gourds are "gorgeous"?! Ha! Well they are. I really like how you changed the look of them. Now, you can use them all the way through Thanksgiving and each year thereafter. Your little dog is soooo cute! I like that pretty yellow and white pillow he's sleeping with too.
They turned out beautiful. You chose the right stain combination for sure. I didn't even know you could buy a gourd on Ebay.
They are gourd geous! :) Great job! Now will they be preserved for many years????????
What great ideas they have shown us! I love them all. Your gourds turned out wonderful…thanks for the tip on the lacquer.
XO,
Jane
You are way ahead of me! I just put a collection of small gourds into a wooden bowl and called it a display!
Your gourds are just beautiful. I love how the finish brings out their texture. So simple and pretty.
Cindy
Love your gourds! Thanks for sharing all those wonderful pictures. Btw, when you figure out the juggling act, please share!! ;)
Great inspirations. I love the way yours came out and the way you have displayed them.
Ann, you did a beautiful job on your gourds!! They look great.
We have two that an artist did and I love them!
Have a great weekend and don't work too hard. I know just what you mean about it being hard to find time to do everything! blessings ~ Tanna
oh, they are so "falley" and beautiful. We're slowly doing some painting so I'll have to wait until next year. Blessings, HAVEN
Ah – gourds! Yes, I'm familiar with them and have painted a few (I did a blog post in September, if you care to take a look – called Gourd-eous Gourds for Fall.) There are some very talented gourd artists out there (but I don't count myself among them!) I do it just for fun. I think yours turned out great! It does get kind of addictive, so watch out! Nice to meet you!
Cindy
That Santa gourd is so cute! What a great way to decorate…I wish it was Fall over here!
Best wishes,
Natasha.
Wow I had no idea either. I love the bowl one. Yours looks so great sitting on the table. Perfect for this time of the year.
I loved this post. I have a gourd that I found at Goodwill and had no idea what to do with it…..until I read this post!! Thanks for the idea! I'm a new follower!!
What a fantastic idea Ann. They look so cute too. I have a gourd bird house, I bought long ago, I had no idea what exactly it was, but I loved it. Have a great day. You should get that print from Laurie, it is so so charming.
Wow Ann they turned out gorgeous…good job!
My sister collects painted ones like the Santa she has them for every holiday!
Have a wonderful Day!
Love the gourds ~ I am going to have to try this. They look fantastic ;-)
Ann, thanks so much for stopping by my blog and leaving such a sweet comment. I would love to ditch the presents and take a vacation. I have been saying that for years. My family looks at me like I'm crazy. lol. Again thanks so much.
The gourds look great. I haven't seen any gourds that big in my area. Love your fall decorating. You are truly inspiring. Have a wonderful week ahead.
Jessica
Oh Ann, I LOVE your gourds!! They turned out so beautiful & you have them displayed perfectly!!! On a side note, I need to tell you how much a love your lantern above your island!!! It adds such warmth & coziness to that spot.
I love going to fall art shows, because of all the amazing gourds there are. You have shown some great ones.
Glad I could be of help with the gourd shopping and staining! Yours turned out beautiful.
Hugs,
Penny
Beautiful, what you did with the gourds.
You did an amazing job with the gourds! I never realized how ways they could be used.
Your gourds are the perfect fall accent…turned out sooo nice! Love your puppy, what a sweet photograph!!!
Your gourds are beautiful, now I want some! They turned out great!
Debbie
Amazing job! I have one on my deck that is green! I don't know anything about how to dry them or make them into a bird house! You found some great examples! Yours turned out great! They will be perfect through the Thanksgiving season (and beyond!)
I love love the stained gourds.And as for your post well real life takes precedence over blogging do it when you can and your true followers like me will still be here. Have a a good week!
First off, let me say that your post was very timely for me. I just found the gourds in my garage that a cousin gave me a year ago. Then I tried to clean them, but they have some black stuff on them that has to be scrubbed off and I didn't get it all off yet. So, anyway, I guess I need to paint them or keep scrubbing so I can display them. I totally understand the juggling issue. I too, have had to cut back on blogging, and am trying to find a good balance.
Grew up with gourds aplenty in my area, so I guess I have taken them for granted! :) -Many great and pretty uses for them, my favorite being the two "Trick or Treat" ones. Thanks for sharing these.
Fantastic fall post! It turned out great and gorgeous autumn colours. Thanks for sharing.
Hope to see you on my blog:)
I never knew grouds could be used like that, either! I think yours look lovely!
Blessings,
Janet
Your gourds look great. When my granddaughter came for dinner last week, she surprised me with two tiny gourds. She told her mommy she wanted them for Mimi when they were at the local nursery. They're the only ones I have. Do you follow Paula at Sweet Pea? She has a post on how she decorates with gourds. You would enjoy it, I think.
Oh, those are great inspirational ideas. Your gourds turned out very nice too.
Your decorations are lovely.
And your little cutie at the end is even more precious.
I have a friend who does gourd art and sells them in craft fairs. Yours turned out great! I don't know how you find time to even do those projects and work and blog on top of it all. I have yet to bring out my fall things. Hope I get something done before Christmas!
Oh my goodness, I had no idea that gourds could be so beautiful! Yours are lovely, are they dry so they can be stored and used year after year? I hope so.
Hugs, Cindy
gorgeous gourds!
found you and this lovely post via BBC and would love to have you visit the great giveaway i have at the moment!
http://hellolovelyinc.blogspot.com/2011/10/rachel-ashwell-on-creating-authentic.html
warmly.
michele
I did a blog about my gourd with your inspiration! Check it out! I'm a new follower and I linked you with my blog!
http://mtashie-theplace.blogspot.com/2011/10/little-gourd-that-could.html
I discovered your blog a few weeks ago, and noticed that your home is too attractive. I just had to comment today on the photo of your dog. Too cute.
I am a new follower to your blog. We have a miniature schnauzer too. He loves to make himself a "nest" somewhere. He looks similiar to yours only with cropped ears and a longer, fluffier beard. Aren't they wonderful dogs?
I love gourds and have a few unusual ones! I've never tried to alter them though…what a great idea! It really brings out the colors! ♥
the little gourd basket is adorable! yours look lovely too!