Mother nature's works of art: fashion scraps of gourds into stunning necklaces

Expression, March-April, 2005 by Maria Dellos

When I moved to Tucson, Ariz., in 1984, I immediately fell in love with Southwest art. I have experimented with every craft and every product that has hit the market for over 30 years but it was the discovery of gourds that really allowed my talent to develop.

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In 2001, I tried Stewart Superior Memories inks on my gourds and was immediately satisfied. The ink is quick drying, doesn't require heat setting and doesn't fade. The final finish that preserves the beauty of these inks is J.W. etc. Right-Step Varnish, a rich and durable finish that locks in the color, providing a very permanent finish.

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I have so many pieces of broken gourds and scrap parts of gourds that I decided to design jewelry with each unused piece. There is no right or wrong way with this art. One can develop their style of art with endless possibilities. I guarantee you will be hooked ... line and sinker.

INSTRUCTIONS

All these pieces were made with scrap pieces of gourds. Use your imagination for the shape, draw your own design or use a template. The shape of the piece is entirely up to you. Note: Premo! Sculpey Shapelets make great patterns.

I cut my pieces using a heavy-duty X-ACTO knife with #227 saw blade. Sand the edges of the piece after cutting. Make necklace strand with coordinating beads, spacers and findings to match your design. I used beading wire to attach the necklace strand to the final piece. To finish all the pieces, I glued a piece of leather to the back using Tanners Bond Leathercraft Cement by Tandy Leather.

Eagle Select a shape for your piece and prepare according to basic instructions. Place the copper eagle onto the gourd piece and lightly trace around it with a pencil. Note: I purchased my copper eagle from Starr Gems in Tucson, Ariz. Lightly trace a border design around the piece approximately 1/8 inch from the edge. Burn eagle and border design into the gourd using a woodburning tool. Note: Woodburning around the shape first keeps it from chipping later when you are carving. Carve a shallow indentation into the eagle shape using an X-ACTO #105 carving blade.

Using a sponge applicator, apply Pine Tree Green Memories ink inside the border and Art Print Brown Memories ink around the border. Seal with J.W. etc. Right-Step Satin Varnish. Apply copper eagle with E6000 glue. Drill holes with a 1/16-inch or 1/8-inch drill bit where you want to add beads, necklace strand, beaded dangles, and copper wire on the eagle. The copper wire "X" through the eagle was made with 22-gauge Artistic Wire. Coil it with the Coiling Gizmo or wrap around a thin awl. Leave ends long enough to pull through to the back of the gourd piece. After pulling through, cut off excess wire. Attach leather to the back.

Semiprecious Stone Prepare your gourd piece as noted in the basic instructions. Use your imagination and burn a border design into your piece with a woodburning tool. Apply a heavy coat of J.W. etc. Walnut Wood Stain with a sponge brush and immediately dry with a heat tool. It should crackle with the heat. Different effects will result depending on how thick your gourd pieces are and how much stain you apply. It's wise to experiment on scrap pieces of gourd before attempting on final project. After crackling the stain, rub in J.W. etc. Gold Metallic Wax and heat with a heat tool. Drill holes as needed for attaching beads and necklace and seal with J.W. etc. Right-Step Satin Varnish. Attach any wire wrap or beads at this time. Attach leather to the back.

Sun Design Prepare gourd piece as noted in the basic instructions. Using the Sun Design Brass Stencil, trace onto the gourd. Burn border design with woodburning tool. Use Art Print Brown Memories ink inside the sun and apply J.W. etc. Gold Metallic Wax and heat using a heat tool. Drill holes for beads as desired. Seal with J.W. etc. Right-Step Satin Varnish. Apply a plastic button in the center of the sun. Sand and apply stamp ink in desired color to the button. Apply leather to the back. Make necklace and attach as desired.

RELATED ARTICLE: MATERIALS

GOURD PIECES

X-ACTO HEAVY-DUTY KNIFE

X-ACTO SAW BLADE #227

X-ACTO CARVING BLADE #105

COPPER EAGLE

SANDPAPER

WOODBURNING TOOL

E6000

SPONGE APPLICATORS

MEMORIES DYE-BASED INK -- PINE TREE GREEN, ART PRINT BROWN

J.W. ETC. RIGHT-STEP SATIN VARNISH

J.W. ETC. WALNUT WOOD STAIN

J.W. ETC. METALLIC WAX

DRILL

DRILL BITS -- 1/16, 1/8

22-GAUGE ARTISTIC WIRE

HEAT TOOL

LEATHER PIECES

TANNERS BOND LEATHERCRAFT CEMENT

JEWELRY PLIERS

BEADING WIRE

MISC. BEADS, SPACERS AND FINDINGS

PENCIL

COILING GIZMO OR AWL

WIRE CUTTERS

PLASTIC BUTTON

ANNA GRIFFIN BRASS STENCIL -- SUN

RELATED ARTICLE: About Face

Looking to journey back into the days of Neanderthal man but just can't seem to get your hands on a time-travel machine? Why not don this primitive face pin, pound on your chest and yell like a cave dweller? Well, the last two suggestions are completely up to your discretion, but we think this pin is a good start. The main difference between this pin and the necklaces (other than the obvious) is this unique pin has a face made from air-dry clay and a Designer Push Mold by AMACO. Simply air-dry the clay in the mold overnight and then trim with scissors around the mold once dry. Trace the shape into the gourd scrap and wood burn. Recess that shape using woodcarving tools. Apply tacky glue to the face and attach to the gourd. You'll be pounding and screaming in no time!