the gourdian knot - Idaho Gourd Society

THE GOURDIAN KNOT
RHO CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN GOURD SOCIETY
SPRING 2012
2012 IGS OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
President’s Message
PRESIDENT: LIZ MEYER
VICE PRESIDENT: CORLIS KENT
SECRETARY: SUE KOSTKA
TREASURER: KAREN RYKER
DIRECTOR: ROBIN CROWLEY-MIZE
DIRECTOR: MARIE KUENZLI
APPOINTED DIRECTOR, NEWSLETTER: CARLA
ARNOLD
APPOINTED DIRECTOR, WEBSITE: CHRIS PETERS
(AFTER MARCH 1, MARLIES SCHMITT WILL BE OUR
IGS WEBMASTER)
Happy New Year to all my fellow "Gourders" and friends. I consider you all friends because I
know that you are caught up in the tendrils of the gourd plant just as surely as I am, and isn't it
fun! I hope that you are looking forward to 2012 as much as I am.
We started off the year with an IGS Executive Board meeting on Jan 6 and began looking at
some exciting alternatives to the way things have been done in the past. Hopefully, the things
we are contemplating will make our workshops more efficient and meaningful to your gourd art.
Many states with gourd societies have two or more general meetings per year with all workshops
done in Patches. The IGS has grown to over 100 members and it is difficult to teach to the
numbers of individuals who attend the monthly meetings. With this in mind, the IGS Executive
Board voted to present to the general membership a proposal that we go to two general
meetings per year: one to be held in August to plan the IGS Gourd Festival, and one in January
for elections. The by-laws would be changed to reflect this. Please give this your consideration.
We will be voting on it at the March 10 meeting.
In addition, several more patches are forming, one in Meridian which will have their first
organizational meeting at Hobby Lobby on Monday, February 20, one in Melba which meets on
the first Thursday of each month and will have their second meeting on March 5, one in
Pocatello and one that will meet at the Woodcraft location. The Woodcraft Patch will not meet
until April. The IGS does provide funds to assist with forming a new patch, and we hope some
new ones can get going. The Kuna Patch is expanding to include a monthly daytime meeting as
well as one in the evening. Please refer to page 10 or to my statewide e-mail message for more
specific information. All patches are going to try to have a schedule on the web with
the workshops listed that they will be having so that members can attend all workshops that are
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of interest to them. Each patch would also have a liaison person to work with the IGS Executive
Board.
The workshop at the IGS general meeting on February 11 will be on a new product for gourd
crafters: Fantasy Film (which has been used by scrappers and stampers in the past) and will be
taught be Caryn Nicolosi. Look for more information on this under Workshops on our website. If
you have other ideas for workshops please let one of the IGS Executive Board Members know
and we will see what we can do. Also, consider the possibility of teaching a workshop yourself; it
is fun to do and is a really good way to learn technique.
We have a newsletter! You’re reading it, as a matter of fact. Carla Arnold, with the able
assistance of Jim Petty, has taken on the task of putting together our quarterly newsletter this
year and they need our help. If you have learned something of interest to other gourders, be
sure to pass it on to Carla at [email protected] or to Jim at [email protected] and
they'll get it in the newsletter. They also need lots of pictures.
Keep in touch and "happy gourding".
Liz
Note from the editor:
This is the first newsletter after quite a hiatus. Many thanks go out to Rob
Hinkley and his wife, Vonda who worked so diligently to put out The Gourdian Knot
despite huge and mounting health issues for Rob. Rob has been a great help to me
(again, in spite of his ever-increasing health problems), as have his wife Vonda,
Judy Pritchard and her husband, Dean, Sue Kostka, Karen Ryker, Liz Meyer, Donna
Kirk, Barb Gamel, Gwen Purcell, and last, but definitely not least, my brother, Jim
Petty. Jim has been my Boise connection, meeting-attender, information gatherer
and over-all, highly appreciated assistant.
Carla Arnold [email protected] 867-6727
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Annual Gourd Festival
The thirteenth annual Idaho Gourd Festival sponsored by the Idaho Gourd Society was held on
November 5 and 6, 2011 at the Boise Hotel and Conference Center. The theme for the Festival
was “Gourd Bless America.”
Antonia Tamayo, winner of the
Theme Gourd division.
The Idaho Gourd Society sponsors this event annually, and it is a great opportunity for all those
interested to see gourd artists’ displayed pieces, to learn how to grow gourds, to make
purchases from the IGS Gourd Store as well as from other vendors, and to view the displayed
gourds entered in competition.
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Sue Kostka Hosts
Bonnie Gibson Workshop
On September 23, 24 and 25 IGS member Sue Kostka hosted a Bonnie Gibson weekend
at her home. Gibson, gourd artist and master carver, travels extensively from her
Tucson-based business, Arizona Gourds, to teach power carving and other gourd-related
subjects. Although she enjoys creating her own gourd art, she loves to get new people
excited about designing and carving gourds……And excite us she certainly did.
Friday’s all day session taught us to use our power tools more effectively and
about different kinds of burrs and what they can do. We designed and carved sand
ripples, did some relief carving and learned how to carve a gourd to inlay a line of beads,
a button or a cabochon. On Saturday morning we built on our skills and learned to carve a
filigree pattern on a gourd surface and about primary and secondary design levels. In
the afternoon we designed, carved, wood burned and painted a peacock feather gourd.
We were given a piece of dichroic glass to inlay and also learned to use gold leaf to
enhance the peacock feather. In Sunday’s “Wind and Water” session we power carved
water ripples, rain clouds, and Native American star patterns, and then we culminated
the great weekend by learning to create two air-dry clay designs on gourds: a lizard and
a maiden.
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9th Annual Running of the Gourds
Dee Smart
Kris McCracken
Editor’s note: As a newcomer
to gourding as well as to the
Idaho Gourd Society, I was
thrilled and overwhelmed
when I attended the 9th
annual
“Running
of
the
Gourds,” aka, the Wuertz
Gourd
Festival
in
Casa
Grande, Arizona. It was
amazing!
Ron Swank
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2012 Idaho Artistry in Wood Show
The goal of the 2012 Idaho Artistry in Wood Show is, as it has been in past shows, to provide
those who work in wood the opportunity to demonstrate their work in a public setting. The
annual show is the result of the efforts of the member groups of the Idaho Artistry in Wood
Association: the Idaho Woodcarvers Guild, the Treasure Valley Scrollers, the Southwest Idaho
Wood Turners Association, the Ada County Woodworkers and the Idaho Gourd Society. The
IGS members on the IAW board are Marlies Schmitt and Corlis Kent.
The 2012 Idaho Artistry in Wood Show will be held Saturday,
February 25 and Sunday, February 26 at the Boise Hotel and
Conference Center, 3300 Vista Ave., Boise, Idaho.
Competitors from all skill levels, Beginner – Expert, are invited to
submit their entries for display and judging. . We need to make sure
that the IGS is well-represented. For the first time this year cash
prizes will be awarded. Registration will take place on Friday, February 24,
2012 from 12-6 p.m. at the Conference center. For more information, check out the Idaho
Artistry in Wood website or contact IGS liaisons to the IAW Board, Corlis Kent
([email protected] 283-0659, and Marlies Schmitt ([email protected] 4664899.
The show will also include vendors, a banquet and auction. IGS member Caryn Nicolosi
[email protected] will be the auctioneer. Caryn asked that members of the IGS who
want to donate a gourd for the auction, submit the technique used, the value of the piece, and a
picture to her, and she will forward it on. IGS has been asked to provide 5 gourd pieces for the
raffle, and 3 auction pieces. We also need volunteers as “spotters” during the auction, 5 people
to volunteer for setup: 3 for check-in of gourds for competition, and 2 runners. Four judges
will be needed; Marie Kuenzil, plus 3 more. Two clerks are needed; Marlies Schmitt has
volunteered to be one of them.
The Idaho Gourd Society will also be doing demonstrations: So far, Liz Meyer will be doing
pyrography, and Kris McCracken will be asked to do leather lacing and coiling. If we
demonstrate gourd tools, Sue Kostka has volunteered.
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Idaho Gourd Society Workshops
October
Barbara Gamel’s Pitcher Class
Pitchers can be made from small gourds or
from tops cut from larger bottle gourds. It
is a good way to use misshapen and
lightweight gourds which can be decorated
with a design.
The handle can be made from many
different things.
Barbara likes to use
twisted and swirled shaped stems if she can
find the right size and shape to fit her
piece. If she can't find the right one, she
uses other materials like twigs, grape vine,
paper twists or waxed cord wrapped around
wire or caning. She then uses adornments
to embellish the handle. Attaching and
anchoring the handle is an art in itself as is
cutting, decorating and attaching a base.
Creativity is a key for Barbara as you can
see in the photos of her work.
November
Annual Idaho Society Festival (Article and Pictures on page 3)
December
No workshop, annual
holiday party and
Gourd-related gift
exchange
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January
Jim Petty’s Chipcarving Two-Color Chipcarved Birdhouse
Class
This is the top, of the two color
chipcarved birdhouse and…………
…ooh la la, this is
the bottom.
Jim’sTwo-Color Chipcarved Bird House
is certainly a project for those of us
who are perfectionists.
Jim set up a pre-workshop tutorial on
the IGS website,
www.idahogourdsociety.org. He told the
group not to cut the bird house entry
hole until they had gouged the pattern
around the hole. He gave very specific
instructions (complete with pictures)
about how to measure and draw the 1/4”
guidelines around which they would carve
when they came to the workshop.
A special thank you to Chris Peters, our Webmaster. Chris has resigned and we will miss her
dearly. She will continue as the Website guru until March 1. If you’d like to contact her to
express your gratitude, you can do so at [email protected].
Yet another editor’s note:
Please excuse the embarrassing lack of
captions. I’m so new and am learning names
as quickly as I can, but I did not label very
many of the pictures this time. I will do
much better next time.
With that in mind, (the picture-caption part,
not the apology-part), please include as
many names as you can with photos so I can
give credit where credit is due.
Want to flaunt your membership in the
Idaho Gourd Society???????
Buy a t-shirt or a tote bag.
T-shirts (They come in a wide
Variety of colors….. $12.00
Tote bag…………………. $ 8.00
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Welcome to White Bird
By Alan Sweeney
Gourds have brought many wonderful people into my life
and have taken me on some incredible journeys. A recent
trip to White Bird, Idaho is a great example of this and
will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Last Year while doing a chip carving on gourds demonstration for the Idaho Gourd Society,
I met two lovely ladies from White Bird who were in Boise attending our 12th Annual Gourd
Festival. We talked and got to know one another as they watched me carve a simple pattern
on a birdhouse. During our conversation the ladies told me about their lives in White Bird and
a group of local artists who are members of the Salmon River Art Guild. I was intrigued with
their story and thought it would be fun to visit sometime. I finished the birdhouse, gave it to
my new friends along with my contact information and offered to teach a chip caving class to
their guild if they interested. My offer was accepted and a class time was set up. My
adventure to visit White Bird was on.
After a scenic three and a half hour drive, I arrived at the turnoff that leads down into
the beautiful community-oriented town. A big sign which reads “Welcome to White Bird”
greeted me as I descended into the historic community that is nestled between the great
hills which reach for the sky. My directions to the Gresham studio where I was to teach,
took me along the banks of the Salmon River and its powerful, pristine waters.
A warm welcome awaited me from Art Guild members Kathryn Van Acker and Nancy
Gresham. Nancy’s husband Greg had a warm fire roaring in the wood stove which made for a
cozy class setting. I gave class participants a brief history of chip carved gourds, a few
safety tips, and taught them basic carving techniques so they could create and complete a
small bowl. Everyone had a great time and a positive experience.
Kathryn Van Acker and her husband Paul invited me to spend the night with them at their
beautiful log home which is perched on a hillside with a magnificent view of White Bird Creek
and the deer which feed along its banks. Kathryn treated me to a tour of their exquisite
home followed by an extra delicious dinner and great conversation.
I woke early the next morning, well before sunrise. The moon was full and bright which
made for the perfect grand finale to my experience. The Salmon River glistened in the
moonlight and the towering hills glowed almost as if to say “Welcome to White Bird, we hope
you enjoyed your stay.”
A special thank you goes out to Paul and Kathryn Van Acker,
Greg and Nancy Gresham, and the members of the
Salmon River Art Guild for their wonderful hospitality.
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The Gourdian Knot is published four times
a year.
Editor-Carla Arnold
contact- [email protected]
Ph. (208) 867-6727
ADVERTISEMENT RATES:
Rates for 2012 are:
One fourth page- $10.00 for one year.
One half page- $20.00 for one year.
The page sizes may be slightly larger.
Payment for the ads should be sent to:
Karen Ryker [email protected]
226 E. 3rd Street
Meridian, Idaho 83642
The copy for the ad should be sent to:
Carla Arnold [email protected]
It would be helpful if ads were in a form
that would be compatible with Microsoft
Word.
Dates for your calendar:
February 11 - IGS General Meeting
February 25 and 26 IAW Show
March 10 – IGS General Meeting
July 12 to 15 – Northwest Gourd Festival,
Ellensburg, WA www.wagourdsociety.org
Patch meetings:
1st Monday – Doggie Day Patch Melba, 11-?
Caryn Nicolosi [email protected]
nd
2 Wednesday – Rochester Gourd Patch, 6-9
Alan Sweeney and Duane Langworthy
[email protected]
2nd Thursday – Kuna Patch, 6-9 and on
4th Tuesday – Kuna Patch, 1-4
Veletta Murphey [email protected]
3rd Monday – Meridian Patch, 9am, Hobby Lobby
Jim Petty and Shirley Eastman
[email protected]
3rd Thursday – Sunshine Patch, 11-?
Liz Meyer [email protected]
Woodcraft Patch – TBA
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Patch News
The Kuna Patch under the leadership of Veletta Murphey ([email protected], 922-5929 will be
expanding to include a daytime meeting on the 4th Tuesday of each month from 1-4, as well as one in
the evening from 6-9 on the 2nd Thursday. On Thursday evening, February 9 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm and
on February 28th, a Tuesday afternoon, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm her patch will be doing a snail sculpture.
The Sunshine Patch meets at 11 on the third Thursday of each month and is led by IGS President Liz
Meyer. No tentative schedule of classes yet. On the 16th of February they will be viewing the 2nd
Gloria Crane DVD, Creating the Burl Look on a Gourd.
The Meridian Patch, under the leadership of Jim Petty ([email protected], 908-8433 and Shirley
Eastman ([email protected], 288-5557, will meet at Hobby Lobby on the February 20th for an
organizational meeting at 9am in the crafts room.
The Woodcraft Patch will be formed if the members of the IGS vote to change the Bi-laws to two
general meetings a year. They will meet at the Woodcraft location on the second Saturday of the
month from 10 to 1 under the leadership of Jim Petty, Carla Arnold ([email protected], 8676727, and Corlis Kent.
The Doggie Day Patch, under the leadership of Caryn Nicolosi ([email protected], 440-5523
will meet in Melba on the first Thursday of the month from 11 till whenever. Caryn says to bring a
project, and, if you like, your dog (her home is dog-friendly with lots of doggie space).
The Rochester Patch in Caldwell will not meet in February, and will resume its meeting and workshop
on the 14th of March which will focus on selecting quality true gourd seeds and where to find them,
and then ways to get the best germination rate from your seed.
We will also watch a video about the master of Gourd manipulation with Jim Story. The late Jim Story
was responsible for introducing gourd manipulation to the gourd community. The video I purchased
several years ago is very cool and I haven't been able to find copies of it for sale anywhere. It’s a
piece of gourd history you won’t want to miss even if you don't grow gourds.
Future classes/workshops include, Decoupage on gourds, silhouettes or tribal designs on gourds,
Pointillism, Clay, Faux patina and much more.
The Rochester Gourd Patch meets on the second Wednesday of each month from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.
For more information please contact patch leaders, Duane Langworthy or Alan Sweeney at 459-3211 or
[email protected].
Teri Henderson
Plans are underway to bring in gourd artist Teri Henderson from Pocatello, Idaho to teach a
special Saturday class. Teri and her husband, Louis recently moved to Pocatello from
California bring with them a whole new medium to their new community. She has taught at the
Welburn Gourd Festival in California, and is an excellent gourd artist. She is currently
teaching several classes in southeastern Idaho which have sparked interest in gourding and
have created a new group of gourd heads in her area. So keep your eyes and ears open for
dates and times and come support our new local artist.
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Idaho Gourd Society
13362 Chicken Dinner Road
Caldwell, ID 83641
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