Note: If using Outlook click the above bar where it says “Click to download photos”  This Issue has many photos so it may take a couple of extra minutes to download. 


     

  Gourd Mask by Featured Artist Cedar Wallace

In This Issue: Welcome to this month's Issue of Gourd Fever. We are honored to present West Coast artist Cedar Wallace, whose work has inspired both novice and experienced artists alike. We are also pleased to offer two tutorials on how to use Apoxie Sculpt. We are now selling this versatile product and those who have used it, rave about it!
 
Our expert 'Dear Carolyn' will be visiting to answer your gourding questions and as promised, a report and photos from the Ohio Gourd Festival. It's November, a very gourdly month, so lets get busy and have some delicious fun!

 We like to save you money...
November Is "Great Sales" Month
  at Northern Dipper.  
 
Mini Gourds 
(Includes Bottle, White Ball & White Egg)
75 cents each 
 50 for $35.00
 100- $65.00
 
20% off all: Apples, Warties
and Dippers
 
 
 
10% off: Kettles 
 
15% off: Guatemalan Gourds
 (A cleaning charge of $1.50 will be applied to
the Guatemalan gourds)
 
Sales are applicable for both Internet orders
and farm visits.
Must be shipped in the month of November.
   To view dried gourds click here.

 
For  DIRECTIONS To Northern Dipper
 
To view a map of the location of Northern Dipper
 
 To print out our map click here. 
http://www.northerndipper.com/map.pdf 

 
Cedar Wallace
"Paper-making, basketry, and embellishing
all seemed to come together when
I met the gourds."
 
Cedar Wallace is a fibre artist and papermaker from Hornby Island, British Columbia who exhibits her work across Canada. She teaches basketry, feltmaking and papermaking and her focus has primarily been working with felt, gourds, paper and basketry.
 
    
 In addition to creating unique art, Cedar also teaches, educates and participates in many gallery exhibits.
 
I have been working in gourds for about 10 years. Judging by the supplies I have, you would think it has been a lifetime, but I believe it is ten to twelve years. I was given a gourd as a present from my sister in law and it wasn't until about a year later that I actually looked closely at it.

It was then I started to research this natural art form. Having had a basketry background, I wove in cedar bark and small twining work. After several days I began to embellish and was attracted to the instant form and the freedom to embellish in such a variety of ways.
 
           

Musical Instrument
 
I have experience in paper making utilizing natural fibres. Using the lining of the gourd, I mixed it with abaca and linen linters and found I just loved that the paper-making, basketry, and embellishing seemed to come together when I met the gourds.Gourds became another  natural medium for me. 

 

    
  Cedar Having Fun
 
I joined the California Gourd Society, as there wasn't one in Canada, and the American Gourd Society, to gleam more info on gourds, and began to order from a farm, The Gourd Factory, which has since gone out of business. They would ship gourds to me sight unseen and I would love the surprise awaiting in each box. 
 
   
 
Soon my addiction was in full stride and with the help of many friends in the gourd world, and an abundance of tools, I have managed to stay obsessed with them...learning to woodburn, carve, inlay, and stain and weave my way into bliss. People into gourds have been so sharing with their techniques, tools and suppliers, that it has made my life much easier on this gourd adventure. And an adventure, as you can well imagine, it will continue to be.
     
     

                      Bowl with a Pine Needle Rim
 
To view more of Cedar's artworks click here.   
 
To learn more about Hornby Island where Cedar resides click here.
 
  
 Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada
 
 Cedar - We have admired both you and your work since we discovered you six years ago. Thank you very much for
sharing your art and your gourd adventures with us. 
We enjoyed it immensely.
 
 (All photos for this article were provided by Cedar Wallace)

The Ohio Gourd Festival...
Why did it end so soon!
A report and photos by Lois Dean
 
   

  This green peeled gourd really stood out amid the Halloween  gourds displayed at the Ohio Gourd Festival Oct 30 - Nov 1.

 

Lois Dean and four of her fellow HOG’s (Happy Ontario Gourders) attended the Ohio Gourd Festival and returned home so excited they thought they were going to burst. They met so many friendly people, learned many new techniques and quite frankly just inhaled the creativity which surrounded them. To sum it up Lois stated “It was like being in gourd heaven. No one wanted it to end.”

 

There was a large display of competition gourds – everything from seasonal items (Halloween and Christmas) to birdhouses, sculpture, instruments – there was even a little dog house which received many comments!  There were many happy winners by the end of the weekend with more than enough categories and ribbons to go around. 
 
  
Gourd Mask
 
Workshops were held in a very large room and the public could go in to watch and meet all the teachers. There was a good selection of classes - 6 or 7 on the Saturday, 4 on the Sunday and Friday classes as well. Bonnie Gibson's classes were packed with at least 12 students in every class… "She is awesome and a very nice person…we enjoyed her very much."
 
  
Gourd Grouping
 
There were many Vendors including Turtle Feathers, Primitive Originals and The Caning Shop. Lois could not find any carving burrs but there was lots of everything else.  "I spent a few hours going through each booth – it was exciting – a bit like being a kid at Christmas only better."
 

Gourd Easter Eggs and Ornaments
 
Would Lois go again? "Darn right, I am already marking the days on my 2007 calendar! Hope to see you there."
Lois Dean

 

To view more photos of the Ohio Gourd Festival click here to link with Lois Dean's album.
 
To learn more about the history of the Ohio Gourd Festival click here.
 
To learn more about Jim Story and tips on molding  gourds click here.
 
Lois Dean is an artist, teacher and gourd ambassador at various
public venues. Thank you Lois for sending in this report.
As always, it was a pleasure. 

 The Basics of Using Apoxie Sculpt
  
Apoxie Sculpt - Easy to use with an easy clean-up.
 
Apoxy Sculpt is a two part sculpt that possesses the merits of both a clay and an epoxie. 
 
Apoxie Sculpt needs to be kneaded together for at least two minutes. If not mixed correctly, it will not dry correctly. It air dries in approx 2-3 hours so do not mix more than you can use.
 
It will be sticky when you mix it and the occasional dipping of fingers in water will help with this. Tools you are working with can also be dipped in water. Clean up is a snap – simply use soap and water or for an easier clean up use "Safety Solvent."
 
Following is a Christmas tutorial to get you started with Apoxie Sculpt. As you can see it can transform a simple gourd into an elegant decoration. This would be a great project to do with the kids on a snowy Saturday afternoon.
 
 Tutorial 1:  Christmas Ornaments Using
Apoxie Sculpt and Gilders Paste
( 6 easy steps are to the right in the sidebar.)

 The nose, hat and scarf of the snowman were formed with Apoxie Sculpt.
 
 The Final Step: Let It Dry and Then Embellish!

 
NOTE: While pieces are first drying, keep an eye out for any sagging. If it does sag, gently push back into place. Wash hands well to remove any sculpt, clean tools with soap and water or for easier clean- up use the" Safety Solvent." 
 
Tutorial 2: Summer Flowers, Leaves
& Berries by Sherry Goshon
 

Summer Flowers, Leaves and Berries by Sherry Goshon
 
This month Gourd Fever is linking into a tutorial by Sherry Goshon. It is full of Apoxie Sculpt tips and this project would make a beautiful gift for someone on your Christmas list. The gourd used is a Kettle gourd.  

 

To view the Apoxie Sculpt Tutorial by Sherry Goshon click here. 
 
To learn more about Apoxie Sculpt click here.

Gourd Sightings 
  
Musician in Washington Square Park, NY, playing a shekere.

Dear Carolyn!
Dear Carolyn,

I just finished cleaning the outside of the most perfect gourd that I had planned on painting an Old Time Santa on and much to my dismay I found two cracks in the shell. Is there anything I can do to save it!!

Ruth Sebastian - Virginia
 

  

This gourd had a slight crack in it. Once mended the
crack is invisible.
Dear Ruth,
We have all had times where we have the perfectly shaped gourd for a project but once cleaned find some sort of a blemish or crack. Sometimes these can be incorporated with your art but other times it cannot. 
 
Small holes and marks can easily be fixed by filling with regular wood fill sold at any hardware store. It is easy – all you have to do is fill the hole with wood fill, let dry and then sand with 150 grit sandpaper. A few layers may be required to make it even or flush with the rest of the gourd. Always remember thin layers are much better than thick layers. 

 

For cracks you should take an extra step and drill a small hole at either end of the crack - do not touch the crack but place just before the beginning and end of the crack. This will stop the crack from growing any larger. Then just fill the drilled holes and crack with wood fill, let dry and gently sand.

 

Happy painting,

Carolyn
 

To send in questions to Dear Carolyn! click here.


  Remembrance Day 
"Lest We Forget" 
   
 There are 2338 Canadians buried here near Nijmegan , Netherlands. They were killed near the end of the
World War 2 in 1945.
 
On November 11, at 11:00 AM, we pause to remember the sacrifice of those men and women who have sacrificed their lives for freedom during the First World War (1914 - 1918), the Second World War (1939 - 1945), the Korean War (1950 - 1953) and for those who continue to serve today.
 
Near Nijmegen, Holland, there is a large war memorial and cemetary for Canadian soldiers. The Dutch people are extremely respectful of the Canadian soldiers that died to liberate Holland and this final resting place is both peaceful and sad.
 
To learn more about Remembrance Day click here.
 
To learn more about the Grosbeek War Memorial in the Netherlands click here.
 

NEXT ISSUE:  We are very excited about the December Issue of Gourd Fever. Our featured artist will be Pat Boyd, an award-winning US artist, whose extraordinary gourd sculpture conveys the daily life and emotion of the people of Kenya, Africa. As Christmas will be right around the corner we will have a seasonal tutorial along with a few other surprises. See you then...
                              Carolyn Cooper and Linda Bond

Happy Workshop Students Holding Their Finished Goblins
 
Northern Dipper offers some interesting workshops from Basic to Sculpting. Don’t forget you can also sample products at our retail shop before you buy. Please note our winter hours are now in effect – call for an appointment from Monday – Friday at 705/435-3307. Saturday and Sunday are still drop-in days. On these days the hours are 10:00 AM - 5 PM.
 
To view our workshop schedule click here.

Back issues of our newsletter Gourd Fever are on our Website. If you have missed any issues there are some fasinating featured artists, interesting tutorials and grow information you may want to check out.

 

PS If you have any stories or ideas that you would like to contribute to this newsletter please send to info@northerndipper.com

 

Volume 2, Number 22

www.northerndipper.com 

Email: info@northerndipper.com

 
In this Issue: 
Featured Artist - Cedar Wallace - Art In Harmony With Nature
 
The Ohio Gourd Festival - Why did it end so soon!
 
Tutorials:  Apoxie Sculpt
Hits The Mark With 2 Tutorials
 
Dear Carolyn!
 
Gourd Sightings & Trivia

Gourd Harvest
  

If you have not harvested your crop do it now. When cutting from the vine, leave 2" – 3” of stem attached to the gourd. The key to successful drying is good air circulation so get them up off the ground, particularly in snowy, wet climates. If you only have a few gourds, get onion bags and hang them from your trees. For a larger crop put them up on pallets in a cold garage or leave them outside. The ice & snow will not hurt them. Do not - I repeat - do not take them in your house and put them on your mantle! Lastly clean up your gourd patch for the winter. 
Green peeling can happen any time after harvest. Green peeling is simply the process of scraping off the thin waxy outer coating or skin (the epidermis), which covers the gourd. Using a knife with a straight blade gently scrape the epidermis off. Be careful - do not scratch or mark the gourd shell. Wipe with a mild solution of water and bleach or dish soap every week until dry.
 
Many carvers like to green peel as the shell dries with no markings. Green peeling will also hasten the drying process.
Note: If the gourds shrivel and crack during the drying process it was because the gourd wasn’t mature.

  NEW WINTER HOURS
As of November 1st...  
 Monday – Friday
  Call ahead at 705-435-3307 to set up an appointment.
 
 Sat and Sun - Drop-In Days
10 AM – 5 PM

Cedar Wallace's
Beetles and Other Island Creations 
"Living on a small island, (pop. 900) which has more than its share of artists, as well as stones, bones, and anything in nature that one could need, it was more than conducive to the embellishment process." 
 
 
 
Cedar’s beetles in their luminous splendor.
 
 
 
 
Ooops!
 
 

Cedar's art evokes a reverence for nature's cyclic regeneration.

 
 
Lamp 
 
 
Close-up of the detail in the base
of the lamp. 
 
 
     
   
Using guitar recycled pegs, guitar strings for the hair, and other pieces of recycled guitars, Cedar created these
fun figures.
 
"Sheep Thrills"
Cedar’s new line of novelty yarns are thrice spun with bombyx silks, silk thread, bouclé and mohair blends. Each skein is unique and exotic. These kits would be a wonderful gift for the knitters on your Christmas list.

  Ohio Festival 2006 
 
The theme this year was ‘Hats Off To Jim Story’ Jim loved everything about gourds and was legendary for his amazing twisted sculptural dipper gourds.  (Photo by Jim Ballard)
 
 
 A successful gourd fest offers many interactive venues in which the audience can participate. Here
people are learning to drum.
 
 
  There were beautiful entries in the Competition Categories. Here is a
wood burned bison which is
significant in Aboriginal culture.
 
 
This colourful gourd won a Blue
Ribbon at this years festival.
 
 
  Left is a functioning gourd fountain
and to the right, a small gourd doghouse. 
  
 
Gourd Instruments 
 
 
 The Ohio Gourd Festival offered a
very good Make & Take section which was popular with Festival goers.
 

CHRISTMAS TUTORIAL IN 6
EASY STEPS
Tutorial # 1 - Ornaments
 
STEP 1
 Required Tools

- 2-Part Apoxie Sculpt

- Mini gourds of your choice

- Water

- Saran Wrap

- Pointed tool, needle or whatever works for you.

- Embellishments of your choice
 
For colour I used  Rich Gold and Pinotage Gilders Paste.
- Add tassels if you desire.
 
STEP 2
    For this project, two equal
       parts approximately the
     size of a quarter was used.  
     Knead togeather mixing well
         for at least 2 minutes.
 
STEP 3
  

Form these shapes according to what size looks good on your gourd. Top row is for the top of the gourd and the bottom row is for the bottom of the gourd.

 

STEP 4 
 
Place the pre-formed pieces on the gourd. Smooth and shape
the pieces making sure you smoothly feather the pieces onto the gourd so there are
no join lines where the sculpt joins the gourd.
 
STEP 5
Roll a thin piece for the side decoration.  Press lines on it to make a "roping effect."
 
STEP 6
Your pieces will be dried by the next day. You can make a hole in the top while sculpt is wet or you can easily drill a hole once dried. 


  Gourd Sightings
New York, New York 
 
 
During our holiday in New York a few weeks ago, we came across a tea shop which sells mate and gourd mate cups. This is a poster which was
 in the store.
 
There was a large assortment of
gourd mate cups to choose from.
 
The owner of the tea shop.
 
The guy in the suit stops for a little jam
session. It is a great way to blow off a little steam before heading for home.
 
Washington Square Park was where they filmed Searching For Bobby Fisher. This film was based on the story of chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin.

 Grosbeek War Memorial
The Netherlands
 

 

 
 
 My Father's Brother
 
Remembrance Day Poppies
Designed & Published by
Pam Grossi
1535 Myrtle Ave
Victoria, BC, V8R 2Z7
250/598-9674
 Email:

 Northern Dipper Farm
5376 County Rd 56, RR # 2
Cookstown, Ont, L0L 1L0
705/435-3307
 
http://stats.r12g.us/home Forward this newsletter to a friend Unsubscribe from this newsletter
Northern Dipper Farm - 1666 Villa Nova Road RR1, Wilsonville, Ontario, N0E1Z0, Canada