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Note: If using Outlook click the above bar where it says “Click to download photos” The photos are the best part!
On the left is Priscilla Wilson and on the right Janice Lymburner. Priscilla creates most of the art and Janice looks after the business end. Between the two of them they have a wealth of talent and experience!
In This Issue: We are honoured to feature Georgia natives Priscilla Wilson and Janice Lymburner, owners of The Gourd Place. Priscilla and Janice's business has expanded considerably during the past 32 years and these women have done it all. Most of all they had a dream and through the ups and downs of life their dreams came true. Their story is both fascinating and inspiring.  Gourd poetry we delight in! Our pal David Dix has written a poem that will bring a smile to anyone who has ever grown a gourd vine! David is an extremely intelligent man who has a way with words, and we have included for your own enjoyment, a link into his blog The Waukesha Sewer Raccoon News. Last but not least, for those of you with young children, we have a movie introduction where one of the main characters is a small bottle gourd. Yes he talks and jumps and even seeks adventures. So there you go...enjoy!
Co-Owners of THE GOURD PLACE
 Janice modeling an avant-gourde mask. It takes a certain amount of courage to come up with an idea and run with it. In 1977 it was particularily difficult as women weren't always encouraged in the realm of business, and the options for women were limited compared to today's standards.
Enter Priscilla Wilson and Janice Lymburner. Against all odds these two women began living the gourd life, and now, 3 decades later, they run a retail shop and a museum, have several diverse product lines (all nature related), gourd gardens and wildflower displays in the summer, and most recently, Priscilla published a book called Gourd Girls. Trials and tribulations have plagued them on occasion and insurmountable problems have cropped up over the years, but throughout it all, the situation was eased with humour, pure determination and the support of friends and family.  Priscilla and Janice are partners both in business and in life. Back in 1977 they were both teaching yet Priscilla knew that it was not really for her. Despite the sharp learning curve ahead of her she took the leap and delved into growing gourds. The first couple of crops were a challenge. If only those gourds could produce as easily as those rural weeds they would be in business! With the help of friends they finally did get a good crop from both their own fields and the fields that they rented. At harvest time an annual tradition began at The Gourd Place, and within a few years Priscilla and Janice's harvest parties had became legendary.  1987 Gourd Gathering Party Each harvest party had a theme, a dinner and a ceremony to follow. Invitations were sent out far and wide. In 1987 the invitation read as follows: Dear Prospective Gamma Alpha Gamma Gamma Initiates: We trust that you are as delighted to receive this sacred invitation as we are to extend it to you in this our 10th year. A moving and awe-inspiring ritual of initiation awaits you. Please study your metaphysics, fast for five days, and limber up in preparation for the ceremony. Yours in the mystery of the gourd....  This gourd faced monkey greets you in the gourd garden.
During the winter of 1977 Priscilla bought her first gourd tools and began to create gourd art. She began with wood burning and then invested in a Dremel with which she began carving. She loved the effect of the carving and became quite expert at it. She began experimenting with dyes and various other mediums and as a natural progression of things, began signing up at the local craft shows.
During this time Janice was still teaching but on weekends and in the evenings she would be at Priscilla's side contributing with ideas and hard work. During this time they began to visualize opening a shop. They continued to do shows and their dream of something more permament flourished. In 1983 they built their first shop and in 1991 moved to their current location where they make Gourd Impressions pottery as well as gourd art.  Gourd Impressions Pottery
The Gourd Place began with gourd art and throughout the years has developed new product lines and interests. Gourd art is still well loved by the buying public. In addition, for the crafters in the crowd, there is Gourd Intentions, which features raw gourds and supplies plus there is a museum which presents gourds from around the world.
Wildflowers have always been a part of Priscilla's life and in 1988 she developed a new product line which included a wholesale/retail T-shirt business. The sale of books, seeds and prints filled the new wildflower shop at The Gourd Place. Large swathes of wildflower gardens in bloom still continue to give pleasure to customers every year.
In 2000 Gourd Impressions, gourd influenced pottery, was born. In 2006 the technique was patented and in 2008 a licensing agreement with the Pottery Barn, a large home furnishing business, was completed allowing Pottery Barn to copy a couple of the bowls.
The lastest addition is a fabulous jewelry line called Sticks and Stone-Wear. This will be added to the website soon so keep your eyes open.
Every December The Gourd Place participates in the Foothills Guild Studio Tour. Mark it on your calenders - directions are on the website.
 The Gourd Place has a beautiful retail space.
To close Priscilla would like to add these words:
"I am deeply thankful that I chose the path I did, unlikely as it was, and stayed on this path - most of all because I have experienced the Creative Force in increasingly profound ways. As the years have gone by and I have continued to create, I've become more and more aware of the connection that is strengthened when I am able to open to this force and trust that it is with me. This has led me to a belief that the reason people find such meaning in art - in whatever form - is because the act of creation that brought it into being connects all who experience it with the ultimate Creative Force!"
"There are no words really for the depth of my gratitude for this. I have struggled throughout my adult life to find a theology, and it was right here with me."
Note: All black and white photos were taken from the book Gourd Girls.
To learn more about The Gourd Place click here:
Thank you Priscilla and Janice for contributing your interesting story to this newsletter. We realize that Priscilla was the main character in this article but at the same time we know that it would not have happened without Janice who worked at much of the 'behind the scenes' development.
We hope to meet you again and probably will at another gourd event in the upcoming year. All the best to you and thank you...Carolyn and Linda
Northern Dipper Happenings
 This looks like way too much fun! This group of friends are on a 3-day retreat and dropped by Northern Dipper to say hello and pick up a few supplies. Visitors from every walk of life participate in the workshops offered at Northern Dipper. Following is Jessica who is visiting from London, England.  Jessica is in her second year of school studying for her Masters at the Industrial Design at the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. She has a fine art and furniture design background. Gourds are quite a fascination for Jessica and she plans to take another workshop when she is back during spring break.  For more info about the Northern Dipper workshops click here: http://www.northerndipper.com/workshops_custom.php
Dear Carolyn
Dear Carolyn, I have a problem and hope you can help me. I bought the most perfect gourd that I have been looking at for two months. I now know what I am going to do with it. (I had to wait until the gourd goddess spoke to me.) Last night I finally washed it and my heart sank when I found a couple of cracks in the shell. Is there anything I can do to save it? June Bloom - Regina, Sask. Hi June,
I know too well that sinking feeling when a crack or a blemish is found. It happens to us all at least once. Do not be dismayed - all is not lost. Sometimes cracks or blemishes can be incorporated into the art but sometimes they can't. Here is a solution:
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 sandpaer. 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.
Let me know how it works out for you. Send a picture of your finished project. We would love to see it.
Good luck,
Carolyn
 Canada Blooms Display 2008
Hello Northern Dipper,
I saw you at the Canada Blooms Garden Show last year and am wondering if you will be there again this year.
JP - Toronto, Ont.
Hi JP,
The spring shows begin in March and we will be exhibiting at two of the best. From March 5 - 8th we will be at the Stratford Garden Festival. It is small, intimate, with high end vendors and displays. Canada Blooms, March 18 - 22 is large, exciting, a real rush for both customers and vendors alike. To view the Northern Dipper show schedule click here:
See you there,
Carolyn Reader's Corner
Hello there Northern Dipper, Here is something you two gourd people might like to know about. It is a children's film called "The Secret of the Magic Gourd." Disney once again captures the magic and imagination of childhood. The film is about a curious boy who catches a mythical, magical gourd while fishing. Little does he realize the adventures that he and the magic gourd will be having together! Tim Cooper Thank you Tim for the tip. This kid's movie will be out in the U.S. and Canada on January 27, 2009. Looks like fun. Carolyn and Linda To learn more about this film click here: To view a trailer on YouTube click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx6LIIv0wzg&feature=related  For those of us who live in a cold climate February is the longest, most awful month of the year. Fill your house with tulips & other flowers-it's guaranteed to be a mood enhancer.
NEXT ISSUE: We have followed next month's featured artist for some time now. Claude Francoeur, a French Canadian woman who grew up in Quebec, Canada, has always been a creative person involved in many different forms of art and play. Claude states that she never found her "niche" until she visited the South-West and fell in love with gourds. She learned gourd art from her sister who resides in Arizona and since 2004 has been producing some outstanding art. Her style is very individual and we are very excited that she will be paying us a visit in the next issue of Gourd Fever. We received a letter last month regarding Danish Coil. This coil is a man-made fibre approximately 1/8" in diameter. It is used for gourd rims among other things. Next month we will be doing a tutorial using Danish Coil and as you know, once you have the basics down, the rest is easy.  February 14 is Valentine’s Day and it always brings to mind the lovely valentine's lamp that Ontario artist Lois Dean designed. Here is a link to the tutorial that Lois contributed to Gourd Fever. Once in click on Issue 12.
Cheers for now, see you next month...
Carolyn Cooper and Linda Bond
PS If you have any stories, ideas or photos that you would like to contribute to this newsletter please send to info@northerndipper.com |
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