Wearable Musical Instrument: Gourd Drum Necklace

This tiny drum is a wearable musical instrument made from a naturally-grown miniature gourd. The drum head is organic rawhide, wet and stretched over the carefully-fashioned, decorated gourd in the style used in native cultures for centuries, using large gourds. I'm pleased with the drumming sound from this little gem. The head is stretched with natural hemp cord, which also forms the cord for the necklace. The cord can be shortened for use as an ornament.
Decoration is in American Southwest style, displaying a pictograph of a horse and buffalo, typical of the art of equine artist Ruella Yates. The art is sealed in matte finish. Vintage artisan-crafted wood beads accent the drum.
The drum is 2.5" long and 2" wide/deep.
45.00 + 6.00 shipping

If you prefer, contact me to send a money order.

Also available is a package of 10 seeds taken from this gourd when I created the drum. It will be planting time soon, and next year you could try your hand at making wearable art with gourds.
2.00 + 1.00 shipping

Dipper Gourd: Follow the Drinkin' Gourd

Follow the drinkin' gourd,
Follow the drinkin' gourd,
For the old man is awaitin' for to carry you to freedom
If you follow the drinkin' gourd.
--1800s song

The "drinkin' gourd" alludes to the hollowed-out gourd used by pre-emancipation slaves and other rural Americans as a water dipper. Used here it is a code name for the Big Dipper star formation, which points to Polaris, the Pole Star, and North, and freedom.  It was part of the Underground Railroad.

This unique piece of usable art is made from an organically-grown gourd from the gardens at Spirit Horse Ranch.      Carefully carved and shaped to be used as a drinking vessel, the gourd is coated with natural beeswax hardened with organic damar crystals.  It is completely safe for drinking.  The dipper is designed with the image of the 'big dipper' star formation, created in blue encaustic on both sides of the gourd.  The dipper has a leather thong on the end, for decorative hanging.
Dipper gourds for purchase will be posted soon.

A packet of 10 seeds from this gourd, which is suitable for making dippers, bowls, rain sticks, etc. is 2.00, with 1.00 shipping.  You may purchase by credit card through PayPal below, or contact me to send a money order.

Gourd Processing: From plants to preparation as an art medium

I planted several varieties of gourds from saved seeds, given to me from 2009 gourds.  Fertilized with manure from the horses at Spirit Horse Ranch, the plants grew organically and quickly.

The lovely lacy blossoms were pollinated by a neighbor's bees.

Here's a dipper gourd growing.  My dippers and bowls were made from this variety.

When the gourds were mature, I harvested.  Here the frozen, dead vines tell the story of a bountiful harvest.

Using 10% bleach water, I scrubbed the gourds to stop mold growth, and dried them in the winter sun.

Curing on a wood pallet, the gourds became nature's art in a snow storm.

Cleaning and scraping came next, leaving the natural characteristics of each gourd as formed by insects, molds, and nature's whims.

I marked the gourds with pencil for a cutting line, and then started the cut with an X-acto knife.

Using an electric jigsaw, I inserted the blade in the pre-cut hole and made a smooth cut all the way around.

Next step:  Cleaning the interior and saving seeds for 2011's planting!

A bowl in progress

Dippers and bowls in progress

I sanded the cut edges with a dremel sanding attachment.