Gourd Art and Leather Crafts by Amï Diallo

How to clean gourds:
It's a complicated process to get to the point where a gourd can be prepared for art.
1. The gourd has to be dried for a bowl or a complicated art piece, 6 months to 2 years. Natural drying is the best.

2. The outer cuticle must be removed. This can easily be done by draping wet towels over the gourd for a couple days.

3. Decide by looking at the gourd, what it wants to become — a birdfeeder, a dipper, an art piece or pitcher?

Note: Don't mistake the mold on the gourd as it dries that it is rotten and no good; it is not. Be patient.

4. Sketch on the gourd the design you want, where the opening will be if it is to be a feeder, which areas are to be painted.

5. Scrape out all the interior material and seeds.

6. Sand both surfaces, inside and out.

Now your gourd is ready to become your art piece.

Gourds: Southwest Gourd Techniques & Projects from Simple to Sophisticated by Bonnie Gibson. This is a lovely book on crafting Southwest Gourd Art. Purchase this book at Amazon.com.

The Complete Book of Gourd Carving This wonderful volume introduces every tool and technique, offers fabulous projects that advance in difficulty. You can purchase it through Amazon.com.

• Wuertz Farm www.wuertzfarm.com in Case Grande, AZ, specializes in Arizona grown hardshell gourds such as bushel, birdhouse, canteen, and dipper. 520-723-4432.

• The American Gourd Society promotes interest in all activities relating to gourds: cultivation, historical uses, gourd show competition, craftwork and more.

Books on how to select, craft and design leather products:

• Leathercraft for beginners, www.leathercraftsecrets.com

• The Leatherworking Handbook: A Practical Illustrated Sourcebook of Techniques and Projects