2025 PA Gourd Art Show and Festival Theme: Mystical

We started with the simple idea of bringing together the gourd enthusiasts with the community to share the love of gourd art, craft and growing. From our chapter founders to our newest members, we put lots of love and careful thought into all we do. We hope you enjoy all we have to offer at the 2025 PA Gourd Festival and share the experience with others.

Class Schedule:

Friday all day
Choose one. Do not choose a Friday morning or afternoon class.

Kokapelli Wallhanging or Basket- Jen Nailor
Fri, Jun 13
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EDT
$65.00
In this class Jen will share her technique for creating unique centers for pine needle baskets. The Kokopelli center is made with quikwood, enamel paint, and leather. Students will receive a finished center due to the drying time but Jen will explain her process.

Jen will teach the technique to coil the pine needles around the center with beads and finish work. This is an all day class. Students should be able to finish the project either making a wall hanging or basket.

The class is good for beginners or experienced students. Jen will supply all the materials but students should bring nippers and sharp basket scissors (not fabric scissors).

Green Man - Jenn Avery
Fri, Jun 13
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EDT
$86.00
This gourd project class combines pyrography with colored pencil.

The morning session will give you a shading workout as you create the tonal values for a Green Man. Green Men, or more specifically foliate heads are fanciful stone carvings of leafy faces and are found in some medieval churches in Europe.

The afternoon session you will learn how to use colored pencil over the pyrography. I will show you how to layer your pencils for interesting color shifts and how to make it work with the pyrography, not against it.

You will need a variable temperature pyrography tool with a shader.

Everything else will be included for you to finish your Green Man.

You are welcome to bring your own colored pencils if you would like to use different colors.

Friday Morning Classes
Choose only one class from this section.

Sunflower Thunder Drum - Sylvia Bisker
Fri, Jun 13
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT
$51.00
Students will need a woodburner with cutting tool. They will learn how to burn in a pattern and then will be painting it. After that students will learn how to turn their gourd into a thunder drum with a resonating membrane and spring.

Geometric Bowl - Ana Poma
Fri, Jun 13
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT
$76.00
In this class we will use the burning technique with a small torch and for our decoration we will use the eggshell. Students should bring a carver with various drill bits as well as a mask and apron.

"Gourdeous" Giraffes - Judi Fleming
Fri, Jun 13
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT
$56.00
In this class you'll learn how to do balanced armatures in gourds, how to attach items for charming giraffes of different sizes and lots of tips and tricks for QuikWood and shading with painting. ALL supplies are provided for doing this class and no previous experience is necessary. Note: You may not complete this project with the time provided, but you will indeed have all the skills to complete it on your own.

Friday Afternoon
Choose only one class from this section.

Vineyard Bowl (Friday Afternoon) - Ana Poma
Fri, Jun 13
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
$76.00
Students will learn how to use ash with oil to paint vineyard lines. This technique is still applied by traditional Peruvian artists. The combination of ash and oil will give a fine and organic finish to the carving. Students will need a carving tool with a very small round bit. (These are available at Lowe’s) Students should also have an apron and a mask.

Copper and Brass Pendant - Roxan O'BrienFri, Jun 13
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
$54.00
This is your chance to be creative by choosing from many focal cabochons of your choice and create a fun piece of jewelry. You will learn how to set a rivet, how to use metal stamps and learn how to patina metal. No experience needed to create this fun piece.

Checkerboard Basket (Friday) - Jim Anspach
Fri, Jun 13
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
$61.00
This is NOT a beginner’s class. We will be using a 4 rod wale weave to make a checkerboard pattern. Instructor will supply everything that is needed. It is recommended that students bring a towel and apron.

Spiritual Spheroid - Barb Talijan
Fri, Jun 13
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
$81.00
Students will learn some basic off-loom bead weaving techniques to surround their gourd with spokes, loops and swags of beads. Students will be using seed beads, 2 hole Karo or Tila beads and crystals. They will learn how to adjust the pattern to fit different sizes of gourds. All materials will be included in the kit - all beads, beading needle, thread and bead mat. Students will need - fine point scissors, magnification if needed (such as reader glasses), and optionally beeswax.

Stained Glass Butterfly Gourd - Matt Goehring
Fri, Jun 13
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
$61.00
In this class you will learn how to make this faux stained glass gourd. Techniques you will learn are gourd dying and faux stained glass. All materials will be provided. This class is appropriate for all skill levels.

Friday evening
Choose only one class from this section.

Gourd Trinket Box - Sheryl Scott
Fri, Jun 13
6:00 PM - 9:30 PM EDT
$51.00
Students will get to wood burn a design onto a small canteen gourd that has been pre-cut and cleaned out. If time allows, students will get to put Welburn transparent acrylics and ink dyes onto their design. They will also learn to put hinges and add a handle onto the top as well.

Snowfall Ornament - Ana Poma
Fri, Jun 13
6:00 PM - 9:30 PM EDT
$46.00
Create your own snowfall in a small ornament. You will be provided with a small dyed gourd so you can practice carving. A small touch of white paint will bring life to your snowfall. Students will need a carving tool with a very small round bit. (These are available at Lowe’s) Students should also have an apron and a mask.

Time:
June 13, 2025 7:30AM-5:00 PM
Evening Classes 6:00PM-9:30 PM

2025 Class Registration

Pennsylvania Gourd Society’s 2025 Gourd Art Competition