Welcome to Good Gourds

Welcome to "Good Gourds". Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope that you'll enjoy looking at my gourds. I spend many hours cleaning (both the inside and outside), carving, engraving with a wood burner (pyrography) and painting each gourd.
Remember each gourd is a work of nature. Each one is unique with small bumps and irregular curves. If you look closely, each is misshapen just a little bit. I think this adds to their charm. Let me know what you think.
Thanks again,
Suzanne Lancaster

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Carved Monarch Butterfly Gourd with Light Stand

This gourd stands about 5 1/2 inches tall; diameter 5 3/4 inches; circumference 19 inches. One side has a carved bas-relief monarch butterfly painted black and orange with iridescent acrylics. I call this side the daytime side. The other side has an orange butterfly with the background carved away completely so the inside can be seen. This is the nighttime side.

The bottom has a 3 1/4 inch diameter opening and can be placed on an LED light stand (included) that can be turned on in a darkened room. The light stand is about 1 1/4 inches tall and fits just right into the bottom opening of the gourd. Flip the switch on the bottom of the light stand to the left and the LED lights glow and slowly change color from blue to red to green. Turn the switch to the right and the light wildly flashes red. Turn the switch to the middle to turn it off. The light stand comes with 3 AA batteries.

The gourd is finished with 28 small holes covered by small iridescent glass beads framing the butterflies.  The brown sides have been stained with oil colors. The gourd is finished with acrylic sealer.

Contact me (click on my name under "About Me") by email if you're interested in buying it.

Carved Monarch Butterfly Gourd Display
 in Light and in Dark
Carved Butterfly Gourd with Light Stand
turned on and glowing blue

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Leopard Gourd Wall Hanging

This realistic cutout of a leopard's head frightened our pet cat so badly that she hissed and swatted at it when she saw it. It measures 7 inches from top of head to chin; 7 inches wide at the ears. The whiskers (made with cloth-covered florist wire) spread to about 9 inches wide. Its thickness is about 1 3/4 inches as it hangs from the wall. The ears are attached with glue and heavy kraft paper. Brads and picture wire on the back make it ready to hang. It is decorated by pyrography and painted with just a little acrylic paint, then finished with acrylic varnish.


SOLD


Leopard Gourd Wall Hanging

Cheetah Gourd Wall Hanging

This realistic cutout of a cheetah's head can be hung on a wall. It is 7 inches from top of head to chin; 7 1/2 inches wide at the ears. The whiskers (made with cloth-covered florist wire) spread to about 8 1/2 inches wide. Its thickness is about 1 1/2 inches as it hangs from the wall. The ears are attached with glue and heavy kraft paper. Brads and picture wire on the back make it ready to hang. It is decorated by pyrography and painted with just a little acrylic paint, then finished with acrylic varnish.

Contact me (click on my name under "About Me") by email if you're interested in buying it.


Cheetah Gourd Wall Hanging

Springbok Gourd

This gourd has drawings of 3 springboks with acacia trees in the background. Decorated by pyrography then painted with acrylics. The inside is painted with brown acrylics. It is finished with acrylic varnish. It stands 5 1/2 inches tall; 7 inches in diameter; 22 1/2 inch circumference. The top opening is 1 1/2 inches in diameter.

Contact me (click on my name under "About Me") by email if you're interested in buying it.

Springbok Gourd

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Barn with Tetons Gourd

I worked one summer in Grand Teton National Park while in college. What a beautiful place it is! This gourd shows an old barn early settlers built with the Teton Range in the background. The gourd stands approximately 10 1/2 inches tall; 7 1/4 inches diameter; 22 1/4 inches circumference. There is no carving on this gourd. The barns and mountains were drawn with pyrography and finished with acrylic paints. A final coat of acrylic varnish was applied.

Contact me (click on my name under "About Me") by email if you're interested in buying it.

Old Barn with Teton Range in Background

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Carved Rose Vase Gourd

This gourd stands 7 1/2 inches tall; 6 inches in diameter; and circumference is 18 1/2 inches. It has been carved as bas-relief, painted with acrylics and pyro-engraved and finished with acrylic sealer. The inside is not finished and is not water proof. If you use it as a vase, use only dried flowers.

Contact me (click on my name under "About Me") by email if you're interested in buying it.

Carved Rose Gourd Vase

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Carved Oak Leafs Gourd Basket

This is a large gourd, standing about 10 inches tall at the top of the handle. Its diameter is about 10 1/4 inches; the circumference 33 inches. It has 2 real acorns tied with artificial sinew to the bases of the handle. It is painted with leather dye on the outside as well as the inside. The background is carved away from the oak leafs creating a bas-relief effect. It is not waterproof inside. The leafs are painted with acrylics. It is finished with acrylic varnish.

Contact me (click on my name under "About Me") by email if you're interested in buying it.

Carved Oak Leafs Gourd Basket

Monday, January 31, 2011

Giraffe Gourd

Four giraffe portraits are on this gourd. The background is carved away leaving the acrylic-painted giraffes in bas-relief. Each giraffe is surrounded by a background of mottled sky blue and tan in a roughly oval shape and framed by uncarved gourd, where the natural marks and blemishes show through the leather-dyed skin. Leafy branches are painted and pyro-engraved above each giraffe and around the opening. A 3 inch loose-fitting leafy lid is included with a 1/2 inch wooden bead handle. The top opening is approximately 2 inches in diameter. The gourd stands about 5 1/4 inches tall without the lid. With the lid, it stands approximately 6 inches; the gourd is approx. 7 3/4 inch diameter; 24 1/2 inch circumference. It is finished with acrylic varnish.

Contact me (click on my name under "About Me") by email if you're interested in buying it.

Carved Giraffe Gourd

Wolf Gourd

This gourd stands on 3 one-inch long gourd stems. It is engraved by pyrography, painted with acrylics and finished with acrylic varnish. It is painted dark brown inside. It stands at 5 3/4 inches tall; diameter is approximately 5 3/4 inches; circumference 13 1/2 in. One side features a wolf portrait, the other side shows a wolf howling among aspen trees.

Contact me (click on my name under "About Me") by email if you're interested in buying it.

Wolf Gourd

Carved Oak Leafs Gourd

The oak leafs gourd is carved for a slight bas-relief effect, pyroengraved, and painted with acrylics and finished with acrylic varnish. The top and bottom bands are not carved but left natural (except for the clear varnish), showing the stains and marks of the gourd. I also added real acorns randomly across the surface. These are from the Gambel Oak Trees in our yard. It is painted black inside. It stands approximately 7 1/4 inches high; 8 1/2 inch diameter; and has a 26 inch circumference.

Contact me (click on my name under "About Me") by email if you're interested in buying it.

Carved Oak Leafs Gourd with Real Acorns

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Consider the Lilies Gourd

This gourd has part of the Bible verse Matt. 6:28. "Consider the lilies of the field..." Verse 29 (not on the gourd) continues: "I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." The background is carved away giving each lily and the writing a slight bas-relief effect. The anthers and filaments have been added to the center of each flower with floral wire so they extend out away from the gourd about an inch, adding some depth to the flowers. The lilies are carved, outlined with a pyro-engraver and painted with acrylics and acrylic varnish. The top and bottom of the gourd are finished with clear varnish, leaving the natural stains and markings of the uncarved outer shell visible. The interior is finished with black acrylic paint. It stands about 5 1/4 inches tall, 6 3/4 inches diameter, and the circumference is about 20 1/2 inches.

Contact me (click on my name under "About Me") by email if you're interested in buying it.

Consider the Lilies of the Field Gourd

Carved Hummingbirds and Columbines Gourd

This gourd has two hummingbirds; one with yellow iridescent paint shimmering on its back, another with dark iridescent paint. They are hovering above pink and blue columbine flowers. The birds' wing feathers are pyro-engraved showing intricate details of each feather. The background is carved away leaving each flower and bird in bas-relief. It stands on three half-inch wood beads and is about 5 1/2 inches tall; 7 1/2 inch diameter; and has a circumference of 24 inches.

Contact me (click on my name under "About Me") by email if you're interested in buying it.

Carved Hummingbirds and Columbines Gourd

Vinca Periwinkle Vine Gourd

This gourd stands approximately 6 inches tall and has a 6 inch diameter and 21 inch circumference.  It is pyro-engraved, painted with acrylics and leather dye and finished with acrylic sealer. The leather dye and clear sealer allow the natural blemishes of the gourd's shell to shine through. It has dried lavender cotton stems coiled around the top. I carved openings around the vine's flowers and leafs so the black interior can be seen. The periwinkle flowers have also been carved.

Contact me (click on my name under "About Me") by email if you're interested in buying it.

Vinca (Periwinkle) Vine Gourd

Grizzly and Moose with Alaska Mountains Gourd

On one side of this gourd is an Alaska Brown Bear or Grizzly and on the opposite side is a moose. Alaska mountain ranges are in the background. 7 inches diameter; 7 inches tall; circumference 24 inches. Engraved by pyrography, painted with acrylics; finished with acrylic sealer. It stands on four 3/4 inch round wood beads. Dried lavender cotton stems are coiled around the top.

Contact me (click on my name under "About Me") by email if you're interested in buying it.

Grizzly and Moose with Alaska Mountains Gourd

Lavender Cotton Coiling Around the Top

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Cougar Gourd

Engraved by pyrography and painted with acrylics. This cougar gourd stands approximately 5 1/4 inches tall and is about 5 1/2 inches in diameter; circumference is 18 1/2 inches. It stands on 3 half-inch gourd stems. One side shows a cougar portrait, the other shows a cougar standing on red rocks. The irregular opening on the top follows the rock contours.

Contact me (click on my name under "About Me") by email if you're interested in buying it.

Cougar Gourd