Don't miss your chance to attend our upcoming class in January 2024! Click HERE for details.
Come Make Something Beautiful!
Special class coming up! Graham will be teaching a class through Atlas Obscura this Spring, Gourds Gone Wild: Growing and Crafting Gourds with Gourdlandia. Four sessions, Wednesday evenings starting 1/10/2024. Please join us!
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Gourds Gone Wild!
This online class offered through Atlas Obscura is an introduction to gourd growing and crafting both; great for the budding gourd enthusiast! Please join me for four Wednesday evenings starting 1/10/2024. Find out more and register through Atlas Obscura's website. $80
Gourd Globe Light
Transform an ordinary cannonball gourd into a sweet glowing light! You can make any design you choose, or copy one of mine. With the LED bulb (provided), your design will shine beautifully on nearby surfaces. Glass beads can be inserted into some of the holes for a little accent color. The finished light is about 4-6″ across. This class involves drilling lots and lots of little holes! It's a noisy, dusty, fun project, not suitable for people under age 14, or those who would have difficulty with repetitive motion. The project takes 3-4 hours. $65, includes all materials and hardware.
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Night Light
Quick and easy and fun! You start with a gourd already cleaned and attached to a night light switch... all that's missing is the holes. That's where you come in. The tricky part is coming up with a design... but you can do it! This project takes 1-2 hours, and is available whenever Gourdlandia is open; no need to register (this one only). $40
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Pierced Pendants
Make a hanging pendant lamp for your home! Starting with a 5-6 inch round gourd, you'll lay out your simple design, get a lesson on the tools, and then start drilling. This workshop is similar to the ever-popular "globe light" project. Noisy, dusty, and very fun! Not suitable for young people or those who would have difficulty with repetitive motion. The project takes about 5 hours. $75, includes hardware, LED bulb, and everything else!
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Gourd Box
We'll start with a nice thick gourd, and give it a stain and wax finish (or use one I've already stained, same price). We'll practice carving on scraps with a small power tool, and then you'll carve your design on your gourd. I'll saw along the lid line, and then you can clean the gourd innards out, and make the insides smooth. Add a knob, and voilà! A sweet box to keep something fine in. $60, includes all materials.
Gourd Bowl with Pine Needle Rim
This elegant bowl is a classic! Starting with a raw gourd, participants will stain and wax, use hand or power saws to open it, scrape the "gourd guts", and drill holes for the rim. The last step is to sew the pine needles in place. Takes 3-4 hours. Fun and satisfying! $70, includes all materials.
Gourd Basket
A great class for learning gourd-crafting basics! Start with a Martin House (pear-shaped) gourd, and learn to stain and wax, saw and scrape, rasp and shape. Participants will leave with a beautiful functional finished basket! $60.
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SCHEDULE A CLASS
Use this form to contact me; propose a project and a date.
We'll make it happen!
Private or Group Classes
What You Need to Know
I teach classes because I enjoy working with gourds so much! I hope you will too. Unless otherwise specified, classes take place at Gourdlandia, 77 Rachel Carson Way in Ithaca.
Materials are included in the fee. Please bring an apron or clothes that you don’t mind getting stained. I have extra dust masks, and eye protection, but please bring your own if you have them.
Most classes involve power tools and hot or sharp equipment, and are geared towards adults. Please contact me before registering a young person.
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Currently, all classes are by appointment... contact me to set up yours! Get a group together, or come by yourself, and I'll make something with you.
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Bring your buddies & some snacks. It's a party!