Gourds with Southwestern Motifs Rainsticks, Masks, Vessels & More

Gourds make the perfect three-dimensional canvas. With their varied sizes and shapes, they're nature's gift to the crafter, who can use a multitude of techniques to transform them into breathtaking pieces with Southwestern flavor. Cut them, carve them, paint them, inlay them with stone, or embellish them with leather, fur, feathers, and botanicals: the magnificent possibilities are all featured in this splendid guide, which covers all the crafting basics. Find out how to choose the right gourd (or grow your own); what safety procedures to follow; how to clean, cut, and smooth the gourd; and which tools and decorative materials to use. The 21 projects range from rattles and vessels to masks and rainsticks.

Bonnie Gibson is a self-taught artist who has won numerous awards for her work in scale miniatures, woodcarving, scrimshaw, and other three-dimensional art forms. Her articles have appeared in numerous magazines and her work has been featured in books, including The Complete Book of Gourd Carving and Beyond the Basics: Gourd Art.