Something to Smile About
June 19th, 2008
| “Wow! I can’t believe that’s a gourd!” |
Join Us This Weekend for the Gourd Art Festival!
Want something to smile about? Then get out of your daily grind and come enjoy the Gourd Art Festival this Saturday and Sunday, June 21st and 22nd! See why thousands of people travel from all across the
country and even around the world for this incredible event.
You’ll enjoy 48 booths of exhibitors with everything from hand-crafted gourds and fine gourd art to gourd books, tools, and supplies! (pictured right, gourd art by Bill Colligen)
Be sure to stop by the GourdMaster™ booth to see the fabulous new line of 30 Gourd Ink Dye colors (and take advantage of special festival prices!), plus watch the live demonstrations and learn how to make create incredible looks in your gourd art!
(pictured left, new Ink Dyes with artwork in background by Heidi Anne Sanger)
See live entertainment, including Evren Ozan (pictured right), performing Saturday, June 19th, 2008 at 12:00 p.m. and again at 2:00 p.m., plus the “magical latin rhythms” of Tinku, performing live throughout the weekend.
The Gourd Art Competition, brought to you by the California Gourd Society, features some of the most spectacular gourd art you will find — a “Must See” at the event!
(Pictured left, “Passing the Feather” gourd art by Carrie Dearing)
Have fun making your own gourd in the Gourd Crafting Arena (proceeds benefit the California Gourd Society), or enjoy relaxing in the Wine Garden (proceeds benefit the Fallbrook Village Rotary Club).
(Pictured right, gourd kachina by Pamela Redhawk)
FREE Gift With Purchase:
Browse the racks of thousands of dried gourds, both cleaned and uncleaned, and discover the fun of gourd crafting for yourself!
Festival Special: When you purchase $25 or more in gourds, you’ll receive a FREE copy of “The Beginner’s Guide to Gourd Crafting” in printed form — an $11.95 value!
Sign Up for a Gourd Class and Bring a Friend at Half Price!
Sign up now for any of the 9 exciting Gourd Art Classes with open space this Friday before the festival (that’s June 20th), and bring a friend for half-price!
To see the list of gourd classes, click here, then register by calling our office at 1-877-420-2613 or by doing “walk-in” registration Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. (classes start at 9:00 a.m. and go to 4:00 p.m.)
Get Your Discounted Festival Tickets Now:
Tickets at the gate are $9.00 (children 12 and under admitted free), but you pay just $8.00 when you buy in advance. (You can pick up tickets at Will Call.) Get your tickets now - click here!
For directions to the Gourd Art Festival, click here.
Festival Dates and Times:
Saturday, June 21st, 2008 - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
See you at the Festival!
Gourdially Yours,
The 12th Annual Int’l Gourd Art Festival
Half Price Gourd Art Classes
June 17th, 2008
| Gourd Art Classes Wed, Thur, Fri - Bring a Friend for Half Price! |
Sign Up Now for a “Festival-Week” Gourd Art Class
and Bring a Friend for HALF PRICE!
Thought you waited too long to sign up for a Gourd Art Class? Think again! Now you can take advantage of a special offer for last-minute sign ups and walk-in registrations!
(Pictured left, “Metal Leafing on Gourds,” taught by Gloria Crane)
Sign up now for any of the 20 exciting Gourd Art Classes with open space, happening Wednesday, Thursday, and Fir day before the festival (that’s this week, June 18th, 19th, and 20th, 2008), and bring a friend for half-price!
Plus, if you sign up for a class all 3 days (Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday) at full price, you’ll get a FREE admission ticket to the Gourd Art Festival, happening this Saturday and Sunday, June 21st and 22nd, 2008.
(Pictured right, “Friendship Gourd” class, taught by Monique Winfree)
There are so many great classes, you may have trouble choosing!
Remember, Gourd Festival time is when teachers travel from across the country and around the world to be here, so you have the opportunity to learn from gourd art experts who are in the area only for a few days.
(Pictured above, “Peruvian Carving” class with Tito Medina from Peru.)
What happens if you want to take one class and your friend another? You still get the “half price” deal on your friend’s class! This is an incredible offer and space may fill fast as a result, so register now:
(Pictured right, “Coiling Pine Needles with Driftwood” class with Toni Best.)
To take advantage of the “Bring a friend for half-price” deal, first make your class selection from the online class schedule, then call our office now at 1-877-420-2613.
Classes start at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. For “walk-in” registrations please arrive at 8:30 a.m. or earlier (and keep in mind, the best way to make sure you get the class you want is to register by phone in advance).
Take advantage of the SPECIAL OFFER to bring a friend for half-price to a Gourd Art Class. See the class list by clicking here, then call our office to register at 1-877-420-2613.
Get Your Discounted Festival Tickets Now:
Tickets at the gate are $9.00 (children 12 and under admitted free), but you pay just $8.00 when you buy in advance. (You can pick up tickets at Will Call if there is not time to mail them.)
Order discounted Gourd Festival Tickets now — Click here!
(Pictured right, “Hope Girl” gourd art by exhibiting artist, Carrie Dearing.)
For directions to the Gourd Art Festival, click here.
Festival Dates and Times:
Saturday, June 21st, 2008 - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
See you at the Festival!
Gourdially Yours,
The 12th Annual Int’l Gourd Art Festival
Gourd Art that will truly amaze you
June 12th, 2008
| Come See Gourd Art that Will Leave You Breathless! |
The Gourd Art Festival Is Almost Here
Join us for the 12th Annual International Gourd Art Festival, happening Saturday and Sunday, June 21st and 22nd, 2008 at the Welburn Gourd Farm in Fallbrook, CA!
You’ll see some of the most spectacular gourd art ever created and witness how a raw gourd bought for a few dollars can turn into an art piece worth thousands of dollars.
This incredible gourd lamp by Pamela Redhawk is cut out around the leaves so the light shines through and projects the image of a giant tree!
Come to the Gourd Festival this weekend and YOU could win this gourd lamp, valued at $400.00! 
Just enter your ticket stub in the drawing at the festival entrance for your chance to win.
(Pictured right, "Wildlife Pride" by Carrie Dearing. Both this and the Gourd Lamp above were photographed by Richard Katris of Chanan Photography, whose photography services will be available to festival exhibitors at a discounted rate, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, June 19th, 20th, 22nd. Click here for info).
If you enjoy beautiful surroundings the Gourd Art Festival is the place for you. Set against the backdrop of the De Luz countryside, you’ll enjoy cool breezes as you stroll underneath the majestic oak trees that surround the festival booths.
"Loved the vendors — gourds, supplies & food! The entertainment and demonstrations were fabulous, as was the wine garden…I loved sitting under the oak trees sipping wine, listening to the music and watching the entertainment on the stage". -Sandra Heinig, California City, C
Come out and enjoy the day! Relax in the Wine Garden with fine wine and micro brews, enjoy live entertainment, have fun creating gourd art in the Gourd Crafting Arena, see the amazing gourd art in the competition tents, and more!
The Festival is pleased to welcome back Native American flute musician, Evren Ozan (pictured left). A child prodigy, Evren fist performed at the 5th Annual Gourd Art Festival when he was 8 years old. Evren will be on hand after performing to 
autograph CDs. Be sure to get his award-winning album, Alluvia (his 3rd album!)
Many festival-goers return every year and enjoy visiting their favorite artists from years prior. Linda Noblitt, famous for her adorable gourd dolls and fairies (see photo, right), has been exhibiting for 11 of the 12 years the festival has run.
She is back again this year and has created such a big following, if you’re not one of the first ones there you’ll find her gourd fairies sold out!
Gourd Art Classes:
"We travel a long way and it was well worth the trip…We really enjoyed the classes and meeting everyone at the farm…It had to be the most fun under the sun!" -Prosper Couepel, Woonsocket, RI
Be sure to sign up for one or more of the many exciting Gourd Art Classes offered the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday before the show, June 18th, 19th, and 20th.
"I had my first class with Kathy Riker and it was OUTSTANDING. Kathy is an inspired teacher who is generous and whose patience and understanding far exceeds what I have come to expect…" -Bill D.
This is a wonderful opportunity to learn from some of the best instructors in the country, many of whom only visit California once a year for this event. For the class photos and descriptions or to register for a gourd art class, click here!
A Weekend To Remember:
You’ll see some of the most incredible gourd art imaginable! Be sure to see the amazing carved gourd art of Marilyn Sunderland, who created the breath-taking carved "gourd basket" pictured at right.
"The gourd art was amazing, everything from outrageous to beautiful!" -Mary Geary
One of the main attractions at the Festival is always the Gourd Art Competition. Housed in 2 giant tents, the competition features spectacular gourd art sent in from artists across the country, all vying for the prestigious blue ribbon in their category. A ‘must see’ at the event!
New Product and Live Demonstrations
Come preview the incredible new line of 30 GourdMaster™ Ink Dyes and take advantage of the Special Festival Pricing (you save over $50.00!).
See what the latest art supplies and products are and how you can create your own stunning works of gourd art.
Visit the Demonstration Area, get your gourding questions answered, and see the incredible looks that can be created using simple techniques and materials.
(Pictured left, in foreground, new Ink Dye colors from left to right, Walnut, Sage, and Rich Mahogany; gourd art in background by Heidi Anne Sanger.)
Get Your Discounted Tickets Now:
Avoid the long lines at the ticket counter and get a discounted price when you buy your tickets now online! Tickets at the gate are $9.00 (children 12 and under admitted free), but you pay just $8.00 when you buy in advance, AND you avoid waiting in line. Click here to order.
Festival Dates and Times:
Saturday, June 21st, 2008 - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
See you at the Festival!
Gourdially Yours,
The 12th Annual Int’l Gourd Art Festival
New Gourd Classes for the Festival, plus free tickets!
May 29th, 2008
Take a Class on all 3 Days Before the Festival and Get a FREE Gourd Festival Admission Ticket!
(Just bring photo ID to the Welburn store located on the Festival grounds on Friday, June 20th to collect your free ticket).
Back by popular demand is “Wax Resist” with Kathy Riker (see photo, left)! If you’ve yet to take a class with Kathy, now is the time! “I took the Wax Resist class from Kathy Riker … I fell in love with gourd art all over again” -Kathleen “I had my first class with Kathy Riker and it was OUTSTANDING. Kathy is an inspired teacher who is generous and whose patience and understanding far exceeds what I have come to expect in a gourd teacher and the class experience. What a joy to finally get a chance to participate in one of her classes. It will not be the last one I take from her.” -Bill D.
Not only will you learn a valuable technique you can use on all your gourd art, you’ll leave class with a stunning finished project complete with pine needle weave trim! New to the world of gourds? Join veteran artist, Whitney Walsh, for “Beginning Gourd Crafting the GourdMaster™ Way ,” and learn all the insider tricks to gourding that will save you hours of hard work and frustration learning on you own! Sign up for a Gourd Art Class on all 3 days preceeding the Festival and receive a FREE admission ticket to the Gourd Art Festival! Just visit the Welburn Gourd Farm store (located on the Festival grounds) where they will have a master list with the names of all students who enrolled in classes thest 3 days, and present your photo ID to receive your FREE ticket! For the entire list of classes and full descriptions and photos, click here! If you would like to enroll over the phone, please call the Welburn Gourd Farm main office at 760-728-4271. See you at the Festival! The 12th Annual Int’l Gourd Art Festival |
An incredible line up of 40 Gourd Art Classes are offered the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday before the Gourd Festival, June 18th, 19th, and 20th, and when you take a class all three days, you’ll receive a FREE admission ticket to the Gourd Art Festival! A $9.00 value!
Discover an exciting new way to finish the inside of your gourd with a beautiful, textured finish in “