Stunning new items, plus October Fest Classes Just Posted!
August 28th, 2008
New Gourd Items
October Festival Gourd Classes Now Posted!
Have You Seen the All NEW Gourd Items In Our Latest Catalog?
Included in the catalog are full color, step-by-step tutorials, the Quick-Start Guide to woodburning tools, an expanded selection of books, and more!
Now is the time to make your holiday wish list (and dog ear pages with circled items, then casually leave it where your significant other will see it!) If you have not already done so, request your FREE 2008 Catalog now — Click here!
Get Your FREE $25 Gift Card for Every 2 Gourd Classes You Take!
The NEW October Festival Gourd Classes are now posted, along with the entire Winter Gourd Class schedule!
That means NOW is the perfect time to register for all the classes you want because for a limited time, for every 2 classes you register for you’ll receive a gift card for $25 in gourds! (must be the same person registered in all classes).
You’ll find incredible classes like “Carving with Metal and Heshi Inlay” with Kristy Dial (see photo, right), and the “Carving with Inlace” class with Gloria Crane, both new this year!
Some classes like “Faux Raku the GourdMaster™ Way” with Dianne Connelly (see photo below) and “Ocean Drum” with Leigh 
Adams, always seem to sell out early, so now is the time to register to make sure you get a space.
Now is the perfect time to learn some new techniques so you can put them to use this fall making your own holiday gifts! Why waste money buying things in the stores when you can create a beautiful, personalized gift for your friends and family?
Be sure to sample different classes from multiple instructors! Every teacher has different styles and specialized knowledge of gourd art, so the more instructors you learn from, the more expansive your own skills will be.
“I LOVED Carrie Dearing’s class….she is really a great teacher, very patient and thorough…and just fun to be around…thanks again for having me and having these classes…I look forward to the next class….and my husband is all excited for me..he even wants to get a New carving tool, the expensive one!!!!!!!” -D.S.
Pictured right, “Indian Corn Bowl” class with Carrie Dearing.
Be sure to sign up for multiple classes so you can take advantage of the SPECIAL OFFER!
Remember, you receive a FREE $25 Gift Card* for every 2 classes you sign up for, so sign up for 2, you get a $25 Gift Card, sign up for 4, you get two $25 Gift Cards, and so on.
This is a limited time offer and will expire soon so register for your classes now! Click here!
*Free Gift Card will be given to you when you arrive for your second class. Offer may not be combined with any other offer.
Fallbrook, CA 92028
Phone: 1-877-420-2613
**************
© 2008 Welburn Gourd Farm, Inc. All rights reserved.
New Fall Gourd Classes PLUS a NEW Special Offer!
August 20th, 2008
NEW Fall Gourd Art Classes Just Posted! Get a FREE $25 Gift Card when you 
sign up for 2 different classes!
Register NOW for 2 different gourd art classes and you’ll receive a gift card for $25 in gourds! (must be the same person registered for both classes).
New classes include in-demand favorites like Carrie Dearing’s “Carved Leaf Bowl” class (pictured above) and Pam Redhawk’s “Woodburned Eagle” class (both of which sold out the last time they were offered, and new classes like Whitney Walsh’s “Mesa Maid” class (see photo, left) and Gloria Crane’s fun “Jack-O-Lantern Candy Bowl” class.
To make sure you get the classes you want and to take advantage of the FREE $25 Gift Card* with purchase of 2 classes offer, register now!*Free Gift Card will be given to you when you arrive for your second class.
NEW Special Offer: Get 10% Off on Our Most Popular Gourd Product!
“[These] amazing tools that have already saved me countless hours of work. I ordered the complete set of gourd cleaning balls that work on an electric drill. What can I say? These are fantastic tools. My wrists and elbows thank you!” -Tim Greenhalgh, Salt Lake City, Utah
Tired of scraping out the insides of your gourds by hand? Unsatisfied with the uneven surface made when using an electric drill with paint-stripper attachment? Not happy with the limited performance of gourd wand or gourd genie type tools?
Then you’ll LOVE the Easy Cleaner Ball by GourdMaster™! The Easy Cleaner Ball out performs and out lasts all the other products on the market today! In fact, we’re so sure you’re going to love your Easy Cleaner Ball, it comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee!
“I love the gourd cleaning ball. I have used many, many tools from hand sanding, paint strippers, sanders, gourd wands and genies, I have found this new tool to be my favorite …the round shape works great and cleans 100% of the inside surface area. I also like the fact that it comes in different lengths and the ball is wide enough to clean a larger area faster. I have been telling all my students and fellow artists about them…” - Dianne Connelly, gourd artist and instructor
The Easy Cleaner Ball has a durable, gravel-like surface that removes even the most stubborn dried gourd pulp in seconds flat! Never before has cleaning the inside of your gourds been so fast and easy. Simply attach the Ball to your electric hand drill and the spinning action of the drill does all the work!
(Note: Always wear a face mask when cleaning gourds. Gourd dust can cause irritation. If you are extremely sensitive, please use a professional face mask with respirator.)
“The Easy Cleaner Ball is excellent, I had some gourds with a thick coating on the interior and it worked great! Thanks so much for this product.” -Michelle H.
How about that white, styrofoam-like skin that can be almost impossible to remove? No problem! The Easy Cleaner Ball takes it off in seconds! And because the Cleaner is round, it forms to the curve of the gourd rather than creating uneven surfaces like a paint-stripper attachment.
“I used my new Easy Cleaner Balls…I am in Heaven! They are GREAT!!!!!!! No more sore fingers, hands, wrists etc…In 5 short minutes I cleaned a gourd that would normally take hours. And the finish that the fine grit ball leaves is wonderful. These make the worst part of gourd art (cleaning the inside) a snap. ..Thank You!” -Ivy A., South Jordan, Utah
The Easy Cleaner Ball comes in both coarse and fine grit. Use the coarse grit ball to effortlessly take off the white “skin” and remove the dried membrane material. Then follow with the fine grit ball to leave a beautiful, smooth finished surface!
“I LOVE THE GourdMaster™ EASY CLEANER BALL - yes I’m yelling, must let the world know. What an incredible time saver and great finish. I have tried so many tools, and none compare.” -Mari E.
For added convenience, the Easy Cleaner Ball comes in short and long-handled models so you can even clean those tall-body bottle gourds! Use the short handled version for bowls and the long-handled one for hard to reach places. (short handle is 4.5 inches, long handle is 11 inches)
Each ball is hand made using GourdMaster™’s exclusive multi-step process and is guaranteed to be durable, long-lasting, and 100% effective for cleaning the inside of your gourds.
For fast and easy cleaning and finishing of the inside of your gourd, the Easy Cleaner Ball is the solution you’ve been waiting for! The Easy Cleaner Ball comes in 2 convenient sizes. Choose the standard, 2-inch diameter ball for cleaning bowls and gourds with wider openings.
Choose the small, 1.25-inch diameter ball for any gourds with smaller openings, such as bottle gourds with skinny necks or vessels that you design to have a small opening.
Package Deals: Save 15% - 25% when you order all 4 Standard Cleaner Balls, all 4 Small Cleaner Balls, or a Cleaner Ball Combo Pack!
NEW Special Offer: Now for a limited time, get an additional 10% OFF* on any individual or set of Easy Cleaner Balls! Just use Coupon Code CLE818 at check out! This offer will expire soon so order now! Click here!
*offer may not be combined with any other offer.
Exciting Gourd News
July 10th, 2008
Join us for the FREE Gourd Crafting Workshop this Saturday, July 12th, 11am to 2pm, with Carrie Dearing! (pictured left, gourd art by Carrie Dearing)
Carrie is an award-winning artist well known for her Native American and wildlife-themed gourd art featuring incredible woodburned images.
Want to know the best ways to transfer designs to your gourd? Ready to discover great tips and tricks for using GourdMaster™ products, including Pigment Powder, Gel Glaze, Ink Dye, Gourd Varnish, and more? Need to know what woodburning tips are best for which technique?
Then come to the FREE Workshop held in the new air-conditioned store at the Welburn Gourd Farm! You’ll learn all the basics of gourd crafting, plus time-saving tips and tricks from an expert instructor! Space is limited so register now — Click Here!
New Gourd Crafting Videos In the Works:
Want to learn from all the great instructors who teach at the farm but are unable to make the trip? Now you can have classes brought to your own living room with gourd class videos on DVD! Filming is scheduled to start this Fall and we want your input for what classes and techniques you want to see on Gourd TV! Please send an e-mail with your requests to: support@gourd.tv
New Updated Web Site:
Be sure to see our updated web site with new step-by-step tutorials, including 5-Minute Metal Leafing and Easy Stamp Designs with Pigment Powder.
Enjoy the bigger product selection, including the return of Protecting Wax, plus new products like Gourd Practice Pieces and three NEW choices in metal leafing: Silver, Copper, and Variegated Black!
What People Are Saying:
"I had never worked with gourds before….Thank goodness for your site! …I made a decorative gourd…that won second place in our local judged Art Competition. I was really excited about that, and I could not have done it without the information gleaned from your site. …I just can’t thank you people enough for your wonderful gourds, they are always so nicely cleaned. I really do like ordering by the box too." Barbara L., Gloucester, VA
Gourdially Yours,
The Welburn Gourd Farm
40635 De Luz Rd.
Fallbrook
, CA 92028
Phone: 1-877-420-2613
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 “