the gourdian knot - Idaho Gourd Society

THE GOURDIAN KNOT
RHO CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN GOURD SOCIETY
SPRING 2013
2012 IGS Officers and Directors
President: Alan Sweeney
Vice President: Corlis Kent
Secretary: Sue Kostka
Treasurer: Karen Ryker
Director: Robin Crowley-Mize
Director: Lorrie Ferris
Director: Carolyn Spaltro
Appointed Director, newsletter: Carla Arnold
Appointed Director, website: Marlies Schmitt
President’s Message
Greetings Everyone!
The Idaho Gourd Society has started off the year with a bang, beginning with the Idaho
Artistry in Wood Show. From the reports I have heard, it was our biggest IAW show ever,
thanks to our Chairperson Marlies Schmitt, and co-chair Corlis Kent. And it could not have
been possible without the help from all of you. I’m extending a big thank you to everyone who
pitched in and made this a wonderful event. It truly made the Idaho Gourd Society shine. I
would also like to congratulate all the winners of the judged competition. Read all about the
IAW show and the winners of the gourd judged competition on page three of this issue in the
article written by Carolyn Spaltro. Carolyn even volunteered to be a clerk at the judging and
went way outside her comfort zone so that she could better understand the process and
write a better article. Thank you, Carolyn.
I would like to thank Wanda Walker for setting up the Meridian Library display and all who
brought in gourds for the display in the month of February. I had a chance to stop by for a
peek and it sure was an eye catcher for the public as the display was located in the entry of
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the library where everyone who entered could see.
Speaking of library exhibits, Antonia Tamayo is in charge of the Caldwell Library display.
This year, Antonia raised public awareness of the IGS a couple of notches by extending the
exhibit through the month of April and by organizing a gourd educational program for the
public. She has been hard at work creating a poster that was distributed throughout our
communities, contacting TV and radio stations, and getting the event posted on community
calendars in our local newspapers. She has also rounded up volunteers to help with
presentations on March 4th and April 1st which will most likely take our society to a whole
new level. Thanks, Antonia for your devotion and hard work.
Looking ahead, we have some wonderful events planned for the next few months. Our
patches have some great monthly workshops planned throughout the year, and our VicePresident, Corlis Kent has some great workshops planned for the monthly general meetings
at Woodcraft. The workshops will for sure spark your imagination and creativity. Please see
the Google calendar on our website for times, locations and supply lists. Mark your calendars
for our annual IGS picnic at Lakeview Park Maple Grove Shelter in Nampa Idaho on July 20.
This is a time we can all gather together for some fun, fellowship and great food. Big Plans
are also underway for our annual Idaho Gourd Festival to be held on November 2-3 at the
Boise Hotel and Conference Center. The theme is, “Fall in Love with Gourds,” which, by the
way was an the suggestion of Sue Kostka’s husband, Larry. Thanks for great idea, Larry. Let
me give you a gentle reminder to start working on new entries for the judged competition.
I would like to thank Caryn Nicolosi for her devotion to the Doggie
Day Patch and am sad to see that she has decided to discontinue it.
Caryn did mention that she may be holding some special classes at
her home in the near future so keep your eyes and ears open for
her announcement.
I would also like to thank Donna Kirk for continuing on with our IGS
archives that have been captured on film over the years and neatly
arranged, labeled and organized in a wonderful photo album. If
anyone has pictures from past or present events please see Donna
Kirk and we can keep the history of our society for the future
members to see.
Lastly, a big thank you goes out
to each one of you for supporting
this wonderful society and for
keeping our motto alive and well:
"Art in Nature and Friendship."
Happy Gourding!
Alan Sweeney
Alan teaching a chip carved bird house class
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2013 IAW Show
By Carolyn Spaltro
The 2013 Idaho Artistry in Wood Show (IAW) was held on February 23 and 24
at the Boise Hotel and Conference Center. This is a statewide event and
features five organizations: the Idaho Woodcrafters’ Guild, the Treasure Valley
Scrollers, the Southwest Idaho Wood Turners’ Assn., the Ada County
Woodworkers, and the Idaho Gourd Society.
Featured Artist
Liz Meyer, past president
of the IGS, was honored
as Featured Artist for
the IAW and displayed
her unbelievably beautiful
gourd artistry. We’re so
proud
to
have
you
representing our craft,
Liz!
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!
The Idaho Gourd Society (IGS) was given the lead role for the 2013 Artistry
in Wood Show, and Marlies Schmitt was the chairperson. Marlies worked
tirelessly to put on a wonderfully organized and amazing show this year. She
was there from start to finish to answer any questions, handle any problems
and just to make sure that everything ran smoothly for all of us – gourders and
woodworkers alike. Thanks so much, Marlies, for your time, hard work and
dedication to the success of the IAW show!
Marlies Schmitt
The Idaho Gourd Society was well represented at this event by many enthusiastic and dedicated
volunteers. Corlis Kent, Co-chair, was very dedicated to the show’s success; she worked tirelessly each
day to help keep things on track. She was also there bright and early Friday morning to set up our display
tables – she even made the dividers herself! Thank you, Corlis!
Registration went quickly and smoothly with the help of Patricia McRae, Donna Kirk, Kris McCracken and
Lorrie Ferris. A big thank you goes out to Patricia McRae who preregistered all the entries; she even had
all the preregistration hang tags completed beforehand. Barb Gamel always does a wonderful job of
organizing the signage, categories and divisions on our display tables and this year was no exception. With
the help of Carolyn Spaltro, our gourds were beautifully displayed.
Demonstrations were a huge success this year. It seems
like there was always a crowd around the demo table! Sid
Freeburg and Alan Sweeney displayed their talent at carving
and chip carving. Barb Gamel had an array of tools and
showed their uses. Alan also showed wood burning, along
with Lorrie Ferris and Barbara Whitebeck. Our painters
included Kayla Rodemack, who used acrylics; Lorrie Ferris,
who used metallic paints; Duane Longworthy, who
demonstrated pointillism; and Betty Freeburg, who painted
with alcohol ink dyes.
Our volunteers for the raffle encouraged everyone to
participate by showing the wide array of raffle items – most
of which were beautifully crafted by the woodworkers and
gourders. The raffles were held every hour on the hour and
were a big hit of the show.
We had two gourd venders from the IGS at the show this
year: Ron Swank’s, Rising Sunflower Flutes and Veletta
Murphey’s Tole Shed. Ron had a wonderful display of his
incredible thunderdrums and melodious flutes. At times, to
everyone’s delight, his lovely music filled the room.
Veletta displayed many of her
beautiful and imaginatively
decorated gourds and had
boxes and boxes of cleaned
gourds for sale.
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At Saturday night’s banquet, Marlies welcomed everyone and made
introductions; after which everyone enjoyed a delicious meal. Ron
Adams, an extremely talented woodcarver and sculptor from
Montana, was the auctioneer. Ron is a really funny guy who kept
everyone entertained. He did a great job, along with Marlies and
Corlis, who ran around displaying and delivering the auctioned
items. The IGS had five beautiful gourd donations by Liz Meyer,
Sid and Betty Freeburg, Veletta Murphy and Lorrie Ferris.
The bidders thought they were beautiful, too, because they paid
well for them! There were 130 attendees at the dinner, and the
auction of items from all the member groups of the IAW
Association raised a total of $2900.
Sid & Betty
Freeburg
Veletta Murphey
Judged Competition
There were 77 gourds entered in the IAW gourd competition this year – that’s twice as many as were
entered last year! Way to promote our artistry and the IGS, gourders!! Many thanks also go to our
judges: Duane Longworthy, Sue Kostka, Gary Carr, Heather Mingus, Gwen Purcell and Christopher Koch.
Also, thanks to the clerks: Corlis Kent, Carolyn Spaltro, Mark Spiegel and Wanda Walker.
Best of Show, First Place went to Caryn
Nicolosi for her Ethnic Ladies.
Best of Show, Second Place went to
Sid Freeburg for his chip carved
bowl.
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Best of Show, Third Place went to
Corlis Kent and her zentangled bird.
Kayla Rodemack won the
People’s Choice Award.
Kayla’s six
foot Gigi
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Best of Division
Marlies Schmitt took home the Novice Best of
Division ribbon for her butterfly bowl.
Hailey Madsen, age
5, won the Best of
the Youth I Division,
and
her
sister
Tenaya Madsen, age
10, won the Best of
Division ribbon in the
Youth II division.
Corlis Kent’s zentangled
bird took the Intermediate
Division ribbon.
Sid Freeburg’s chip carved
bowl won the Advanced
Division ribbon.
Caryn
Nicolosi’s
Ethnic
Ladies won the Expert
Division ribbon.
(See pictures on page six.)
Masters - Sue Kostka won the Master’s Division
ribbon with her carved, wood burned vase.
A big thanks to all those who entered their amazing gourd creations in the
show and to all those who volunteered their time and talent to make this
year’s show a successful and enjoyable event! Also, congratulations to all
our winners! Now, let’s all start getting ready for the 2014 IAW Show
and make it even bigger and better!!
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Dates for your calendar:
July 11 - 14 2013 – Northwest Gourd Festival Ellensburg, WA (see ad on page 9)
July 20, 2013 – IGS picnic at Lakeview Park, Maple Grove Shelter, Nampa
November 2 & 3 2013 – The Idaho Gourd Society Festival, Boise Hotel and Conference Center
February 21 – 22, 2014 - Idaho Artistry in Wood Show
IGS General Membership Meeting:
Second Saturday of each month, 10 to 2. Social time at 10, meeting at 10:30. The meeting is followed by
a raffle and a workshop. A schedule of workshop topics is on page 12 of this issue.
Note: Each IGS general membership meeting and each patch meeting features a time for “Show and Tell,”
a learning time for all because it gives members new and old a chance to see what others have been
working on, to present gourds they have done, and get kudos (and advice if they want it).
Patch meetings:
2nd Wednesday – Rochester Patch, 6-9. Alan Sweeney and Duane Langworthy asweeney85@aol.com
2nd Thursday – Kuna Patch, 6-9 and on lastTuesday, 1-4. Veletta Murphey woodlady13@msn.com
3rd Monday – Meridian Patch, 9am, at Shirley Eastman’s home. Shirley Eastman beastman79@yahoo.com 8
Patch News
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More Gourd Art from the IAW Show
Demon Mask by Antonia Tamayo
Carolyn Spaltro
Donna Kirk
Duane Langworthy’s
Broken Heart vase
Veletta Murphey
Gary Carr
Marlies Schmitt
Elaine William’s
Sculpted Whale
Caryn Nicolosi
Kayla Rodemack
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Patch News
Please check the Idaho Gourd Society website for reports
from the patch leaders about what projects that they will be
working on. Click on the Calendar link.
idahogourdsociety.org
Editor’s Note: This has been the hardest part
of the newsletter to write because it is so
difficult to attend all patch meetings and to
take pictures of patch doings. It would really
help me if patch leaders would get someone to
volunteer to take pictures and email or text
them to me. I am getting to know the names
that go with the pictures now, and can ask
someone if I don’t recognize a face. Some
terrific things are happening at the patch
meetings and I would like to include them in the
newsletter, so please help me do so.
Carla Arnold
cell (208) 867- 6727
casaarnold214@gmail.com
• Kuna – will be working on weaving with
sea grass and on inlaying in odd shapes in
March. (There are two Kuna meetings
each month.)
• Meridian – has moved to the home of
Shirley Eastman and will be working on
Adirondack dyes with Kay Grooms in
March.
• Rochester – worked on an inverted
gourd in January and a geometric design
on an egg gourd in February.
Betty Freeburg will be demonstrating
basic painting techniques and tips at the
March patch meeting.
In April, Corlis Kent will be demonstrating
the steampunk zentangle technique.
In May Sue Kostka will be demonstrating
coiling techniques.
Woodcraft Meeting News
President’s note: Our Constitution and By-laws currently require that we hold a general
meeting of the IGS two times per year, one in April and one in October. I do plan to hold an
official general meeting of the IGS at our April Woodcraft meeting.
Some changes to the constitution will be voted on at the April general meeting at Woodcraft.
An email with the changes suggested by your Board of Directors has been sent out to all
members.
Alan Sweeney
2013 IGS Library Displays
•
•
•
•
Meridian Library – February (contact is Wanda Walker)
Caldwell Library – March and April, also one in October (contact is Antonia Tamayo)
Boise Library – July (contact is Barb Gamel)
Eagle Library – October (contact is Kris McCracken)
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Woodcraft meeting Workshops for 2013
January -- Hoichol Beading (Barb Gamel)
February –Geometrical Design on an Egg Gourd (Alan Sweeney)
March – Inlay (Veletta Murphy)
April – Faux Tool Carving (Liz Meyer)
Also, in April, a Special Workshop on Growing, Seed Exchange and Video
May – Leather Lacing (on previous month’s
workshop, if desired) (Kris McCracken
June – Carving (?)
July – Picnic
August – Thunder Drum (Ron Swank)
September – Rain Stick Part I (Duane Langworthy)
October – Rain Stick Part II (Duane Langworthy)
November – IGS Gourd Festival
December – Holiday Potlluck
President’s note:
A reminder….dues are due by the end of February. If not paid, membership will be dropped
and newsletters will not be received. Non-members may attend one IGS meeting (patch
and/or general) as a visitor and must join the IGS to attend any other meetings.
I would also encourage you to join the American Gourd Society. You will receive the AGS’s
“The Gourd Magazine” quarterly. It contains a chapter news section which includes Idaho
Gourd Society news; festival reports which also include an annual Idaho festival artcle; and
lots of useful information as well as tutorials and ads for gourds and gourd-related items.
Alan Sweeney
Woodcraft meeting Pictures
December
Carla Arnold is the happy
recipient of two cute gourd
ornaments made by Kayla
Rodemack.
Other gifts received in
the holiday exchange.
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More Woodcraft meeting and Workshop Pictures
Carolyn Spaltro, Ron Swank…
Donna Kohl, Elaine Williams, Betty Sexton…..
…..Judy Pritchard, Marie Kuenzli and
Caryn Nicolosi enjoy a holiday feast.
Sue Kostka
admires Rob
Hinkley’s holiday
party gift
reindeer.
January
Liz Meyer’s quail
Is Duane Langworthy yawning or singing a song?
Just kidding. This is a wonderful picture of the
group at February’s general meeting.
Shirley Eastman’s
elusive name tag
Judy Wixom’s
helmet gourd
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February
Liz Meyer is showing
and telling.
Corlis Kent picks a lucky raffle number.
Duane Langworthy presenting Shirley Eastman with one
heck of a name tag because she always forgets hers.
General meeting Workshops
Alan Sweeney teaches members how to create a
geometrical design on an egg gourd.
Barb Gamel’s beautiful Huichol beadwork
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Gourding in the Desert, Part I
By Carla Arnold
Because of a lack of space this month, I am going to continue this article in the next issue.
For several years I have had the opportunity to spend three months or so in the sunny, warm
parts of the U.S. during the winter. Because my husband Larry’s family lives in southern
Arizona, we spend much of our time there. I fill the back of our trailer-towing pickup with
gourds and tools of the trade; Larry takes his guitar and his flutes (Thank you, Ron Swank.).
We wander wherever we please; we hike, read, go to historical and geological sites, look for
interesting rocks and “found art,” shop at yard sales and swap meets. I play with gourds and
write this newsletter; Larry provides me with wonderful music. We meet new friends and visit
with old friends, young and old relatives and, of course, visit with fellow gourders.
Last year I had my first taste of the Wuertz Gourd Festival and saw IGS members Dee
Smart, Kris MacCracken and Ron Swank there and I visited the Wuertz Gourd Farm. Later in
February, I met up with Dan Landers and he helped me teach a class to some rock and gem club
members I had met in Quartzsite; they were interested in doing some chip carving and making
some thundergourds. Then I connected up with my brother, Jim Petty (who is the person
responsible for introducing me to the IGS and to gourding) who was wintering in California and
we went to the Welburn Gourd Farm. I also found out that other IGS members, Bev MaGaha,
Beth Pany and Elaine Williams had all spent time in AZ that winter. This year has been overthe-top with gourding events and meeting gourd people. And, as I write this article, there’s
more fun to come.
Ah, the Wuertz Gourd Festival!!! First of all, I
had a spectacular time at the festival because my
two good friends and fellow IGS members, Sue
Kostka and Corlis Kent, were there. It was Corlis’
first time, my second, but Sue was a pro. She
introduced us to lots of famous gourd artists and
gave us tips which really enhanced our time at the
festival. We shared a motel room, saw the judged
competition gourds several times, went to the
GAE dinner, took classes, took pictures, bought
gourds and supplies, and met fellow IGS folks:
Dee Smart, Beth Pany (Beth graciously took some
of the pictures for this article.), Ron Swank (who
had a wonderful thundergourd booth), and Dan
Landers. We learned so much and can hardly wait
to share our knowledge with our good friends and
fellow gourders in Idaho. I purchased the two
part DVD of the gourds in the judged competition
if anyone wants to borrow it.
-----stay tuned for the rest of the story and
more pictures in the next issue.
Ah, the gourd life! (This
was actually the theme of
this year’s festival.)
Doreen and Dan
Landers and niece,
Pam Froom
Ron Swank
Beth Pany
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Idaho Gourd Society
13362 Chicken Dinner Road
Caldwell, ID 83641
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