Ghost Creek Gourds

We are a family owned gourd farm in the Piedmont of South Carolina. We grow a variety of gourds that are thick. We clean our gourds and store them out of the weather. We would love to have you stop by for a visit. We are also willing to ship gourds if you are unable to come to the farm.

 Gourd Art and Baskets by Mari

Hi, I’m Marianne Barnes, also know as Maribasket. I have been working with gourds for the last 19 years. I have been a basket maker for 20 years and an art teacher in the public schools for thirty-eight years. I retired last year. I love the combination of baskets and gourd art. Texture is the core of my art. I work with natural and textural materials such as cedar and birch bark, sea grass, mohair and knobby yarns, pods, philodendron sheath, leather, etc. I also incorporate basketry by weaving on top of the gourd with an undulating weave that resembles hills and valleys. Recently I have been adding different techniques to enhance the gourd itself such as burning, painting, and carving. Many times I add a dream catcher or a tapestry weave on the front of the gourd.

 Artbasgo

Gourd Artist, Debbie Wilson lives in the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She has taught art for over 20 years, and during that time has found herself a niche in gourd art. By weaving, carving, burning and embellishing, she transforms gourds into extravagant works of art.

Debbie is a member of: Upstate Visual Arts, Trillium Arts, SC Gourd Society, American Gourd Society, Palmetto Gourd Group, Metropolitan Arts Council and Chesnee Artisan Center.

 The Pod Lady

THEPODLADY is otherwise known as Betsey Sloan, a native of New England and a recent transplant to the South. In her previous professional life, she was a public relations director for a large health care corporation. Since retiring in the early 90's, she has become a recognized instructor of gourd art. She also taught natural and reed basketry up until a few years ago when she began focusing all her creative drive on gourd vessels. Over the last 14 years, Betsey has taught at major art and craft schools, such as the JCCampbell Folk School, The Brookfield Craft Center, and Fletcher Farm Art and Craft Center. She has taught gourd art at gourd gatherings and private studios all the way from Maine to Florida and as far west as New Mexico. She has also owned and operated an artisan gallery in Grand Isle, VT, representing 75 other artists. She taught basketry and gourd art out of at a small studio within the gallery while also doing the fine art/fine craft show circuit. She is certified in Art Silver and Precious Metal Clay as well. Her gourds have sold in galleries in New Hampshire, Maine, South Carolina and Florida. Her vessels have taken blue ribbons in various gourd exhibits, especially for her work with InLace. Betsey is presently the Patch leader for the Cypress Gourd Patch, Sumter, SC. She resides in Manning with her husband and their three cats.

 
Nita Bear

Hello, my name is Nita Bear. I'm an office manager by trade. I love to work with gourds, make dolls, wooden bead bowls, birdhouses, soap and more! Also, I love found objects in nature. Thank you for looking at Handmade!

Debbie Skelly
Gourdgeous Decor

 I never knew what a gourd was until I moved to North Carolina. The first time I notice a gourd was in a gift shop in the Boone, NC. I have been hooked ever since.

The art is a combination of leather dyes, woodburning, woodcarving, chip carving and acrylic paint. My designs are some times from reference material I have or a thought that just comes in my mind. I am inspired by Native American designs. I also enjoy doing designs with hummingbirds or butterflies.

 Laraine Short
Agourdpainter