Hi, Fellow Gourdheads, from the
Cypress Patch. We have been very
busy over the spring and summer, and
have been planning an exciting fall
schedule as well. May saw some of
the Patch members meeting to make
sculptures with Quik Wood, certainly
one of our favorite new products.
June saw us working on finishing our
InLace projects. We have begun
meeting at Jackie J's home in her
workshop/porch, and it is a
wonderful place. We meet the first
Tuesday of the month. Meetings were
about 4 hours long but we found that
it wasn't enough time for us to
catch up with each other and our
current work, hold a brief business
meeting, and then pursue a
project....so now we have a full day
meeting. And we will rotate around
to other members homes just to share
the fun. You all are missing some
spectacular lunches as well as great
projects. Consider joining us,
please. (Photo A) Here Marvin B.
uses the proper techniques and
protection in preparing gourds for
the class.
Also in June, most of our members
attended the Cherokee Gathering. It
still remains one of the best
organized gourd shows, with a great
lineup of instructors. Paula B, her
husband Marvin, Linda B. and Jackie
J. all took classes. Betsey S.
taught an InLace class. Everyone had
a good but exhausting time. We will
be calling on those Patch members
who took classes to share their
knowledge in the future. (Photo B)
Paula B. shows off her work at the
Cherokee Gathering. (Photo C) Our
favorite gourd farmers, Dickie and
Linda Martin, take a brief rest at
the Cherokee Gathering. Well
deserved, by the way. The temps.
reached the upper 90's.
July saw us again at Jackie J's,
trying to recreate Miss Peggy's
"turtle on the lily pad" that she
taught at EGADS. Well, we certainly
need some more experience...or super
glue....or liquid Sculpty....or
something. Some heads were lost, as
well as flippers and tails! But we
do thank Paula and Marvin Berg for
their donation of SculptyIII to the
Patch, one package in each color. We
had lots of creative fun anyway.
(Photo D) Here Paula B. and Linda B.
discuss using various colors of clay
to create the lily pad. (Photo E)
Our class photo with our finished
projects, minus Jackie J. who took
the photo.
Upcoming Events.
On August 5, the Cypress Patch will
meet at Linda B's home by the lake
in Manning. We will be creating
small carved/woodburned baskets out
of gourds, followed by sharing
patterns for some seasonal gourds to
be done for the Art In The Park Show
later in the season.
In September, on the 2nd, we will
meet at the Bergs home in Sumter to
review entries for the Orangeburg
Fair Show as well as pricing for
items created for the local art show
scheduled for the 27th of September.
We will also work on last minute
seasonal items for sale. Then it's
off the help at the Orangeburg Fair.
We hope to be worked into the
schedule to demonstrate and help
cover the gourd exhibits during the
week.
October's meeting will be canceled
due to the conflict the Orangeburg
Fair but in November we hope to
arrange a special full-day workshop
in small animal or statue work with
QuikWood for local folks in the
Master Gardener's Group and the Herb
Society.
December 2nd will have us reviewing
new colorants we've all picked up in
our travels as well as using them in
gourd jewelry.
All are welcomed to attend any of
our meetings. Just contact Betsey
Sloan, Patch President, at basketsvt@aol.com
for further information.
Cypress Patch News
