Purple Martins and Whirligiggs

We are so very fortunate again today, the sun is shinning!! It was 25 degrees last night, but the sunshine makes up for the cold, and at least the wind is not blowing 30 MPH again, I often wonder how the Purple Martins take this cold. They are swaying with the wind, the gourds act as a swing with them in it. I can only imagine how wonderful that must be. We still have the housed in our houses and more will be coming as time goes on. Just have to keep trying to run the Starlings off, so they don't bother the Martins too much.

There is a wonderful Whirligig project that my husband and I created several years ago.
I did quite a few of them, but there is a lot of sculpting of the pieces, and the base, so I don't
do a lot of them anymore. I just love them though. Am entering an image of the Canadian Goose that we did if anyone is interested in making one.
For now,
The Gourd Lady of Rocky Mount, Louisiana, that is......

Purple Martins Arriving

Day before yesterday the Scout was back. Boy what patience they have. I watch off and on all day as he sailed around for miles in the sky watching for the others to arrive. Yesterday evening, when it was their bedtime, I was surprised with three coming in to sleep. This evening there were still three, that I could tell. Sometimes they are already in the house and I may miss them.

I love to hear them, even inside their gourd houses they are still talking to each other.

The weather has been so beautiful this week, so it has been a great time for watching.

I am including an image of the full line of houses this post. The white building in the background is our little country grocery store, it is closed now and I have claimed it as my art studio (when I am not out watching Martins, or planting the field)!!

Hope you are getting ready for the Martins and the planting time!!

For now...Happy Gourding!!
The Gourd Lady of Rocky Mount, Louisiana, that is.....

Gourd Crafting for Children : Rocky Mount Gourds

We are having one of those rainy days here to day at Rocky Mount, so I am hoping I can get some gourd art work done!!

If you have little ones at home with you today and need something great for them to do now, or on another day, gourds are "the best"!!!

I am entering an image of "Wild and Wacky Birds" that I did with a kindergarten class several years ago when I worked in Arts in Education here in Louisiana.
All you need is an odd shaped gourd, primary colors of acrylic paints (so they can practice mixing colors themselves), water based polyurethane (after the paint has dried), tack glue, bright colored feathers (glue them on), wiggle eyes, and felt for a beak, if you like.

They all turned out just wonderful and the children enjoyed this so very much....I do miss this too.

But the time comes when we cannot work with 30 children at one time!!
Hope you have a Blessed day!!
For now,
The Gourd Lady of Rocky Mount, Louisiana, that is........

Martin and Blue Bird Society Join Forces

While on the Purlpe Martin Society's website, I noticed they have joined in with the Louisiana
Bayou Bluebird Society. We of the same interests always have a problem with the Starlings,
or Mauking Birds. They are heavy around here and we are having to try to run them off.

I am posting the link to the right for the Louisiana Bayou Bluebird Society, if you are interested.

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 2009

Wanted to let you all know that my husband and I will be in the Louisiana Market Place the weekend of April 24, 25 and 26th this year (2009).....this is a wonderful Market Place for
Louisiana Craft Artists.

Am entering an image of one of my pieces that was juried into the Fest.

This will be our fifth year in the Louisiana Market Place, hope to see you there!!!

For now, still watching for the Martins and not giving up!!

The Gourd Lady of Rocky Mount, Louisiana, that is.....

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Purple Martins and Gourds

I hope you are enjoying the arrival of the Martins by this time. It is still early for us here, although I have heard they are in Shreveport, just 30 miles south of us.

In the mean time, we are outside cleaning up the multitude of pecan tree limbs that have accumulated on the ground this winter. We are so thankful that we did not get the tornadoes, nor did we have the horrible ice storm that many of you did have. You are in our prayers.

I would like to share a couple of very good gourd chart that I have located. There are many, many varieties of gourds around the world, but the chart has the main varieties, and is interesting.

The next posting, I will tell a little more about gourd crafting and important information you
may not always read about, and your health safety.
For now,
The Gourd Lady of Rocky Mount, Louisiana, that is.......