I have a friend who is very artistic. She makes lovely purses I believe out of the apple type. Also makes lots of beautiful stuff using her wood burner to create designs. .I just make bird houses, as they are easy. I grow the large dippers mostly. One year they were climbing up my apple trees! Remember gourds need a long, long growing season. Your gourds will become horrible looking with their drying process. You can clean them easily with the old type stainless steel or copper "chore boy's". have fun !

At the last craft fair I went to, a person was selling (not cheap) beatiful bird houses made from gourds. Awhile ago there was quite a bit of information on how to dry them and seal them. Just google and you will get the information.

We've been growing gourds for at least 4 years now. I sell painted and unfinshed gourds. I wasnt looking for any information, I was just wondering if there were other crafters out there that make things with gourds also. Sorry if I confused everyone.

Rodent you may be able to find people on the garden fouums...

I answered you on the garden side.

I've made birdhouses, banks, purses, and just decorative pieces out of gourds. I paint on them. Fortunately for me, there is a couple that grows them about an hour drive away and I can go there and pick out the size and shapes that I want and they're very reasonable. This is in SW Missouri.

I have made birdhouses and decorated them by woodburning and adding shoe dye with the dobbers(sp). The dye tends to fade in the sun though.