This medium is extremely interesting to me, for it incorporates my love of a variety of arts, crafts, and pastimes, and utilizes many techniques including woodworking, dyeing and color creation, weaving and other textile work, bead work, clay work, foraging, recycling, and botany.

    The process begins at least one year before the finished piece, with the growth of the gourds themselves. If they survive the insects, diseases, droughts, hail storms, marmot attacks, etc., and do not rot during the drying and curing process, I proceed in preparation of the surfaces with careful cleaning and sanding.

    I then open myself to the inspirations of color and texture that transform the gourds into these unique decorative objects. I have discovered unlimited creative possibilities in the gourds, and the more I play, the more I want to play. -D.