Meeting News Letter
January 15, 2010
We meet every 3rd Saturday of each month, at 10 a.m.
Leiser Gourd Farm in Knights Landing
Betsy Kritzon teaching Name Tag Class at SBGA’s meeting
This was not an ordinary name tag class. So many new techniques
to learn, so little time.
Business discussions and decisions news:
 We asked Mary if there was anything we could do to thank her
for all that she does for us; we offered to bring the items that
she generously provides at every meeting. Mary averred that
she liked the status quo. When pressed, Mary said she could
use our help to get the building--where we always meet—
spruced up and ready for the May Art Festival we immediately
agreed and will have a sign up sheet at our April meeting for
May’s sweeping and dusting party!
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
We discussed our participation in the up coming CA State
Flower, Food & Garden Show at Cal Expo. We agreed to sign
up at the February meeting or when we knew for sure the time
and day Pres Sylvia Nelson would need us most. We talked
about car pooling and the great opportunity to both sell our
gourds and share information about our Patch.
California State Flower, Food and Garden Show volunteer date/time information
Thursday April 7th 9am-6pm
Friday April 8th 9am-7pm
Saturday April 9th 9am-7pm
Sunday April 10th 9am-6pm
Linda Kelly’s announcements for more
information on the following please contact Kelly:
 The Gourd Gallery: For Information on
classes, consignments and demonstrations
at the Gourd Gallery in the Harbor Village
Artists Center in Lucerne, CA., call (707)
274-2346
 Judge classes sign up to earn certification to be a Judge
 Photo for Gourd Book, we signed up and Linda made
arrangements for a photographer to come to Leiser’s and
photograph our gourds to be submitted for publication.
 Gourd Christmas Ornaments to donate to a children’s home
this is a great cause that will benefit children.
 Pine Needles
a request regarding the
pine needles at The Gourd Gallery for the next Sutter Butte
class. The natural 10 inch pine needles are $7.50 & the colored
10 inch are $8.50. If you would like the Gallery pine needles
available for purchase at the meeting... please contact:
lindaekelly@hotmail.com
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Luci Flynn shared her old smoke detectors:
I replaced the smoke detectors in my house and I thought
that the inside parts might be usable in an art project;
There are interesting little wires and knobs inside. I didn't
want to just throw them away, so I brought them to share
if people wanted them [they did]. I got the idea from
seeing inside of mother boards used in mixed media art.
Mary Leiser: FYI
The Leiser pre-festival classes are posted on our website,
www.GourdFarmer.com or you can go directly to Betsy
Roberts, the class organizers site, www.galaxygourds.com
and click on Leiser Festival Classes.
Once again, all the proceeds remaining after paying the
teachers, class fees and lunch fees, will go to the Knights
Landing Library. In the last 2 years of pre-festival classes, $5,000.00 went
to the Library.
For every 11th students signed up in a class, one of those students will
receive their class fee returned to them that day. Encourage your friends to
sign up to help get your chances up of receiving a FREE class.
Greg Leiser Farms, Knights Landing, CA
Marty’s sleeping Much Better Now!
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We all look forward to members bringing their gourd art for Show &
Tell…the sharing is inspirational and informational, as well as,
appreciated.
SHOW &
TELL
Emma Poulson, Marty Sizemore, Barbara Cody, Rhonda
Odegard, Queen of Gourd, and Betsy Kritzon
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This February Saturday 19th is Barbara Cody’s long
awaited and much anticipated Pine Needle Coiling
Class!
Cost of Class: $10
Barbara’s list of: What you need to bring to the class
1. Choose a medium-sized gourd, about 6" diameter: Clean & smoothed.
2. Sand the bumps off the bottom if it does not stand up well.
3. Then draw a line with a pencil, & wearing a mask, cut the opening. The
cut can be horizontal or wavy. Clean the inside.
4. Sand the rim evenly.
5. Color the gourd & add any designs.
6. Varnish or wax to protect the finish.
7. Pencil-mark holes for the thread in a nice even line 1 cm to 1/4 inch from
the rim, spacing holes 3/8" or 1/2" apart. Cut with a small drill bit or an
awl. I slant the holes slightly downward to make the rim stronger. Holes are
just large enough for the threaded needle to pass through.
8. If dying/painting the inside of the gourd, do so after drilling the holes.
9. You bring finished gourd ready for pine needle coiling & pliers
10. I WILL SUPPLY the pine needles that Mary has donated, also tan
sinew & 6 or 8 colors of 4-ply linen thread. You will also get a #20 chenille
needle & printed instructions. (If you have supplies of your own, feel free to
bring them).
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As Always, Betsy’s Class Was a Huge Success
Betsy’s Name Tag Class was innovative and fun. So many
new techniques, every minute Betsy showed us something
new to create our one of a kind name tags. Thank you so
much Betsy! Shown here are a few of the name tags—all in
different stages of completion (These photos are low quality and miss
the intricate/beautiful details; the camera was accidentally moved to the wrong
setting: the photographer was admonished and is now on probation)
Jessica DiGiacomo in total art mode!
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Coming in March: Emma Polson’s
Chocolate Egg Gourd Class
Sutter Buttes Gourd Artist’s Classes 2011
February: 19th Barbara Cody’s Pine Needle Coiling
March: 19th Emma Polson’s Chocolate Egg Gourd
April: 16th Sylvia Nelson’s David Snook’s Beading on Gourd
May: No Meeting…Leiser’s
Gourd Art Festival
June: 18th Marilyn Crayton & Sandie Coelho-Davis’s Shekere
July: 16th Georgette Maffei’s Owl Painted on Gourd
Aug & Sept will be discussed at Feb meeting
Oct: 15th Georgette Maffei’s Filigree on Gourd
Nov: 19th Marty Sizemore’s Dream Catcher on Gourd
Dec: 17th No Meeting Christmas Brunch & Ornament Exchange
See you in Feb. 19th 10:00am--Think Pine Needle Coiling!
Patch Coordinator Marty Sizemore