Playing with the Gourds

I am finally having the time to play. I have been working on the gourd project off and on this week. This is some of what I have accomplished:

This post is about the larger ball gourds...

 First, I used a leather dye to color the gourds.

The reason for the pictures of the same gourd

are to show how the natural blemishes on the gourd

 affect the color applied, especially a light color. 

This dye color is close to its 'natural' color.

This color is honey. It does have a leather look to it 

although that wasn't why I used the leather dye. 

I just wanted a background color and the leather dye 

was recommended by the folks at the gourd festival.

Inexpensive, lots of color varieties & EASY!

 As I applied the honey dye on this gourd, I let the dye

run and noticed how it formed a dark outline as the

dye dried. I liked the look. So I carefully applied a bit

more honey dye in the same area and let it run. Most of 

the time the dye stayed within the dried line of the first 

application. So, I got brave and applied a mahogany

(reddish color) dye in some areas, trying the same
technique. Apply, let it run or try controlling the run
and doing it a second time. The mahogany dried with a
darker line, giving me the urge to apply some patches
of black leather dye in controlled areas.

A background of honey leather dye, with some patches of

mahogany dye, and finally some black dye for contrast.

Tomorrow...the warty gourds!