Northern Regional Festival
May 1-2,  2010


Come to the 2nd annual Northern Regional festival of the ILGS at Jack's Grain and Gourd Farm near Durand Illinois, located 20 miles NW of Rockford. (14105 Rowley Rd. Durand -- ph  815-248-4073). See his web site at JacksGrainAndGourds.homestead.com for more information.  There will be vendors, classes, and a bon fire with popcorn. 2009 was a great gourd growing year and Jack has thousands of gourds.  It was an especially good year for large bushel gourds, and he has over a l00 that weighed over 70 lbs.  Many have been cleaned for seeds, which he also sells. (A $1 entrance fee will be charged per person to cover the porta potty costs.)

Vendor information: contact Carol Lawrence cjvan@hotmail.com
 

Gourd Classes for May 1st and 2nd 

 Pre registration appreciated for the classses, but walk ins welcome as space allows. 
Class fee payment will be to the instructors at the festival. 
For more information contact: Carol Lawrence: cjvan@hotmail.com


MAKE A BUNNY HONEY: Wax resist process using India ink. It is fun, easy, and produces a unique gourd medium. Explore the possibilities for spring and Holiday projects. In this class we will make a delightful spring bunny or animal of your choice, and more! All you will need to bring is your imagination, a medium sized artist's brush, and a bottle gourd in your choice of size(s). 
Jo Lakota, $10.00 Saturday 1 and Sunday 9

WOVEN GOURD VESSEL: A unique vessel and each will be different. Starting with a gourd that's cleaned, dyed, and drilled, students will use smoked reed for spokes and a variety of different sizes, colors, and types of reed to weave on the gourd. When finished, students can embellish with beads and feathers. Growing, harvesting, cleaning, and preparing the gourd for crafting will be discussed. Various sizes of gourds. 
Sandy Bulgrin, $29.00 Saturday 9 
PINE NEEDLES RIM: Using a prepared gourd that has been cleaned, dyed, and drilled; students will take pine needles and waxed linen or artificial sinew to attach the pine needles to the rim of the gourd. Create a unique vessel while learning to work with pine needles. Growing, harvesting, cleaning, and preparing the gourd for crafting will be discussed. Various sizes of gourds 
Sandy Bulgrin, $28.00 Saturday 1
FEATHERS: Learn to draw or Woodburn feathers to decorate and  embellish gourds. Students should bring a gourd if they would like to work on a whole gourd (many available at Jack's), a variable temperature wood burner with a skew tip if wood burning. Instructor will provide gourd shards, ink pens, two wood burners to share, instructions and demonstrations. 
Bonnie Cox, $20.00 Saturday 1 and Sunday 9
GOURD NECKLACE AND EARRINGS: Learn how to use gourd pieces in a fun new way! Using leather dyes, gold leaf, beads, metallic wire and other media we will create one-of-a-kind pieces of artistic jewelry that you can wear and enjoy on many different occasions. All materials provided. This will be a fun class from ages 9 to 99!! 
Maria Reese Class fee:  $25.00 Saturday 9 and Sunday 1
WALL HANGING GOURD MASK: We will begin with cleaned and cut pieces of gourds to create these "gourdgeous wall-mounted gourd masks! Using masking tape, gold leaf flakes, leather dyes, raffia, dried botanicals, pearl pigments and feathers students will learn techniques that will serve them with other gourd projects! Come and join us in this fun packed class! 
Maria Reese,  $25.00 Saturday 1 and Sunday 9 
HUMMINGBIRD CUT OUT:  We will begin with cleaned colored finished gourd. The template will be provided; You will need to bring a microlux (or equivalent) saw and learn some new cutting techniques. 
Joyce Dankowski, $30.00, Sunday 1 

Lodging: The hotel of choice for the Region 7 Gourd Festival at Jack's Grain and Gourds is the Hampton Inn in Freeport.  l09 S. Galena Ave.  1-815-232-7100. Mention that you are coming to the Gourd Festival and lodging includes breakfast and costs $79 a night. Four people are allowed per room which has two queen beds. The hotel is l7 miles from the festival which is in the country. This is the closest possible motel.

Some photos from last year: