Gourd Designs
by Melissa
Birdhouses
Designing Birdhouses
at Rogers Public Library
(July 7, 2009)
How do you create 8 unique birdhouse designs with 8 gourds?
With 8 students. It was easy for them! And the designs were very well done.
"Between Friends"
A friend of mine makes lovely traditional birdhouses but wanted a gourd birdhouse with hummingbirds. Although I design gourd birdhouses, I wanted a traditional birdhouse. So we decided to make birdhouses and exchange them.
This nicely shaped gourd has been one of my favorite. It has a nice thickness, a symmetrical shape, a hard shell and even a nice stem. These were perfect qualities for designing this gourd to give to my friend.
"Nature's Door"
Nature amazes me in that it offers so many lessons which can be applied to life, yet it is so subtle. These branches actually grew intertwined and formed the perfect opening for this birdhouse and a perch for the residents. The correct size for most birdhouse openings is 1-1/4" -- large enough for a bird to enter and exit, but small enough to keep squirrels and other predators out!
"Nature's Gift"
The roof of this bird house is made from black walnut hulls. Each hull is drilled -- using tooth picks as dowels, then glued to the gourd. The canopy is a leftover piece from the Bronze Flowerpot in the Vessel category. The ice storm has covered the trees in the background. Burrrrr......
"Three Hummers"
Three Hummingbirds adorn this birdhouse which measures about 13 inches tall. I could not resist the opportunity to decorate my smallest gourds with hummingbirds as well. The small gourds are 2 inches tall.
Bottom Left: The Cuban Hummer (also known as the Bee Hummingbird - Caloypte Helena) is the tiniest bird in the world, measuring only 2-1/4 inches long and weighing 1/15 of an ounce.
Bottom Right: The Broad-billed Hummer grows up to 4 inches long and nests in southern Arizona.
"Wind of Change"
The brush strokes on this birdhouse is like the wind blowing from all directions bringing change and opportunities for growth.
"Deer Haven"
These woodland creatures ( two squirrels, an owl and a deer) are a daily sight in my neighborhood. This canteen shaped gourd is 10 inches tall and 5 inches thick (from back to front) and should make a wonderful home for a feathered friend.
"The Invitation"
Three flowers and four hummingbirds are inviting some worthy bird to live in this palace.
