Gourd Ornament Decorating with Abeni Pierson

Get creative and cozy up your holiday decor by decorating gourds with Abeni Pierson in a fun, hands-on session! Participants will be introduced to the beautiful world of gourd art. We’ll start with a quick overview of what gourds are, the different varieties, and how they’re grown. Before decorating, we’ll scrub and clean our gourds together. This step helps everyone understand the craft from the ground up and gets us connected to the material. I’ll briefly cover some of the traditional ways gourds have been used inside the US and around the world. Participants will get to experiment with several design techniques such as decoupage, engraving, and gold leaf appliqué. I’ll demonstrate each method and help you explore your own creative direction. Before we begin, I’ll provide clear safety instructions since we’ll be using Dremels and engraving tools. Gloves, goggles, and face masks will be provided for everyone. You’ll leave with a beautifully decorated ornament. If you want to continue exploring gourd craft at home, I’ll have additional blank gourds available for purchase.