The Pennsylvania Gourd Society would like to give a special thank you to the Lebanon County Commissioners for awarding grant funding for the Pennsylvania Gourd Festival. Without their gracious grant opportunity, we would not be able to continue to provide visitors to the Lebanon Valley area the opportunity to explore and learn about gourds through this great festival.

2025 PA Gourd Art Show and Festival Theme: Mystical

We started with the simple idea of bringing together the gourd enthusiasts with the community to share the love of gourd art, craft and growing. From our chapter founders to our newest members, we put lots of love and careful thought into all we do. We hope you enjoy all we have to offer at the 2025 PA Gourd Festival and share the experience with others.

Class Schedule:

Thursday all day
Choose one. Do Not choose a Thursday morning or afternoon class.

Lidded Basket - Jen Nailor
Thu, Jun 12
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EDT
$70.00

In this class the focus is coiling pine needles so the gourd and lid fit properly to create the finished project. This is an all day class working with a 5 inch gourd bowl, thick leather and glycerin treated pine needles. Jen will provide all the materials but students are encouraged to bring nippers, sharp basket scissors (not fabric scissors) and an apron to protect your clothes. Jen will review how she prepares the pine needles, leather, and gourd bowl.

This can be a beginners’ class but experience with gourds and pine needles is helpful. Jen will dye the bowls due to the time needed to finish the project. Students should email Jen with their color preference.

Thursday Morning Classes
Select only one class from this section.

Snowman Ornament (Thursday Morning) - Jeanne Dierwechter
Thu, Jun 12
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT
$31.00
This project is available for all skill levels. You will be learning to work with Quick wood. I will be supplying the following: Shard of gourd, Quickwood, paint, finishing spray, glitter, string or wire for a hook and rubber gloves. Please bring any tools you feel you may need to shape your piece of Quickwood. I recommend a small knife and tweezers.

Thursday Afternoon Classes
Select only one class from this section.

Snowman Ornament (Thursday Afternoon) - Jeanne Dierwechter
Thu, Jun 12
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
$31.00
This project is available for all skill levels. You will be learning to work with Quick wood. I will be supplying the following: Shard of gourd, Quickwood, paint, finishing spray, glitter, string or wire for a hook and rubber gloves. Please bring any tools you feel you may need to shape your piece of Quickwood. I recommend a small knife and tweezers.

Checkerboard Basket (Thursday) - Jim Anspach
Thu, Jun 12
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
$61.00
This is NOT a beginner’s class. We will be using a 4 rod wale weave to make a checkerboard pattern. Instructor will supply everything that is needed. It is recommended that students bring a towel and apron.

Nessie - Jenn Avery
Thu, Jun 12
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
$56.00

Burn Nessie the Loch Ness Monster using your pyrography tool onto a gourd vase, then use mixed media for colorful accents. We will be using a spear tip for lines and a shading tip to shade Nessie with some Celtic spirals on her body. This is a beginner friendly class, but it would be helpful if you have some pyrography experience.

You will need to bring your variable temperature pyrography tool with spear and shader pens.

Everything else will be included for you to finish the Nessie gourd.

Fiery Gold Leaf Tree - Roxan O'Brien
Thu, Jun 12
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
$65.00
This lovely pendent is created using gold leaf on colored pencil on copper. You will learn how to apply gold leaf to metal and how to color metal using colored pencils. All supplies and metal will be provided by the teacher.

Vineyard Bowl (Thursday Afternoon) - Ana Poma
Thu, Jun 12
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
$76.00
Students will learn how to use ash with oil to paint vineyard lines. This technique is still applied by traditional Peruvian artists. The combination of ash and oil will give a fine and organic finish to the carving. Students will need a carving tool with a very small round bit. (These are available at Lowe’s) Students should also have an apron and a mask.

Thursday Evening Classes
Select only one class from this section.

Fancy Fish - Judi Fleming
Thu, Jun 12
6:00 PM - 9:30 PM EDT
$56.00
In this class you will learn how to create realistic trout from banana gourds. You will also learn excellent tips and tricks for both QuikWood and painting techniques with shiny finishes. Students will create two different trout or fish of their choice. ALL supplies are provided for doing this class and no previous experience is necessary. Note: You may not complete both gourds with the time provided, but you will indeed have all the skills to complete it on your own.

Etched Christmas Ornament - Ana Poma
Thu, Jun 12
6:00 PM - 9:30 PM EDT
$66.00

In this lesson we will see how our small ornaments take on a different color when boiled with aniline. The COCHINILLA: is an insect that lives under cactus . From these small insects we can extract different varieties of colors called aniline.

Once our ornament is dyed in the color we want, we draw a pretty butterfly and then carve it with a small drill bit. Students will need a carving tool with a very small round bit. (These are available at Lowe’s) Students should also have gloves, an apron, and a mask.

Birds of a Feather - Roxan O'Brien
Thu, Jun 12
6:00 PM - 9:30 PM EDT
$70.00
Create this whimsical bird with the look of an enameled piece without the use of a kiln! This amazing technique uses colored pencil and permanent ink to color a copper surface. In this workshop you will learn how to create these “birds of a feather” by preparing copper to accept hand-applied color for a permanent effect, and how to use metal stamps, fluid color, and patina to design a beautiful pendant you can be proud of. Beginners welcome! No prior skill or experience is needed. Material fee $10 for the readymade copper bird, payable at time of class.

Friday all day
Choose one. Do not choose a Friday morning or afternoon class.

Kokapelli Wallhanging or Basket- Jen Nailor
Fri, Jun 13
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EDT
$65.00

In this class Jen will share her technique for creating unique centers for pine needle baskets. The Kokopelli center is made with quikwood, enamel paint, and leather. Students will receive a finished center due to the drying time but Jen will explain her process.

Jen will teach the technique to coil the pine needles around the center with beads and finish work. This is an all day class. Students should be able to finish the project either making a wall hanging or basket.

The class is good for beginners or experienced students. Jen will supply all the materials but students should bring nippers and sharp basket scissors (not fabric scissors).

Green Man - Jenn Avery
Fri, Jun 13
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EDT
$86.00

This gourd project class combines pyrography with colored pencil.

The morning session will give you a shading workout as you create the tonal values for a Green Man. Green Men, or more specifically foliate heads are fanciful stone carvings of leafy faces and are found in some medieval churches in Europe.

The afternoon session you will learn how to use colored pencil over the pyrography. I will show you how to layer your pencils for interesting color shifts and how to make it work with the pyrography, not against it.

You will need a variable temperature pyrography tool with a shader.

Everything else will be included for you to finish your Green Man.

You are welcome to bring your own colored pencils if you would like to use different colors.

Friday Morning Classes
Choose only one class from this section.

Sunflower Thunder Drum - Sylvia Bisker
Fri, Jun 13
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT
$51.00
Students will need a woodburner with cutting tool. They will learn how to burn in a pattern and then will be painting it. After that students will learn how to turn their gourd into a thunder drum with a resonating membrane and spring.

Geometric Bowl - Ana Poma
Fri, Jun 13
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT
$76.00
In this class we will use the burning technique with a small torch and for our decoration we will use the eggshell. Students should bring a carver with various drill bits as well as a mask and apron.

"Gourdeous" Giraffes - Judi Fleming
Fri, Jun 13
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT
$56.00
In this class you'll learn how to do balanced armatures in gourds, how to attach items for charming giraffes of different sizes and lots of tips and tricks for QuikWood and shading with painting. ALL supplies are provided for doing this class and no previous experience is necessary. Note: You may not complete this project with the time provided, but you will indeed have all the skills to complete it on your own.

Friday Afternoon
Choose only one class from this section.

Vineyard Bowl (Friday Afternoon) - Ana Poma
Fri, Jun 13
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
$76.00
Students will learn how to use ash with oil to paint vineyard lines. This technique is still applied by traditional Peruvian artists. The combination of ash and oil will give a fine and organic finish to the carving. Students will need a carving tool with a very small round bit. (These are available at Lowe’s) Students should also have an apron and a mask.

Copper and Brass Pendant - Roxan O'Brien
Fri, Jun 13
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
$54.00
This is your chance to be creative by choosing from many focal cabochons of your choice and create a fun piece of jewelry. You will learn how to set a rivet, how to use metal stamps and learn how to patina metal. No experience needed to create this fun piece.

Checkerboard Basket (Friday) - Jim Anspach
Fri, Jun 13
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
$61.00
This is NOT a beginner’s class. We will be using a 4 rod wale weave to make a checkerboard pattern. Instructor will supply everything that is needed. It is recommended that students bring a towel and apron.

Spiritual Spheroid - Barb Talijan
Fri, Jun 13
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
$81.00
Students will learn some basic off-loom bead weaving techniques to surround their gourd with spokes, loops and swags of beads. Students will be using seed beads, 2 hole Karo or Tila beads and crystals. They will learn how to adjust the pattern to fit different sizes of gourds. All materials will be included in the kit - all beads, beading needle, thread and bead mat. Students will need - fine point scissors, magnification if needed (such as reader glasses), and optionally beeswax.

Stained Glass Butterfly Gourd - Matt Goehring
Fri, Jun 13
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM EDT
$61.00
In this class you will learn how to make this faux stained glass gourd. Techniques you will learn are gourd dying and faux stained glass. All materials will be provided. This class is appropriate for all skill levels.

Friday evening
Choose only one class from this section.

Gourd Trinket Box - Sheryl Scott
Fri, Jun 13
6:00 PM - 9:30 PM EDT
$51.00
Students will get to wood burn a design onto a small canteen gourd that has been pre-cut and cleaned out. If time allows, students will get to put Welburn transparent acrylics and ink dyes onto their design. They will also learn to put hinges and add a handle onto the top as well.

Snowfall Ornament - Ana Poma
Fri, Jun 13
6:00 PM - 9:30 PM EDT
$46.00
Create your own snowfall in a small ornament. You will be provided with a small dyed gourd so you can practice carving. A small touch of white paint will bring life to your snowfall. Students will need a carving tool with a very small round bit. (These are available at Lowe’s) Students should also have an apron and a mask.

Saturday Classes
Select Only One Class from this Section

Sunflower Birdhouse - Eloise Stevens
Sat, Jun 14
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM EDT
$41.00
Students at All levels will create a Finished Birdhouse. Using your wood burner to outline a flower and bird design to a large 8 to 12” cleaned out gourd with entrance hole and clean-out door started. Then apply dye to your two-toned birdhouse. Design and use your carver to carve a trench to fit and inlay a string of beads if so desired. Then seal the gourd and apply hardware for the clean-out door. All materials provided to create similar birdhouse in photo. Dyes colors and beading may vary. Students will need a woodburner and apron for this project.

Black Vase - Ana Poma
Sat, Jun 14
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM EDT
$106.00
In this class we will use a large torch to blacken half of our gourd. We will then carve using different sizes of drill bits. We will also use woodburning to burn an additional design. Students should bring a carver with various drill bits as well as a mask and apron. You will learn to remove the skin of a gourd as well as provide texture. A woodburner with a shading tip will also be used.

Mini Lighted Christmas Tree - Betsy Murphy
Sat, Jun 14
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM EDT
$71.00
Students will use large egg gourds to create a Christmas tree, lit from within by a wine bottle cork light. Holes will be drilled in the gourd in whatever pattern is preferred to allow the light to shine through. The gourd will be painted and small adhesive crystals will be available if "bling" is desired. Materials to complete 2 trees will be provided. At least 1 will be completed in class. A Fill-a-point bur will be provided to use and kept by the student. The student needs to bring a rotary tool capable of holding a 1/8th" shank, mask and apron.

Animal Ornaments - Judi Fleming
Sat, Jun 14
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM EDT
$56.00
In this class you will learn how to envision all kinds of critters in different shapes of gourds. You will also learn excellent tips and tricks for both QuikWood and painting techniques. Students will create three different critters of their choice. ALL supplies are provided for doing this class and no previous experience is necessary. Note: You may not complete all three gourds with the time provided, but you will indeed have all the skills to complete it on your own.

Colorful Home for Feathered Friends - Eli Smucker
Sat, Jun 14
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM EDT
$51.00

Students will apply alcohol inks on a birdhouse gourd to create a colorful home for feathered friends. Suitable for any level. Students need an apron and (optional) gloves. Instructor will provide all materials.

You may add a sentiment if you wish.

Date and Time:

June 12, 2025 7:30AM-5:00 PM
Evening Classes 6:00PM-9:30 PM

June 13, 2025 7:30AM-5:00 PM
Evening Classes 6:00PM-9:30 PM

June 14, 2025 8:30AM-3:00 PM

Venue:
Lebanon Valley Expo Center and Fairgrounds
80 Rocherty Road
Lebanon, PA 17042

Register Here

For more info https://www.pagourdsociety.org/2024-pa-gourd-fest-general-info.