The 50 or so members of the Old Pueblo Gourd Patch don't reserve carving a hard-skinned vegetable for the Halloween season. These folks carve, paint and decorate gourds all year round, selling them at fairs, entering them in shows and providing unusual décor around the house.
About five years old, the Old Pueblo Gourd Patch includes mostly hobbyists, but fine artists who regularly show in galleries also join for activities, says founding member Bonnie Gibson.
● Details: The club meets every month except August and December. Generally, meetings are held on the last Monday of the month at the University of Arizona Agriculture Center, 4210 N. Campbell Ave. The location and date may change to accommodate center activities. Dues are $10 a year.
● Sample meeting topics: Decorating with feathers, using power tools for carving, inks and dyes for coloring gourds. Each session includes gourd sales, show and tell and problem-solving.
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● Year's biggest events: Participation in the annual Gourd Festival and annual Arizona Gourd Society competition in Casa Grande (next one: Feb. 2-4).
● Other fun stuff: Community service projects such as a recently crafted gourd quilt that the club donated to a charity.
● Latest buzz: "Gourds are finally getting recognized as fine art instead of just craft," says Gibson. "It's getting out of that birdhouse craft," especially in the Southwest.
● Where members hang out: Michaels stores to find embellishments and supplies and Wuertz Farm Casa Grande for gourds.
● More information: 744-3884 or www.arizona gourds.com/oldpueblo. html online.
● Around the house: Birdhouses, bird feeders, wind chimes and ristras for the garden; sculptures, decorative bowls and vases for indoors.
● Tell us about a local group whose interests add beauty and value to the home or garden. E-mail athome@azstarnet.com.