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Simple Ramblings From A Prim Cottage


Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Tuesdays Display Chain ~ Sharing Secrets and Ideas

Todays display chain theme is about sharing a tip,technique or decorating secret.I'm still sick so didn't feel like crafting.A few people have emailed in the past and ask about how to dry gourds.Well in the late summer to early fall you can pick or buy them green and sit them in a corner of the garage or wrap with some floral wire and hang.They dry naturally.Don't leave in the field or outside as alot will just rot and crack from the wetness and freezing.In about 2 months they'll be dry.They get a thin layer of mold on them so make a solution of 3 parts water to one part bleach and wipe down..This will give you the natural look like this one...
If you want a pretty or stained gourd than lightly sand it to get most of the spots out.I know alot of people buy special inks and stains but I usually just use regular stain that I usually pic up on the clearance rack at lowes the one below was done with a orange stain that I added a little dark brown stain to to give a pumpkin color.....
Well girls Thanks for stopping by.I'm going back to the couch to try to kick this cold/flu bug.Stop over at Misi's to see all the other links or join in the fun.Warm Blessings!~Amy

22 comments:

frontporchprims said...

Thanks Amy. I was planning on planting some gourds this summer and now I know how to preserve them and make them look gorgeous. Hope you start feeling better soon. It's awful to be sick at this time of year. -Steph-

Traci~Moon Gypsy said...

Thanks for sharing this Amy.. I have dried gourds in the past but have never stained them. Love the look.

Hugs,
Traci

Deppen homestead 1862 said...

hi, Amy~ not feeling better yet, girl you need to shake that nasty bug~
Glad you joined in I stink at drying them~ seems like no matter where I put them they rot~ ugh, this year I am going to try to hang them & keep my fingers crossed~
thanks for the secrets~
Get well~
smiles
Teresa

Robyn ♥ said...

I LOVE GOURDS!! Thanks for the tip, I may have to try this!
I sure hope you feel better soon! Thanks a lot for joining in while you are sick!! Such a display chain trooper!!

Karen~The Barely There Primitive Bear said...

Hope you get to feeling better, soon! Love that orange gourd!

Bear Hugs & Blessings~Karen

Raymond Homestead said...

I love decorating with gourds! I will have to remember how to dry them! Hope you get to feeling better!

dee begg said...

Amy,

Sorry to hear you are down with a bug. Thanks for the tip on drying gourds...now if I can just get the hubby to grow some.

D

prims by olde lady morgan said...

Amy,

I was so hoping you were feeling better...ugh... soon, I so hope for you!

Great tip! I always thought just keeping them out during the fall would work, but they rot, I will be drying some gourds this fall! OLM

Marilyn said...

I hope you feel better FAST. Thanks for the tip to check the clearance on stains at Lowes. I had never heard of it. I will ask my local one where theirs is.

1890* said...

Bless you sweet Amy! I thank you with much admiration for posting today. You are such a trooper. -I hope you are feeling better soon. {{HUGS}}

Christine said...

Aww thanks for sharing this even though you're still under the weather!
Hope you feel better real soon!
Christine

TheCrankyCrow said...

So sorry to hear that your uninvited bug guest is still there...Truly hope you get to feeling better soon. It's beginning to sound like a trip to the dr might be in order?

Thanks for the info on the gourds - I LOVE dried gourds, but, like Teresa, haven't had much luck, even though I bring them inside. Perhaps one of 10 dry without rotting....I've even taken to drilling a small hole in the bottom for drying to not much avail. Sigh. Perhaps I'll try again.

Kudos to you for joining in even though you're under the weather. Isn't looking like I'll make it this time around - if possible, seems like my dysfunctional family took a turn for the even-more-twisted, so I've been blog-challenged lately.

Smiles & Hugs ~ Robin

Jan - Life on Buttermilk Hill said...

Great tip!! Hope you fight off this bug soon! Feel better--Jan

Mary said...

Thanks Amy for that tip. I dried my gourds from fall and a couple have mold on them. I didn't know what to do.. Now I do.. Hope you get better soon!! Mary

Prims By The Water said...

Thanks for the gourd tip Amy. Hope you feel better. My Bob has the bug too. Tak care, Janice

Robin at The Primitive Hutch said...

Wonderful post Amy!!!
Thanks so much for sharing!!!
Hope you get rid of that flu bug soon!
Take Care!
Prim Blessings
Robin

Cherry's Prairie Primitives said...

I hope you feel better soon. You read my mind because I wanted to work on painting some gourds this fall and I didn't know the best way to dry one myself. Thanks!!

Kendra said...

I'll be...I never knew that they stained the gourds to be the diff colors! I learn something new everyday! I do want to plant egg gourds this year...now I know what to do to preserve them, thanks!

Hope you feel better soon!

Kendra

Beckyjean said...

Hi Amy~

Hope you're feeling better soon. Love the stained gourd. I may have to try growing some of my own this year.

Have a wonderful day~Becky

Sandi @ The Primitive Skate said...

Thanks for the tips Amy! I have grown gourds years ago, with no success, Lol! I want to try again. I too, have been sick since the weekend. I cannot take off work, so I have been dragging my butt to work, everyday. Can't wait until Friday, I have the weekend off. Hope you feel better soon.

sandraallen260@centurytel.net

Trace4J said...

Love love love those gourds.
Hope you are feeling better soon.
Hugs to you
Trace

www.grannytracescrapsandsquares.com

Angie Berry ~ Berry Homespun Primitives said...

Great tip Amy! Oh my goodness, your last picture makes me long for fall, lol. I could keep my fall decor out year round but my family says no. =[