Washington State Gourd Society

Welcome to the home of the

We are the Mu Chapter of the American Gourd Society

The Trading Post

Do you have items that you would like to sell, trade, want or give away?

Any item posted will remain here until you ask that it be removed. If you would like to post your items please email Oz (ozmail@comcast.net) with a description, price or trade value along with a picture of the item if you have one. Oz will post an item but will not moderate between individuals, this will be left up to you the seller or consumer. Let the bartering begin:

Attention - MUST be a current Washington State Gourd Society member to post items here, but anyone can barter for the items.

ITEMS FOR SALE:

Posted 3 April 2008 - I am a person who is passionate about Mexican Huichol Indian art. I have been bringing some of it in from Mexico for a few years. The art is created by applying beads to the surface of a gourd or carved form using beeswax as the adhesive. Wonderful designs are created using symbols important to their culture and religion. I have friends who have worked with a group of Huichol Indian families for some 15 years now. These friends live in Mexico near the Indians and provide them with a much smaller size of bead (size 14) than is readily available in Mexico. The art is just amazing and has been developed to such a high level and quality. They produce animals, masks, jewelry and prayer bowls. These bowls are the reason I joined the WSGS because they are made with the bottom of a gourd, which is cut off and forms a bowl shape. The inside is smoothed and beeswax is applied thinly. Then the tiny beads are applied to form beautiful designs, all of which are symbols important to them. The symbols include eagles, deer, and corn, flowers that they use in their ceremonies, snakes, scorpions and rabbits, among others. The colors are bright each bead is placed perfectly. These bowls are used in their ceremonies. I am so lucky to be able to bring these items up to the Northwest. These items are most definitely fair trade as the Huichol Indians are paid fairly for every piece of art and their piece rate increases each year. The beads, gourds, beeswax and carved wooden forms are supplied to them. They are able to live in their ancestral villages, which allow their culture to stay intact. Karen Fura, Cosas Bonitas Oregon, 971-212-3505, ktunnfura@msn.com below is a picture of one of the bowls.

houchia bowl

ITEMS FOR TRADE:

FREE TO GOOD HOME

WANTED ITEMS

Posted 9 May 2008 - We want your old craft tools, if you have or know someone that wants to donate old craft tools. These tools will help novice crafters on limited budgets enjoy the world of gourd crafting. Please contact Oz at ozmail@comcast.net if you have tools to donate.