This is the book,The Complete Book of Gourd Craft: 22 Projects - 55 Decorative Techniques - 300 Inspirational Designs, first published in 1996, authored by Jim Widess and Ginger Summit, that has made possible every gourd craft related book that has followed. Previous to The Complete Book of Gourd Craft it had been years since the publication of any gourd crafting title of consequence; and its introduction immediately obsolesced every previous publication, relegating them to the status of collectible ephemera, and at the same time was instrumental in elevating gourd craft and crafters to a status of art and artists, to be taken seriously by a public newly exposed to the medium of gourds.
In seven chapters The Complete Book of Gourd Craft began the process of tapping into a broader public interest than had previously been attempted or achieved. Chapter One, What is a Gourd?, explains what the heck are these things and where do they come from?
Chapter Two, General Processes, begins the process of helping the reader understand what the heck a person would do with a gourd once they had one, and includes the first five projects. Cutting and cleaning (outside and inside); exterior and interior finishes; stabilizing the gourd; attaching pieces; and handles, lids, and hinges are covered.
Chapter Three, Color, offers seven projects, and covers Waxes and Polishes; Inks, Stains, and Dyes; Airbrushes and Stencils; Paints; and Metallic Finishes.
Three projects are presented in Chapter Four, Pyrography and Carving, which introduces Woodburning Techniques; Carving Techniques; Inlay; and Lattice Work.
Chapter Five, Basketry and Weaving, adds four more projects, and discusses Wrapping and Coiling; Couching; Twining; Split Gourd and Slit Weaving; Netting; Knotless Netting; as well as Teneriffe and Tapestry Weaving.
Chapter Six, Other Materials and Techniques, rounds out the offerings with the last three projects, and explores the use of Clay; Collage and Decoupage; Figures; and the always mysterious catch-all phrase 'Other Applications'.
Putting it All Together, Chapter Seven, including the title page, spends five pages on a project that brings together, presumably in harmonious fashion, a variety of the techniques previously presented; though I've always had the feeling that they ran out of both space and color with this chapter:((
The Complete Book of Gourd Craft: 22 Projects - 55 Decorative Techniques - 300 Inspirational Designs is a classic which remains a must have, is still absolutely useful, and is still stronger than most books of its type at presenting projects and information. Gallery type pictures typically make up the bulk of most gourd related 'project/how-to books'; nitty gritty detail and tightly focused content don't sell as well as incredible pictures of great work.
144 pages. Paperback.
ISBN-13: 978-1-887374-55-2
ISBN-10: 1-887374-55-8
