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Ken and I attended the 11th Annual Gourd Art Festival in Fallbrook, California, this past June. A long trip, but it was great to be among so many other gourd artists again, and the artwork at the show was stunning. Here are the pieces I entered this year. My latest favorite is my interpretation of the Faberge Egg, pictured at left. It's difficult to see everything, but the birdcage inside holds a Bluebird (of Happiness, of course!) perched on a branch, also carved from a gourd. At one point during the sometime-frustrating creative process Ken asked, "Why don't you just throw it overboard and be done with it." I'm really glad I didn't, although I was tempted. For more photos of the festival, see www.calgourd.com.

I call this simply 'lumpy lamp', for lack of a better word. The lamp base and shade were molded while growing.

Just thought you might like to see what a hurricane looks like when it passes by. This was midday. "Dean" was a bit of a scare, but fortunately it passed us by with just some wind and rain. Good!