One World One Heart OWOH

Hi there and welcome to my blog!! My name is Barbara Moore and I am a Gourd Artist living in Arkansas, USA. I love creating one of a kind Art pieces using the humble gourd. I love the fact that you can grow it, dry it, clean it, and then use several different techniques, everything from inks, dyes, and paints to decoupage, clay, wood burning and carving to create an Art piece that is truly unique, special and one of a kind. No two gourds are exactly alike and no two Artists work in exactly the same way.

Right now I want to show you the first prize that I will be giving away to some lucky blogger who comments on this post:

This is an apple gourd and is made into exactly what it represents. Doesn't it look like a nice shiny apple? I will post another prize later on if I receive enough comments. In order to be eligible to win the apple:
     1. You must be a blogger (from anywhere in the world)
     2. You must leave a comment on this post  (and a way to reach you if you win)
     3. The winner will be announced on February 17 and I will email the winner as well as post it.

This is my first year to participate in the OWOH event and the last year that Lisa plans on doing it. I hope there are many,many,many bloggers who join in. I can't wait to read you comments!

Snowy Day!

Woke up this morning to three inches of snow, more or less. It has been snowing all day so far and it really looks beautiful. I know that people back East are getting really tired of so much snow but this is the only snow accumulation that we've had so far this year. Wouldn't you know I had to get out in it today? Been at home all week and the one day I have to get out and accompany my husband to the doctor's office it snows.

I don't have any idea as to why the pictures above turned out two colors like they did but you all get the idea of the snow don't you? Unfortunately our temps tonight are supposed to dip down into the single digits. Can you say Brrrrr? I do not plan on going out anytime soon I can tell you! My prayers are with everyone who is dealing with disasterous weather right now, but I'm going to enjoy looking out at that snowy scene for a few days at least. lol

The Burial of a Nine year old and the 911 Flag

As many of you know, today is the memorial service and burial of Christina Green, the youngest victim of the Arizona Shooting a few days ago. Christina was born 9-11-01, a day that will always be remembered by the American people as a day when terrorists and their acts of senseless violence changed our country forever.

As a fitting tribute to Christina and also to the American people, the 911 Flag is being hoisted by two fire trucks over the door of the church where Christina's funeral will be held. Every person attending her funeral will pass beneath that flag.

I have seen that flag and touched that flag and placed a stitch in that flag as an act of repairing it and this great country of ours which has been ripped apart by the events that occured on 9-11. This past November, my husband (who's a veteran) and myself spent the majority of Veterans Week in Branson, MO. Every year that city puts on an extraordinary series of events which honor our nation's Veterans. The Veterans Coalition held a special service regarding the 911 Flag which has been touring the country asking people to be a part of repairing the Flag. The Flag is escourted by a member of the New York Fire Department.

A wonderful ceremony was held which included the history of the flag and how it came to be and was rescued from the ashes of 9-11-01. It was said that as that flag is mended so will our country be. Oh my how I wish that flag were completely mended! We gave a donation on that day to help with the cost of taking it across this country of ours and to help meet the needs of the wonderful people who have undertaken this project.

I hope that this flag and the little girl who was born on this day and tragically taken 9 1/2 years later will help to unite this country of ours and all of its citizens. I pray that the God who watches over us will lead us and guide us in all that we do and my sympathies and condolences are with the family of Christina today and always.

Barbara 

Hello My Blogger Friends

As you can see by the link on my sidebar to Cindy Adkins "I Owe It All To Him" featured blog artist button, yes my very kind friend has featured me on her blog. I feel so honored that she would think of me. Cindy is just that kind of wonderful person that anyone who has met her here in blogland knows is just the sort of special person that you really need in your life. She lifts her blogger friends up and genuinely cares for them. She has been such a great supporter of my gourd art that I would like to show you a few more of the pieces that I completed before Christmas:

Each gourd that I work with is grown here in the Ozarks. After growing for three months the gourd is left on the vine until the vine turns brown. Once the green gourd is harvested, it must dry over a period of another two - four months. After drying the gourd has to be cleaned by scrubbing all the mold off of it before it can be transformed. If a gourd is opened up up you must wear a mask while cleaning it or especially cutting and sanding it. I then do my thing so to speak to it. I use many different techniques on the gourds that I work with such as cutting, burning or carving and several different methods of applying color to the gourds. I've heard it said many times by artists who work with gourds that each particular gourd "speaks" to them and I have heard that call. Each one is unique and lets you know what it should become. Some gourds will set there for a long time before you figure out what they need to be, while others you know immediately. Working with gourds has really become a passion of mine and something that I truly love to create with. I thank you again Cindy for telling others about me and what I do with the humble gourd.