The gourds are picked and washed with bleach water and left to dry for 6 months to a year depending on the size.

After drying, the gourds turn into a hard wood surface with a layer of mold.

She then takes the gourds and washes them again with bleach water to remove the mold and clean the surface.

 

 

Any excess is then sanded with a small hand sander!!

The gourds are then cut and cleaned and ready to design.

She will then draw a design and woodburn it into the gourd.

Leather dye is carefully applied to the design and then a clear coat of laguer.