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Reviews
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Margaret on Apr 29, 2022
5 out of 5 starsAnother beautiful ornament love this site very happy with purchase
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Margaret on Apr 28, 2022
5 out of 5 starsBeautiful ornament these I have out all year they are so wonderful
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Margaret on Apr 28, 2022
5 out of 5 starsExcellent quality more beautiful than even expected. Love this aritisty
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Margaret on Apr 28, 2022
5 out of 5 starsExcellent quality. Just beautiful always 100% pleased with my purchase
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Margaret on Apr 12, 2022
5 out of 5 starsBeautiful ornament I love pieces like this. Great gifts for friends and family and myself
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Margaret on Mar 30, 2022
5 out of 5 starsWonderful artistry in necklace. Very unique everything I received has been special. My favorite site to shop for gigts
About GourdsByGrace
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My interest in gourds started very early. Born and raised in Nigeria I saw the people used gourds for everything.
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When times are normal I do about 20 outdoor shows in a year. I love talking to people about gourds!
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My gourd art has been featured in many newspapers and magazines. This article was in San Diego Home and Garden.
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One of my customers sent me this wonderful photo of some of the gourd ornaments she has purchased from me.
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One of my gourds was featured on the cover of the American Gourd Society magazine along with a four page article.
American African is obsessed by Gourds
I am a gourd artist who used to be a watercolor painter. My interest in gourds began as a small child, born and raised in Nigeria. The Nigerian people use gourds for everything from storing food to spoons to holding cosmetics. When I saw a class on gourd art offered by San Diego Botanic Garden eleven years ago I decided to give it a try. The feel and smell of the burning gourd just took me “home”. I was hooked.
I purchase my gourds from Welburn Gourd Farm — uncleaned and uncut. First I soak and scrub farm dirt and the mold off of the gourds. Then I look at each gourd carefully for any flaws or cracks. Each gourd has its own personality and that often dictates what design I will burn into the gourd and whether it will stay whole or become a opened vessel. The mold that forms on the gourds makes patterns that can be used or disregarded depending on the design. Sometimes I have a very definite design in mind when I begin and sometimes I make it up as I goe along. Some gourds may take as little as two or three hours to complete. Others may take days or weeks.
Gourds have taken over my life. My brushes, paints and canvas have been pushed to one side (I was a water color painter for 20 years) as I explore the wonderfully tactile, three dimensional world of gourds. My gourds are sold through the Off Track Gallery located at 937 South Coast Highway 101, Suite C-103 (behind Starbucks), downtown Encinitas, CA 92024 and in person at outdoor shows throughout Southern California (when life gets back to normal). All current gourds available for purchase may be viewed at GourdsByGrace.com. Email swanson121 [!at] cox.net for prices and more information.
Shop members
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Grace Swanson
Owner
I am a gourd and pine needle basket artist. My interest in gourds began as a child — raised in Nigeria. Nigerians use gourds for everything. My gourd art pieces are cut, dremeled, dyed, carved, painted, beaded and finished with a UV acrylic spray.
Shop policies
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Returns & exchanges
I gladly accept returns and exchanges
I don't accept cancellations
The following items can't be returned or exchanged
- Custom or personalized orders
- Perishable products (like food or flowers)
- Digital downloads
- Intimate items (for health/hygiene reasons)
I accept returns I do not accept returns
I accept exchanges I do not accept exchanges
I accept cancellations I do not accept cancellations
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for: