Gooseberry Lane Gourds

Coming soon to a store near you!

2012-02-13T13:32:00.000-08:00

I will have a dozen of these brooches in the Chandler Booktique at The Topeka & Shawnee Co Pub Library. I had only made three of these last year but the manager saw someone wearing one and asked me to make a special order. A bit rusty and boy are they time consuming but I got them done. Need to do about 30 more to get the process down better. Learning to photograph them. Not easy!

Featured at The Eclective

2012-01-13T11:37:00.000-08:00

1st 2012 First Friday Artwalk!

The Eclective, 900 N. Kansas Ave, will be hosting its monthly First Friday Artwalk on January 6. We will be open from 9 am to 9 pm and offer food and beverages for the event. Live entertainment for the family friendly event will be provided by Monks Wine beginning at 5:30. Featured Artists include Nancy Overmyer of Gooseberry Lane Gourds, original artwork by Jenny Unrein of Jenny LU Designs, and Jewelry Artists Laura Engelhardt of Ebb and Flow Arts. Local published author Max Yoho will also be present to sign his new book “Me & Aunt Izzy”. His other books will also be available.

It was quite a fun night. http://the-eclective.com/

brooches

2011-12-19T11:05:00.000-08:00

Check out this issue of the Arizona Gourd Newsletter for an article on all kinds of gourd jewelry. Mine is clear at the bottom of the article. Thanks Bonnie Gibson for asking me to be in the article.

Gourd Jewelry

2011-12-19T10:54:00.000-08:00

I love to create unique pieces of jewelry. Often times a shard (piece of beach pottery, pebble, or shell) on a shard (piece of gourd). Unique buttons are my favorite. I never run out of ideas. Which is good because I plan to continue my gourd/jewelry/art into my retirement.

KS Sunflower Exhibit

2011-11-23T09:19:00.000-08:00

It was quite fun to be part of this exhibit. It was juried so proud to be chosen. Sunflower art of all kind was displayed at Warehouse 414 Featuring art about sunflowers, using sunflowers, anything sunflowers!! (Juror: Mary Kennedy McCabe Director of Mid America Art Alliance Currated by: Marydorsey Wanless) http://www.warehouse414.com/featured-artists I entered my big sunflower gourd.

CASA Homes for the Holidays tour

2011-11-18T17:02:00.000-08:00

CASA Homes for the Holidays tour

Gourd Challenge

2011-10-13T13:20:00.000-07:00

At the Sept 1st Friday Art Walk in NOTO I couldn't resist becoming part of a fun artistic challenge. When I walked into one gallery The Eclective I saw a pile of gourds! Buy a gourd for $10 decorate it any way you want and bring it back to be judged by the public throughout Oct. I picked a beautiful gourd which became quite challenging to my artistic process as its color evolved with cleaning. I finally decided on a theme and design. The photo shows the evolution. Two sides not showing (you say a gourd has sides? yes this one had 3 definite sides, one reason I was drawn to it) are of the black bird building the nest and setting on the nest. Each gourd at the gallery will sell for $30.00 so this is a true bargain and the proceeds go to the winner's charity of choice. Mine = The Helping Hands Humane Society. Go vote and check out all the other unique gourd creations.
UPDATE! It won and $600 was collected for HHHS. I hope it helps keep some kitties and puppies warm.

Book Fairy Perch

2011-09-14T13:58:00.000-07:00

I've submitted this little guy and his perch in the library's Altered Book exhibit. Go check out the Altered Books 2011 entries at Topeka & Shawnee Co Public Library.

Gearing up for Fall!

2011-09-02T13:48:00.000-07:00

Trying new techniques (what I call faux batik below) and getting ready for a big show the end of October. I try to make several pieces of jewelry each week and a couple of gourds. Wish this heat would break. Two days lost this week because it was too miserable to go to the studio.

Altered Books

2011-08-06T12:11:00.000-07:00

I was asked to do a presentation at today's Altered Book Workshop at Topeka & Shawnee Co Public Library. Handy that I work there. About 20 people came to see a couple of my gourds where I used pages from old books to embellish the gourd. One was using decoupage and the other something new (for me) I'm playing with - paper beads. I had little kits for them all to try both techniques out. Here is the gourd that I used several paper beads on. They came from pages in an old Shakespeare text book.

August 1 article comes out!

2011-07-13T09:16:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to have an article published in Art Doll Quarterly (fall issue 2011). The artist Norma Stillwater sent me a note saying the publicity on the publisher's website was out and my fairies were featured under what they are previewing inside the fall issue (Thanks Norma) I'm very proud of this accomplishment. So click on the picture above to check it out.

Online Exhibit

2011-07-11T15:15:00.000-07:00

I entered 3 pieces of my jewelry in this online exhibit. http://www.ganoksin.com/exhibition/main.php
Down in the body of the page there is a small Gallery Search box, type my name Nancy J Overmyer and you'll see the 3 I entered. Even though it takes awhile to look at all 45 pages and 245 pictures it's a fun exhibit. Thanks Dawn for the photos and pointing this opportunity out to me. Here is a picture of one of them.

Gourd Fever

2011-07-08T13:50:00.000-07:00

I was interviewed by a great gourd company in Canada - Norther Dipper. They have a newsletter called Gourd Fever. I'm the featured artist in Volume 7 Issue 76. It was fun answering all their questions. One of my friends here said, "they make you sound cool." I said (jokingly)... " I am cool!"

I'm giving a program at the end of this month on Gourd History. It's been fun researching the history of this plant/fruit/veggie. My favorite quote, "before there was plastic there was the gourd." If anyone actually reads my blog. Come to my program July 28 7:00 pm and you can decorate your very own gourd to take home:)

Also check out this new book on gourds. I love it and wish I had the patience and skill to do some of these things. You can find it online of course but if you have a TSCPL card, we've got it.

Sunflowers selling!

2011-06-30T07:23:00.000-07:00

As much as a dread creating sunflowers I have to admit it's fun to see things sell. I need to quit experimenting and just decide on a style and stick with it. Even if I do them the same they are never going to be "the same". If you want to see my sunflower gourds check them out at the Kansas History Museum gift shop. They are moving to carrying more local artists that create things with a KS theme.

Published

2011-06-28T13:59:00.000-07:00

My first article about my gourd art will come out in Aug. It is a 3 page spread in Art Doll Quarterly. One of my online friends from CA told me about the gourd doll challenge and encouraged me to enter my fairies. They were accepted and will be in the fall issue. Very excited. One step closer to the 3 gourd books I want to publish. Got bored with sunflowers the other day and created a few little snails. Working on createing a "rout" of them (that's what you call a group of snails, I was leaning toward herd but..)
Pictures of the article coming as soon as it's released.

My 1st 1st Friday ArtWalk

2011-05-31T08:19:00.000-07:00

Actually my gourds and jewelry are always on sale/display for 1st Friday's at the Mulvane Art Gift Shop and at the Topeka Art Guild but this will be the first time I actually attend with a table full of my art. It's mostly KS themed because it's at the KS History Museum. Come see me, June 3rd , 5-8 Check out the 1st Friday Map. Here is one I did as a break from sunflowers. I hand-picked this gourd at the Show Me Gourd Show. The lid comes off. Tiwgs and brass beads.

KS Sunflowers!

2011-05-26T13:10:00.000-07:00

It's out 150th this year so everyone asking for KS themed gourds. This one will be on display next week 1st Friday ArtWalk at KS History Museum. Then I show it at a program at the library. KS Sunflower Music and Art Festival. All the art on display will have something to do with sunflowers. June 13 at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library. It's a huge bushel basket gourd about 24" across. Biggest I've ever tackled.

I'm back and busier than ever

2011-04-20T14:36:00.000-07:00

I said I wanted to take time and write this winter since it would be too cold to get in the studio. Well I sat down and tried to start my gourdling book but got distracted. Then as the law attraction does I was handed a better writing and creating opportunity. I submitted 3 of my fairies to the Art Doll Quarterly magazine. They accepted them and asked me to write an article. It should come out the 1st of August.

Then I worked hard and created some new gourds and submitted them to a book challenge for 600 gourds. They didn't get enough submissions to make it happen but it was a nice challenge. These two new gourds are the product of that.

I'm now working on Kansas themed gourds (sunflowers, wheat etc.) The struggle for me is to create them in a style that I like. I think I've just seen way too many sunflowers. But the KS History Museum has invited me to enter some in their gift shop so I'm trying! Will post when my set is done.

Gourds on display at Topeka Art Guild

2011-01-06T13:31:00.000-08:00

After being a member for 2 years I finally got some pieces over to the gallery. I think when I retire and have more time to devote to my art this will be a fun guild to belong to and get more involved with. Great artists always on display there. Topek Art Guild - Fairlawn Plaza

Anxious to get back into studio. Ideas brewing. BUT first I'm reorganzing everything top to bottom and getting an estimate on rennovation. So until spring setting up a space inside and starting on my books.

New experiment

2010-11-01T12:50:00.000-07:00

I'm not much into carving but I did want to play with these little twig cross-sections that I purchased. I carved a wavy band into the gourd and then inlaid these litte wood circles. I'm sort of glad it didn't sell at the show. Not ready to part with it yet.

The Market in Lenexa

2010-11-01T12:47:00.000-07:00

It was a great couple of days. Thanks go out to my friend Debbie who came down to help. Display before opening (one side anyway)

Debbie got a good shot during a busy time.

Little Houses

2010-10-19T06:44:00.000-07:00

It's fall and full scale production at gooseberry lane. Notice my constant gourd companion (Fiona) sitting on the tub outside my studio.

While cutting up a gourd to make some random shaped pins one reminded me of a little salt box house so I took a chance. Liked it so much a made about a dozen of them. Tell me what you think? I have a week and 1/5 to get ready for big show in Lenexa. I think I'll make it. The more pressure I'm under the more creative I get. WEIRD!

Exhibit Over

2010-10-01T17:13:00.000-07:00

My month long exhibit is over and another 400 mile trip to pick them up. Thanks Winfield Public for a great opportunity. You made a lovely display with my work. Now working like crazy to get ready for a show in Lenexa at end of October. The Market & Cookie Cafe - Oct 29 and 30th.

Winfield trip

2010-08-31T13:14:00.000-07:00

We made it to Winfield. There are now about 4 large cases now showing my gourds in their public library through all of Sept. I was surprised to find my work on the of their local entertainment newspaper "The Action!" It said "Nancy Overmyer's creative gourd art makes it to Winfield!" Iwas quite flattered. I gave a 1 hour program on gourd art history and project library. About 30 people attended. I met very nice librarians while I was there. Go to my website to see pictures of the gourds I have on exhibit.

Beat the Heat!

2010-07-26T07:35:00.000-07:00

It's been really hard to get in my studio and work because of the heat. Yesterday it was tolerable so I finished up one that has taken me a long time to do because I've had to create and attach many little gourd shard tiles. I think I like it. Not quite sure if it's done yet. Not quite sure I like the base. It's a process. Took some quick pictures this morning with my phone.

Exhibit in Winfield

2010-07-23T12:38:00.000-07:00

I have the date set for my first ever exhibit. I've been in group exhibits but not one just of my own creations. September 2010 at Winfield Public Library in Winfield KS. I will be giving a program on gourd history Sunday Aug 29 at 2:00 there also. Which reminds me I haven't sent them photos and a description yet. Must get on that. I'll also talk about Project Library. This is actually how I really got started on gourd art through books at my library. Check it out... You'll have to look back aways to see my entrty but it's there.

Nursery Rhyme inspiration

2010-05-21T10:16:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to finish an idea I had with using pages from a book on a gourd pin. I found this old nursery rhyme book that I acquired in a box of stuff at at auction. It has no cover and many pages are covered in crayon. But I was able to use several small pieces and put them on some gourd shards. I think I will make cards for them and place them under the title "Keep your childhood memories close to your heart", then inside the card I could have the whole rhyme included. I'm experimenting with a great stamp I bought and learning about embossing powders. Always fun to incorporate something to to keep the spark going.

To the Rescue!

2010-05-14T18:35:00.000-07:00

I stopped to help this little box turtle across the road. She sure has had a tough life from the looks of her shell. Sure hope that was the direction she was headed. What if she had finally made it to the other side and took one look back??? I have a whole children's story written about this topic. Someday I'll acutally send the manuscript off to a publisher. You'll be the first to know when I do that.

Schools out!

2010-04-14T15:05:00.000-07:00

These little fish are pretty time consuming but people seem to like them. The tails are the worst. If I get better at cutting them out it should be easier. They are brooches and now for sale at the gift shop at the ERC showcase house. I've worked several days making pins, gourds and pendants for this. Go check them out.

Kids were out or their gourds!

2010-03-09T08:48:00.000-08:00

I recently had a fun program at the library with about 35 teens. They had no idea what a gourd was but by the end of 2 hours they had all decorated one and I think had fun. I was most impressed with the boys. They were the ones that took the whole time to work intensely on their projects. Several are on display at TSCPL and also on our flickr page and I made a blog post.

Winter at Gooseberry Lane

2010-02-11T14:56:00.000-08:00

This was a beautiful morning even though I'm totally sick of winter and snow. That little green barn is my gourd art studio. I'm dying to get back to work. No heat! Soon... soon!

Happy Heart Day coming soon!

2010-01-12T14:43:00.000-08:00

I'm itching to get back in the studio. But arctic temps in KS are making it difficult. My little space heater won't cut it in below 0 temps. This coming spring I want to remodel and get a little wood stove going. Also put in a small airconditioner. Then I can work year round. Valentines is around the corner and I need to make heart pins. Holiday on Monday and maybe I can brave the cold. Gourd art is just plain messy sometimes so no way I can bring it into the house. Bought some unusual new buttons I'm anxious to work with too.

Gourd Artist Enthusiasts

2009-12-28T11:49:00.000-08:00

Just joined a nice website for gourd artists. http://gourdartenthusiasts.ning.com/profile/NancyJOvermyer

It was recommended by another gourd artist. It was created by a terrific gourd artist from Arizona. I've seen many of her pieces in gourd books. This is one of my favorites, Beyond the Basics Gourd Art and can be found at my library hopefully yours too. http://www.tscpl.org/ I highly recommend it.

Kid's Stuff

2009-12-23T07:43:00.001-08:00

I still like to think about kids crafts. My last book can still be found at Hot Off the Press in Canby OR. I have lots of new ideas and wish they'd ask me to do a new book. I also have notes and sketches for another book for kids about gourds. For the last 3 years I've said that's my winter project. If I don't get the projects done and the descriptions written I'll never get it sent to a publisher. I need a kick in the you know what. We did a fun kids gourd program at the library this year. I'm planning another one for Feb with teens. More of my past kids projects can be found on my Kids Stuff page.

Where to find my stuff

2009-12-14T09:15:00.000-08:00

I just received a nice email from a customer who is trying to find more of my art pins. Lucky for me not for her there isn't much left. Thought it would be a good time to list the places you could possible find my "stuff" though. Plus they are fun shops to visit.

Mulvane Museum Gift Shop - 17th & Jewell, Topeka, KS Washburn Campus
Rustic Treasures - 524 W Bertrand (hwy 24) St. Marys KS
Chandler Booktique, Topeka Shawnee Co Public Library - 1515 SW 10th Topeka KS

My goal for next Spring is to be in a shop in Lawrence and Manhattan. Any suggestions??? And to find an easy way to sell online. Anyone have any comments about Etsy or Artfire or just selling from a blog?

Fairy Folk

2009-12-11T07:46:00.000-08:00

Looking back at pictures of my fairies makes me miss them. I have only one right now sitting on my desk. They are very time consuming but they make people happy. I remember one lady looking at a batch of my fairies and she said "I don't know why but I just have to have one." Is that art? When something you make evokes a strong feeling in someone? When the temperature gauge is back above freezing I need to get back in the studio. I think it's time to move the wood stove in there and learn to use it.

Cock-a-doodle-do!

2009-12-02T16:09:00.000-08:00

I don't often like to turn a gourd into an animal or person but sometimes you can't help it. Chickens are fun and dear to my heart. If a gourd says it wants to be a chicken who am I to say no. Funny thing is a dear friend seems to latch on to them every year so I know they go to a good home. The little hen was the newest member this year.

Fish out of Water

2009-11-25T09:40:00.000-08:00

I've always struggled when it came to drawing fish. Then a couple of years ago I finally figured out a couple of little tricks and now I really like drawing fish...not tropical fish but just plain old pond or lake fish. Their colors seem to work well on gourds and people like them. Or at least they always buy them. When making my art pins this season I had one piece of shard that lent it self to a fish shape. Viola! I'm really pleased this one of a kind went to a dear friend.

Pitcher Perfect

2009-11-22T16:22:00.000-08:00

I have no idea how I cut this gourd and made the handle with out breaking it or making it crooked. It was just meant to be. I sold it at a nice little show the other day and I hope who ever bought it enjoys it. I really liked it and almost thought of keeping it.

gourdARTpins

2009-11-13T18:21:00.000-08:00

My plan is to open an http://www.etsy.com/ shop early 2010. Only hold up Internet! Gooseberry Lane does not get DSL or Cable. Intend to try the cellphone route. When I get that set up and get my office in order. I'll open up shop. I will be selling my gourd art pins. Made from shards of gourds, nice metal buttons, wire and a bit of gold leaf. I'll announce the opening when it happens.

The Geese are getting fat!

2009-11-13T18:07:00.000-08:00

Christmas is coming! I don't often do very many things that are holiday themed but I did do a few for one show. I kept them pretty simple. The colors on the trees seemed sort of weird at first but everyone says that's their favorite part.

Leaves, Birds, Nests and Eggs

2009-10-23T13:37:00.000-07:00

When I look out my studio window I'm inspired by leaves, trees, birds, vines, berries, insects, pods... it goes on. Why wouldn't I feel moved to make this part of my art.
I was searching in the library for books to inspire also. Found a lovely leaf book hidden in an odd "dewey" spot. Had to buy one for myself just to be able to keep it. Then Amazon was so smart they suggested another book. Checked the library first of course but someone else had decided they like it a little too much. So had to buy it too.

Leaves in Myth, Magic and Medicine (lovely illustrations).

Birds, Nests and Eggs (hoping to be inspired).

Golden Leaves of Autumn

2009-10-23T12:47:00.001-07:00

I call this my therapy gourd. I worked on it during a troubling time. Now when it finds a home maybe it will take some of that pain away with it. It's quite pretty if I do say so myself. Maybe that's a lesson in its self. Out of something ugly can come something beautiful. I ought to keep it just as a reminder.

Fall at Gooseberry Lane

2009-10-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

Busy into the season of gourds and learning about this new "blog" thing! Stumbling my way through it. To see more of my gourds you can go to http://www.gooseberrygourds.com/

New this year is my jewelry. I'll try to post pictures here soon. I make too many to even keep up with photos. I never throw a good piece of gourd away. So the shards as they are called are being repurposed into Art jewelry, pins and pendants at the moment. I love doing them so it's helped me get back into the groove and even creating some whole gourd projects.

A couple of small shows coming up in Nov. Then my goal is to open up a shop on etsy.com next year. Wish me luck. Yet again one more new thing to learn.