Inaugural meeting of TGS Arlington Gourd Patch

Several demonstrations of crafted gourds. Lively discussions regarding growing, harevsting, storing and crafting gourds. Raffle of several items donated by or obtained by club board members for the (Geraldine Mills, director of the Fielder House Museum - our meeting place - assisted with the raffle. A “hands-on” technique class, a “Make It and Take It” project session.

First Annual Front Street Festival and Dedication of Knapp Heritage Park

TGS Arlington Gourd Patch manned a table that included informational matrerials regarding gourds and their heritage, growing, and uses. We also had for sale: gourd seeds, childrens' coloring books, raw gourds for decorating, and some crafted gourd items. Membership applications to TGS were made available to visitors.

Texas Gourd Society Ninth Annual Show and Sale, Travis County Exposition Center, Austin, TX

TGS Arlington Gourd Patch members/officers Robbie Pritchard, Cindi Creswell, and Esther Chambliss assisted in judging dried and crafted gourd items in about 50 categories. Craft book author Jim Widess was at the show, autographing covers for his new book, not yet available in stores. Many vendors were selling raw and cleaned gourds and many artists displayed and sold their finished products.

TGS Arlington Gourd Patch members had a table at which we distributed lots of information about our patch. We also sold hand-crafted items by Esther Chambliss, gourds and seeds from Robbie Pritchard, and lots of gourd crafting embellishment items from Cindi Creswell. At least seven TGS Arlington Gourd patch members were seen at the show.

Texas Garden Clubs, Inc, District II Fall Convention at the Bob Duncan Community Center in Vandergriff Park, Arlington, Texas.

TGS Arlington Gourd Patch hosted a table where we distributed patchm, TGS, and gourd information. Items for sale included seeds, gourds and plants from Robbie Pritchard and hand-crafted items by Esther Chambliss.

TGS Arlington Gourd patch monthly meeting.  Discussion of the calendar of events for this year - patch meetings, events and garden shows to be attended, the TGS State Fall Show and Sell in Austin, etc. Raffle of several items donated by or obtained by patch members.  Members had a choice of a "hands-on" technique class - a "Make It and Take It" project or a refresher/repeat of the November program on Kumihimo, the Japanese art of creating braid by weaving, to be used in decorating gourds.

TGS Arlington Gourd Patch monthly meeting. Program presented by Steve Schoolar, who makes his living woodcarving. Steve has a PhD in education administration; he teaches at TCC and at the Woodcarvers store in Fort Worth. He specializes in portraits and relief carving.  Steve has been the Texas state champion in woodcarving twice.  Refreshments.  Raffle Items.  Show-and-tell.

Our one year anniversary!!

TGS Arlington Gourd Patch monthly meeting. Program - overview and discussion of wood burning, including techniques to transfer your pattern to your gourd or gourd piece. Finalize the Christmas basket for the TGS Fall Show and Sell in Austin.  Birthday party!!!  Discussion of, nomination and vote on new slate of officers - terms of office to begin January 2006.  Refreshments.  Raffle Items.  Show-and-tell.

Arlington Historical Society's Second Annual Front Street Festival.  Arlington, Texas.

TGS Arlington Gourd Patch hosted an information and items-for-sale table. Distributed information on gourds, gourd history, and Texas Gourd Society.

Texas Gourd Society's 10th Annual State Show and Sell, Austin, TX at the Palmer Events Center,  900 Barton Springs Road.

Arlington Gourd Patch members led and participated in classes and seminars on Friday. They had a booth at the Show and sold gourd art and craft creations, as well as gourd embellishment items. We also hosted a Make-It and Take-It table for Show attendees to try their hand at gourd craft. Arlinigton Gourd Patch members created items for a Christmas-theme basket and donated the basket as one of the Raffle prizes. We are proud to say our basket was the first to be chosen in the periodic drawings.

At our November meeting, we had our gift exchange and party. Cindy Baird of Paradise Valley Natural Skin Care Products in Arlington gave an informative talk on how she handcrafts the soaps, bath, and skin care products that her family produces. Cindy demonstrated the Luffa gourds that she purchases to use in her skin care baskets, as well as many of the herbal products she uses. Cindi Creswell led a discussion and demonstration of wood burners and showed a comparison of wood burner tips. Our Show and Tell this month included lots of photos from the October Show.

Our meeting this month was cancelled due to inclement weather. The program was to be Pine Needle Weaving on Gourd Rim, led by B.J. Conrad.  This program has been rescheduled for May 19, 2006.

TGS Arlington Gourd Patch monthly meeting, with 1 members attending. The program was a talk and discussion of growing strategies led by Don Graves.   Don is a native Texan, a Master Gardener and a composter. He dealt with questions about soil, growing conditions, and soil additives. Following the talk, we had a hands-on painting workshop. Show-and-Tell. Raffle. Refreshments. Discussion of anything gourd-related.

Texas Gourd Society Spring Business Meeting

• Waco Convention Center - 100 Washington Avenue, Waco, Texas
• Ranger Room, street level, behind the stairs
• 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
• Election of new officers for  positions being vacated
• Update on Fall Show event (also at this location)
• Box lunch
• Seminars and demonstrations
• TGS Board meeting following general meeting

Fort Worth Herb Society Annual Show, held at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens. 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.  Arlington Gourd Patch hsoted a table promoting gourds and gourd information.  We sold many plants from Robbie Pritchard and Esther Chambliss to benefit the patch.