If you'd like to get started working with gourds, jump on in! This page will give you and idea of the tools and supplies you will need to get started. You don't necessarily need everything you see below, and as you grow in your craft, you quickly will identify other items, not shown below, that are essential to creating gourd art to your own standards. But the items below constitute a good basic list of tools and supplies.

First Things First

You can't get started working on gourds ... unless you have gourds! You can grow your own (see our Gourd Gardening FAQs page) or purchase them from a variety of suppliers. We highly recommend the Welburn Gourd Farm.

Critical Items 

		Protect your health! Before you cut open your first gourd, purchase (and wear) a quality protective mask, latex gloves, and other protective items as you may wish (such as a hat and "junky clothes"). Refer to our Health Precautions page for more information.
		3M's Model R-6211HC dual-cartridge respirator assembly mask

Tools 

		Electric drill and steel brushes
		Gourd cleaning tools
		Dremel rotary tool with flex shaft Assorted Dremel bits and cleaning attachments
		Optima 1 burner with assorted tips
		Micro-Mark saws Monster transformer
		Magnifier lamp

Supplies

		Oil paints and a variety of brushes
		Angelus leather dyes Pantone inks
		Krylon spray acrylic Final Coat R.W.'s Right-Step Varnish Goddard's Furniture Wax
		Jo Sonja's Artist's Gouache acrylic paints and a variety of brushes

Questions? Suggestions for more information? Send us your feedback.