The most dangerous part of handling mold is due to the construct of the mold itself. While your gourd is drying, it is moist and the mold is happy and growing to expand its territory. Once the gourd begins to dry out, and the ideal growth medium for the mold begins to change, the mold will then sporulate. This is the process of producing the microscopic seed which the mold produces so it can send itself off into the air to find a new growing medium. These tiny spores can remain in the air for lengthy periods of time, depending on their size. Remember, the problem with the Anthrax is that nations or individuals with know how can produce large quantities of spores smaller than 3-5 microns which can practically suspend themselves in the air. This air infested with mold spores then becomes like an invisible gas that by natural air currents can drift from one room to another. Hint: if you have an attached garage, Do Not put your gourds in there to dry. Once the mold has sporulated, the spores are quick and ready to be launched into the air. Like a dandelion, this launching process can be caused by bumping it, spraying it, or even just a breeze.

So, what can you do to reduce the risk of mold exposure? To start with, wear a respirator, do not bring your wet and moldy gourds into the house, and do not dry them within the same structure you live in. If you have an attached garage, that means not there either. Once you are ready to dig through the gourds and select some for cleaning, if they are outside and there is a nice breeze drifting by, I would suggest standing upwind from the gourds and spray them with water until they are fully saturated and wet. This weighs down the mold spores and traps others by surface tension, and prevents them from going airborne when you grab them. As you grab the gourds or sort through them, take a towel completely drenched in either a 10% bleach solution or a 5% White Vinegar solution, (that is a standard solution purchased at the grocery store,) and wrap the towel around the gourd so you are actually confining the mold and its spores within the towel. Take the gourd directly to your bucket or cleaning solution and clean the mold thoroughly off the surface. Now your gourd can be taken in and scrubbed, dried, and ready to craft.

With every step of handling the gourd to the clean and dry state, please wear a respirator. When you sand your gourd, wear a respirator. When you woodburn your gourd, wear a respirator. Goggles are also an advisable accessory, although most people do not wear them. Treat gourds the same as you would an exotic wood, or any other potentially dangerous dusty situation.

Mold was put in this world to decompose organic materials and reduce them to their baser elements and mineral, it is part of the great recycling process, a process which you do not want to go through while you are still living and breathing. Rather than fear it, respect and try to understand how it works, then you can approach it more wisely.

Products our members use:
1. Bondo.
2. Elmer’s wood filler (water based.)
3. Das air dry clay.
4. “Great Stuff” foam insulation– for gaps and cracks.
5. Gorilla glue.
6. B-Bs or small rocks for weighing unstable gourds.
7. Sharpening stones for chip carvers. (Can find at Wuertz Farm.)
8. Future Floor Wax to seal gourds.
9. Upholstery thread for coiling.
10. Flotrol: used to thin and condition acrylic paint.

Cracks:
Mix a small amount of glue with gourd dust. Fill the inside of the crack first, then the outside. Drill a small hole at the end of the crack or use a small awl. This keeps the crack from continuing. (Sally Kiste)
Miscellaneous tips:
1. Put bottles of leather dye in cup or other stable container so they won’t tip over.
2. Use alcohol to dilute leather dye.
3. Sand gourds between coats of acrylic paint for a glossy finish.
4. Fill Spirit Dolls with clean sand found at Home Depot or Lowes to give weight.
5. Purchase bottoms for Spirit Dolls from Michaels.
6. Leather dye your gourds after woodburning. 7. Mink oil is another finish for your gourds.
8. Fabric is another place to find designs for gourds.
9. Embossing metals, gold leaf paper, and stained glass tape for gourd rims can be found at Michaels.
10. Clean gourds with a pressure sprayer.
11. Clean gourds with Dawn Power Scrubber and hot water.
12. Clean gourds by submerging them in damp potting soil or peat moss. BEWARE however. The gourds may crack if they are left too long and get too wet.

Coiling Tips from Shirley Pechous:
1. Soak pine needles in hot water bath with glycerin before using. Wrap in wet towel placed in plastic bag while using.
2. Use Rit dye to color pine needles.
3. Use tapestry needle with a blunt end.
4. Drill holes in gourd ˝” down from cut side and every ˝” to coil.
Dye Your Pine Needles:
Use Rit Dye to colorize your pine needles. Use a 5 gallon bucket, fill with water and your choice color of Rit Dye, add your pine needles and let set overnight. Take the needles out and lay them out flat to dry completely before use. Be sure the area is well-ventilated to prevent rotting of the needles and that the needles are spread out well. Shirley Pechous suggests using some glycerin in the water to soften them, also. I put the needles in a hot dye bath with Rit dye and 2 Tbs. glycerin. I don't know where the other system of over night dyeing came from. The problem with it is that you cannot control your color. Chances are your needles will turn out way too dark and in some cases almost black. By using the hot dye method, you remove the needles when you have your desired color which sometimes in within a minute or two. I was first taught to put them in a low oven overnight and that is why I know they will be way too dark

How to fix Gourd Cracks from Sally Kiste: Mix a small amount of glue with gourd dust. Fill the inside of the crack first, then the outside. Drill a small hole at the end of the crack or use a small awl. This keeps the crack from continuing.

Miscellaneous tips: 8. Fabric is another place to find designs for gourds 9. Embossing metals, gold leaf paper, and stained glass tape for gourd rims can be found at Michaels. Carol Obrecht:
Cut strips of leather with scissors, wet them, squeeze out the excess water. Twist strips and weigh down the ends with something heavy. Allow to dry. These can be used as gourd decorations.

Babette Metheny:
1. When using pyropaper, start your design from the middle and work out. This way your design won’t burn up and fall off.
2. Using a large piece of rectangular shaped glass over your design, place masking tape on top of the glass and trace your design onto the tape. Pull off the tape and place on your gourd and burn away.
3. Press and Seal can be used to transfer your pattern onto the gourd. It sticks to the gourd.
4. Wet/dry sand paper takes blemishes off gourds and makes them shine.
5. Places to find designs: scroll saw magazines; rubber stamps; stencils. She encourages a 3 ring binder to save them in.

Shirley Pechous shared using glass frit for gourd decorations. This product can be found at Artistry Glass Studios at Ray and Rural in Chandler, and can be ordered from stained glass supply companies.

Magic Sculpt is all the rage in joining gourd pieces, adding embellishments, and creating new looks for your gourd art! No more baking! No more shrinkage! Ample work time! Dry overnight, sand, and paint! This fantastic replacement for paper clay works wonders with virtually all of your creative gourd crafting ideas! Plus, it can be rolled into bobbles for Christmas tree ornaments.