Rain Stick

Class description

If you are new to gourding and you don't own a lot of gourding tools, this is a perfect class for you! I will have tools to share!

In this class, you will learn how to prepare the inside of your gourd to create the beautiful sounds of falling rain. You will then create your design on the outside with your choice of paints, dyes, wood burning, and leather. You can make your design as simple or complex as you like. This is a fun class for all levels of gourders. Make a soothing rain stick for yourself or as a gift for someone special!

Originally believed to be invented by the Mapuche people of south-central Chile, the rain stick was played as a musical instrument to bring rain. So call in the rain clouds with your own musical rain stick.... or use its gentle sound to soothe you after a rough day.

I will supply a class-ready 12-15" tall gourd, wire, noise makers, glue, leather, dyes and paints, some design patterns, a tutorial, and more.

What you are required to bring

• Bring a Dremel type rotary tool with a 3/8" wheel bit. This bit is a Dremel #199 and you can get it at hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowes. (If you don't have a rotary tool, I will have 2 rotary tools for students to share .)
• Bring paint brushes of different sizes for painting designs on your rain stick. (I will have some inexpensive brushes to sell if you don't have what you need.)
• Bring a long knife, screwdriver, some other long scraping tool to help clean out the inside of the gourd. (I will have some for students to share.)
• Bring a hair dryer or heat tool. (I will have a couple of heat tools available for students to share.)

Optional:

          Bring any embellishments, like beads or focal pendant that you have that you would like to use

          Bring a wood burner, if you want to wood burn a design on your rain stick.

          (I will have stick-n-burn designs available, and some inexpensive wood burners for students to share.)

Class Cancellation Policy

If you need to cancel this class, you MUST contact us before September 1, 2021 in order to receive a refund. Note that NGS will withhold $10 per cancelled class to cover processing fees. To cancel, call Patti Jo Newsom @ 817-917-7873 or email [email protected]

If a class does not meet the minimum number of students by the class cancellation cut-off date, the class will be cancelled, you will be contacted, and your full registration fee will be refunded.

About the instructor

Patti Jo Newsom is Co-founder and Co-chair of the Nevada Gourd Society, Webmaster of the Nevada Gourd Society, Director of the Pahrump Valley Gourd Patch, and an active member of the American Gourd Society. She is a certified Gare instructor and over the years she has experimented with a variety of artistic design techniques, painting on canvas, wood, and ceramics. For the past 12 years she has concentrated on her gourd art and teaching classes for those who want to learn her techniques.

Questions about this class?

Email Patti Jo at [email protected] or call her at 817-917-7873