This coming Saturday, November 19th, during our Winter Open House we will be holding a Painting Class! Participants will have the opportunity to add their own personal touch to this lit winter scene gourd.
Our customers are always so creative! We look forward to seeing the finished gourds. All skill levels welcome. There are a few openings still available. Email bethm@mbgourds.com to reserve your space at either the 11:00-12:30 class or 1:30-3:00 class. The cost is $30.
In yesterday’s post we talked about ways to use our Gourdicopia collection to create a stunning Thanksgiving table. We have even more ideas for you today!
Instead of using a bowl or container, create a Thanksgiving centerpiece spread. We absolutely love this table design by Kim Krejca. (view her original post here.)
image by Kim Krejca
Using Williams-Sonoma Great American Turkey dish towels as inspiration and a starting point, Kim used items she had around the house to create this lovely spread. She incorporated artichokes, pears, dried gourds, pomegranates, artificial white pumpkins and autumn leaves, but the possibilities are really endless!!
Photo by Kim Krejca
Another way to enjoy the rustic simplicity of a raw, cleaned gourd is to craft it into a gourd luminary centerpiece. Just be sure to use an LED tealight in your dried gourds and not a real candle.
image courtesy of marthastewart.com
These examples by Martha Stewart are a great starting point for inspiration! The best thing is, once you create your luminaries they will last for years to come.
Clothing and houseware retailer, Anthropologie, is known for their absolutely stunning window displays. Not only are they beautiful, they are eco-friendly and wildly creative.
Their recent fall windows caught our eye because the main focal point is the use of raw gourds. We appreciate the sculptural, organic flair gourds bring to decor of all sorts and gourd lovers everywhere will appreciate this artistic interpretation. Here are some of the photos from the Anthropologie Facebook page: Enjoy and be inspired with gourd creativity!
image copyright Anthropologie
image copyright Anthropologie
image copyright Anthropologie
image courtesy Anthropologie
image courtesy Anthropologie
image copyright Anthropologie
Our friends at Plow and Hearth Harrisburg, PA will be holding their Grand Opening Celebration this Sunday, October 9th. We will be there for our Create your own Jack O’Lantern activity!
In addtion to this fun event, we will be at the National Apple Harvest Festival on Saturday and Sunday!
Also, don’t forget, Friday and Saturday is the second weekend of our Fall Open House!
Activities include: Make your Own Scarecrow and Oops! Sale (Extended from Fall Open House 1) As well as,Create-your-own Jack o’ Lantern, and New this year! Scarecrow head and Green Witch. We put our very best craftsmen in a giant gourd called the “Jack Shaq”. After drawing your design on the gourd, feed it to the Jack Shaq and out will come your one-of-a-kind artistically cut gourd. All ages and levels of artistic skill are encouraged to try this! You will find you have more talent than you ever thought.
(Workshop opens at Noon on Friday. Last seating will be one hour prior to closing.)
Tomorrow (September 30th) marks the first weekend of our Fall Open House!!
We invited you to come to the farm on Friday and Saturday to enjoy an array of fun activities like…
Our Oops! Sale (always a favorite!) Come early for the most and best selection. Begins at 10am on Friday.
Make your own Scarecrow Activity: Create an adorable scarecrow (pictured below). We have everything you need and the cost is $35. No appointment necessary.
Aren't they adorable?
The Make-Your-Own Scarecrow Tent
Of course, our Pumpkin Patch is OPEN! Pick your own pumpkins and ornamental gourds. The prices range from .50 – 5.00.
In addition to our Fall Open House events, Meadowbrooke Gourds will be at the National Apple Harvest Festival Arendtsville, PA October 1st and 2nd as well as Waterloo Gardens Exton, PA on October 1st for a Create Your Own Jack O’Lantern Event! We are excited to kick off a fun October!
This year, along with your typical Jack O’Lantern pumpkin carving, try these creative decorating ideas! Don’t forget to stop by Meadowbrooke Gourds’ pumpkin patch to pick your own pumpkins on Tuesday – Saturday from 10am -4pm. We have many shapes and sizes to choose from!
Make Pumpkin Porcupines:
photo courtesy marthastewart.com
This project from marthastewart.com is simple and adorable! Use big pumpkins for the porcupines’ bodies, and attach the heads with toothpicks. To create quills, push white holiday lights through drilled holes that are slightly smaller than the lights.
Entertain with a Pumpkin Party Cooler:
photo courtesy marthastewart.com
Also, courtesy of Martha Stewart, this pumpkin cooler is sure to wow your guests this fall! Click here for the entire project instructions.
A No-Carving Decorating Technique:
photo courtesy of familycircle.com
We just love this creative *No Carving Necessary* pumpkin decorating idea from FamilyCircle.com . Simple dry fall leaves and glue them to your pumpkin! Finish with Mod Podge if you desire.
Please feel free to share your pumpkin decorating ideas!
We are pleased to announce that the Meadowbrooke Pumpkin Patch is NOW OPEN! Pick your own pumpkins and fresh ornamental Gourds on Tuesday – Saturday from 10am -4pm. We have lots to choose from ranging in price from $0.50 – $5.00. Bring the whole family for a fun afternoon of pumpkin-picking! We will have the Pumpkin Patch open during our Fall Open House dates! Read more about our Fall Events here.
Pick your own pumpkins at our farm!
We will be posting some fun ideas for decorating with your fresh pumpkins and ornamental gourds on our blog so stay tuned! 
We love fall for oh-so many reasons!! One of those reasons is our FALL OPEN HOUSE! We are kicking off the first Open House weekend on September 30th at 10am with our famous Oops! Sale. Also, on September 30th and October 1st we will be holding our Make-your-Own Scarecrow activity!! (While supplies last.)
There is no appointment needed. Come to the Farm and create this adorable toddler-sized scarecrow! We hope to see you there.
Read more about our open house dates here or download our pdf open house flyer.
Here in Carlisle, PA we woke up to temperatures in the low 60′s! The crisp, chill air made us smile! Fall is just around the corner.
If you’re not yet in the mood for fall, maybe this short video will help.
Fall production at Meadowbrooke Gourds. Enjoy!
As we mentioned in a previous post, Todd Heller is the currently featured Master Craftsman on the Crafter’s Corner portion of our website.
One of Todd's one-of-a-kind gourds featured right now on Crafter's Corner.
Here’s a little bit about him you may not know:
What do you like most about your job?
The flexibility and the people I work with
Name one thing that not many people know about you:
I like to go to car shows
Where is your favorite place in the world?
The beach
What is your favorite movie?
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
What music is playing in your car right now?
Rap
What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten?
Calamari
What do you do when you’re not at work?
Watch my kids play sports, work on my truck
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor?
Black Raspberry
What is your favorite gourd?
My one-of-a-kind pieces