TheWhimsicalShanty.com
Some of my more popular birdhouse gourds $30 -$60
Ink Dye and Staining
Natural Background
Color Painted
Folk Art
A journey of growing gourds with love!
Several years ago, I started growing gourds of all types on a self-made arch in my backyard. This 12 foot long and 6 foot high custom gourd tunnel was surrounded by heavily enriched straw bales. After a few seasons, success, some tweaking and a serious development of gourd fever, I now turn these home grown beauties into birdhouses, baskets, and many other things
So it began...
This photo is a small wagon load from my very first batch of seasoned dry gourds! So much love and patience went into getting them this far, and I admit to feeling proud. I had to create hanging space for them in the shanty so they had proper air flow and such. No easy task as they weigh a good bit when they are fresh off the vine and take a year to dry and be useable!
I'm located in Whitmore Lake, Michigan with my husband and Labrador Molly. My workspace is moderate to large and not so glamorous! Somewhere in between a garage, lean to, shack and deluxe shed! The Whimsical Shanty is born, and I couldn't be more delighted with the project.
One of my first gourds - Winter Moose! A young registered nurse who lives locally purchased this and it now holds a family of wrens.
Learning and finding my "style" is a work in progress, there are so many amazing possibilities with gourds. This year I hope to add some large kettle drums and engraved/carved items to my selections. I will also be attending some wonderful gourd festivals in states like Pennsylvania, Florida and Georgia.
However you found my little niche' on the Web, I am so glad to have you visit! Please feel free to reach out and send a message if I can help you with anything.
Buffy McGibbon
Feel free to scroll the image gallery below,
for more examples of my work