Bring the seashore into your home with this green & blue silk dyed gourd bowl! Seashells, driftwood & netting complement the white decorative rope on the rim. This gourd bowl wears the colors of the sea and the water drop effects are reminiscent of splashing waves.

The inside of the bowl was painted with white acrylic. Look inside and you will see another seashell on the bottom of the gourd with coarse beach sand scattered around it. The entire gourd has been sealed to protect the finish and to give it a soft sheen. It is about 5″ tall by 6″ across.

Before the dyes could be applied to the outside of the gourd, the gourd surface had to be prepared with absorbent ground gesso so that the dyes would adhere. After being dyed, salt was added to make the water drop effects. The dye was set and the gourd sealed and decorated.

All of these shells, including the sand dollar and driftwood, were found on the beaches of Hatteras Island, North Carolina, and the gourd was grown in my own garden in northwest Ohio. The seashells and driftwood, as well as the gourd, are all renewable resources.

This gourd can be displayed almost anywhere in your home. It would make a good gift for someone who loves the seashore. There will never be another one just like it!