Featuring....LouAnn's Designs

I've picked a few of my favorite items from LouAnn's shop and have pictured them here. She is such a talented artist and works in a variety of mediums, but I have to say that her gourds are probably my favorites. There is just something earthy and unique about gourd art and the thing LouAnn can do with a gourd is amazing. She is definitely one of my favorite artists on etsy.

Recently, I asked if I could ask her a few questions about her and her work to feature on this blog. She honored my request and so I am pleased to feature such a talented person on my blog site.

Here is LouAnn in her own words:









I AM A MARRIED TO A WONDERFUL MAN AND RETIRED. MOVED TO NORTH CAROLINA ABOUT 9 YEARS AGO FROM NEW YORK. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN CRAFTING. AT ONE TIME I OWNED AND OPERATED A BOUTIQUE AND CRAFT SHOP IN MY HOMETOWN OF OSSINING NEW YORK. WHEN I MOVED TO NORTH CAROLINA, I WAS INTRODUCED TO GOURDS.





WHAT INSPIRES YOU IN YOUR ARTWORK?

I AM INSPIRED BY JUST THE FASCINATION OF WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH A GOURD, OF WHAT CAN BE MADE FROM A GOURD. I JUST LET MY IMAGINATION RUN WITH THIS FRUIT. I'VE BOUGHT EVERY GOURD BOOK THAT HAS BEEN PRINTED AND I GET LOTS OF IDEAS FROM THEM.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THIS TYPE OF CRAFT?

MY HUSBAND AND I WENT TO A FESTIVAL IN A NEARBY TOWN. LOW AND BEHOLD, I STUMBLED ONTO A LADY SELLING BEAUTIFUL GOURDS THAT SHE PAINTED ON. I TOLD MY HUSBAND I AM GOING TO BUY ONE OF HER PIECES AND I DID. I WAS HOOKED AND TOTALY FASCINATED WITH THESE GOURDS. THEY ARE FASCINATING. NO TWO ARE EXACTLY ALIKE. WE HAD A STUDIO BUILT BECAUSE THEY WERE TAKING OVER OUR GUEST ROOM. NOW THEY ARE TAKING OVER THE STUDIO. THESE ARE GOD'S CREATIONS AND HE IS LETTING ME CREATE. THEY GIVE ME PEACE AND RELAXATION IN MY SENIOR YEARS.


HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING IN YOUR CRAFT?

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A CRAFTER OF SOME SORT. I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH GOURDS FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS. THEY ARE VERY CUMBERSOME IN MANY WAYS. THEY COME TO ME ALL DIRTY. THEY HAVE TO BE WASHED AND CLEANED. I DO NOT GROW THEM. THEY COME FROM CALIFORNIA MOSTLY; PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GIVING ME A LOT TOO. WITH GOURDS, WHEN YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE, IT BECOMES QUITE INVOLVED, TIME WISE.

DO YOU SELL LOCALLY?

I DO TRY TO SELL LOCALLY, AT DIFFERENT CRAFT SHOWS, BUT I AM GETTING OLDER AND THE PACKING, SETTING UP AND UNPACKING IS QUITE TIRESOME, SO I DUE VERY FEW SHOWS NOW. I DO BELONG TO A COUPLE OF GALLERIES. FALLING RIVERS GALLERY 119 W. MAIN STREET ALBEMARLE NC. THE OLD MILL GALLERY 514 N WASHINGTON STREET WADESBORO NC 28170 www.oldemillgallery.org. THESE ARE THE ONLY TWO FOR NOW. I HAVE SHOP ON ETSY.COM
www.louannsdesigns.etsy.com

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD?

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I AM A CHRISTIAN AND PROUD OF IT. JESUS HAS BEEN GOOD TO ME FOR 68 YEARS. I LOVE TO SERVE HIM; I GIVE HIM ALL THE PRAISE BECAUSE HE IS THE LORD OF MY LIFE. GOD GAVE ME MY GIFT OF CREATING BEAUTIFUL THINGS IN MY SENIOR YEARS. HE SAID "I WANT YOU TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO THAT WILL BRING MORE JOY IN YOUR LIFE." HE ALREADY KNEW THAT HE WAS THE JOY IN MY LIFE BUT HE WANTED ME TO HAVE MORE, SO THAT IS WHY HE GAVE ME MY CRAFT. WITH GOD I AM EVERYTHING. WITHOUT HIM I AM NOTHING. I AM TRULY BLESSED; I GIVE THANKS TO HIM EVERYDAY.


Thanks, LouAnn, for sharing your precious gift that God has given you. It brings all of us joy too!

Be sure to visit LouAnn's shop at

www.Louannsdesigns.etsy.com