If you thought gourds were just for fall decorating, think again.

Gourds make unique gifts and distinctive décor accent pieces when crafted in an artistic way. Just ask Mariellen Hittner of Bethlehem Township.

A retired nurse, Hittner is vice president and historian of the Pennsylvania Gourd Society, having been involved since its inception 21 years ago. She remains one of the few original members.

“My interest started when I found a small cat made from a gourd at a local gift shop many years ago,” Hittner said.

Hittner was a self-taught artist at the time and by doing research found Jenn Avery (jragourdart.com), who was trying to start a gourd society in Pennsylvania.

“Jenn is a fantastic gourd artist known for her lifelike pyro engraving on gourds. I was unaware at the time that there are many gourd societies throughout the United States, even an American Gourd Society,” Hittner said.

Throughout the years, Hittner has held many positions in PAGS, mainly secretary, historian, and now current vice president. The society is a nonprofit organization whose main goal is to educate the public on growing and crafting of gourds.

The 2023 Pennsylvania Gourd Festival, “It’s Always a Gourd Day in PA,” will be presented by PAGS Thursday, June 15 – Saturday, June 17 at the Lebanon Valley Expo Center.

Besides the Pennsylvania Gourd Festival held every June, PAGS hosts many workshops throughout the year which are free to members, most located in eastern and central Pennsylvania. Because Pennsylvania is a large state, PAGS has many patches where members can get together more frequently.

“I belong to a patch that meets every Monday in Saylorsburg. It is through the camaraderie of this group along with the taking of PAGS workshops as well as classes at other state festivals that my talent has grown,” Hittner said. “I am also a juried member of the Reading Berks Guild of Craftsman and have had the distinct honor to have my gourd ornaments on the Pennsylvania Christmas tree at the White House, as well in the Governor’s Mansion in Harrisburg.

“Living in Bethlehem Township, I’m unable to grow my own gourds due to space. Most of my raw gourds are purchased from Smucker’s Amish Gourd Farm in Lancaster County, however, if I need a thicker gourd, I will purchase from Welburn Gourd Farm in California. Due to the shorter growing season in Pennsylvania, our local gourds are not as thick,” Hittner explained.

Hittner said the thickness of the gourd is very important to a gourd artist, especially if they want to carve.

“Most people are familiar with ornamental gourds that are prominent in the fall; however, these particular gourds are not very thick and hard to craft. Gourd safety is very important when carving or cleaning out the inside of a gourd due to mold spores that form in the drying and curing process.”

“I would say that carving is my most enjoyable way to work on a gourd. I enjoy carving a scene into the gourd and then add color with alcohol inks.”

Hittner said her sunflower and butterfly gourd that won first place in the cut/carved category at the 2021 Pennsylvania Gourd Festival was carved and colored. Holes were carved out and the rest of the gourd was stippled to give texture. The top was finished with a pine needle rim.

Hittner also enjoys pyro engraving (wood burning), weaving, and sometimes painting.

“Carved pieces can take as long as three to four weeks. Wood burned pieces take less time, depending on the subject matter,” Hittner said.

The carved gourd Hittner recently finished for the competition at the gourd festival took five weeks to finish, and she has also started a wood burned piece for the festival.

“Last year, I had the distinct honor at our gourd festival to win the Peoples’ Choice Award, titled “Birds at Night” which is now pictured on our postcard advertising this year’s festival. This piece also took first place in the colored category,” Hittner said.

She also earned first place in the carving and Christmas categories with a picture of feather gourd with stippling and turquoise stones inlaid, all in the advanced division.

“Due to this first place win, I must now move to the top tier, Masters, if I again enter in these categories this June. I am currently working on two gourds for this year’s festival,” Hittner said.

In addition to the gourd festival, Hittner will be teaching a workshop on carving for members only outside of Stroudsburg and will be vending at Artisans on Ann Street in Stroudsburg Sept. 2. Her sunflower gourd will probably be for sale at Artisans on Ann Street.

“I have given some gourds as gifts, for example I did my daughter’s boyfriend’s dog and gave that as a Christmas gift,” Hittner said.

She made seven gourds for her great nephew’s rehearsal dinner and last year crafted five gourds as centerpieces for her high school reunion.

She has gourds for sale at Robesonia Redware in Robesonia, but due to her caregiving duties for her mother, who lives with them, Hittner only does the show on Ann Street in Stroudsburg.

SIDEBAR

The Pennsylvania Gourd Society (PAGS) will present “It’s Always a Gourd Day in PA,” the 2023 Pennsylvania Gourd Festival, Thursday, June 15-Saturday, June 17 at the Lebanon Valley Expo Center, 80 Rocherty Road, Lebanon.

“Our society has been going strong for many years, and we like to spread the “gourd glow” to the public by educating them on what can be done with this nature’s canvas,” said Mariellen Hittner, vice-president and historian of PAGS.

The 2023 Pennsylvania Gourd Festival will host three full days of classes, instructed by talented artists from across the country. Indoor classes are held in the large, air-conditioned main hall along with the PAGS sponsored American Gourd Society (AGS) competition for growing and crafting gourds; a variety of supply and tool vendors; Pennsylvania Amish gourd farmers featuring cleaned, craft ready gourds; a raffle; and Trash to Treasure donation tables.

Mini walk-in “Make and Take” workshops will also be offered in the main hall along with food vendors throughout the three-day event. Admission for adults not pre-registered for a workshop includes either a donation or canned/non-perishable item given to the Lebanon County Christian Ministries; children are free

PAGS also welcomes all attendees to participate in the Friday evening catered dinner and fun night. The evening dinner will be followed by a fun, creative activity allowing for attendees to reconnect with old friends and meet and share ideas with new acquaintances. Pre-registration for this event is required.

All 2023 Pennsylvania Gourd Festival information, including links to class descriptions, AGS competition forms, and vendor/class registrations can be located on the PA Gourd Society website, pagourdsociety.org.