Mutant Gourd??

OK, here's a bit of a weird one for you...years ago a neighbor of mine was quite intrigued watching me make art pieces using gourds. Being an "artsy-craftsy" person herself, she tended to save odd bits and pieces to make her own creations.

One day I was working away in my studio when she stopped by with a present.  She told me that the previous evening she had cooked a turban squash for dinner.  I'm sure you've seen these beautiful squashes in the fall, especially as people are gathering squash for Thanksgiving table arrangements.  Here's what they look like...

After everyone finished eating the squash my friend couldn't bear to throw the beautiful shell away.  She cleaned out the remaining meat from the inside and proceeded to bake the shell on a low heat.  After baking it for quite a while, it became hard and turned a lovely honey color.

My friend figured that she'd never get around to doing anything with it, so she proudly presented it to me, which of course I took as an artistic challenge.  So in honor of my friend, Charlotte, I created "Charlotte's Crown Jewels"...

And here's how the inside looks...

Yes, there's more of my crazy wire work...a gazillion hours, stitching in one bead at a time to create the Crown Jewels.  I love how this piece turned out and laugh every time I think of using a friend's dinner leftovers to create art...isn't that the ultimate Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose??

Happy Tuesday,

Deborah