The West Chicago Garden Club

There was “joy in Whoville” and there was also much joy in the club meeting room at Faith Community Church on October 23rd while our members, led by Karen Caldwell, highly renowned and talented historian/artist of THE GOURD, were making their very own birdhouse treasures.

This Gourd Lady, as I will affectionately call her, came all the way from Worth, IL to visit us. As a member of the Illinois Gourd Society, she competes regularly with fellow artists in that venue. Karen is an artist, first and foremost by nature. Through her world travels and life journey though, she has come to revere the history and longevity of the lowly gourd. The Lagenaria type of gourd forms a hard shell similar to wood when it dries – only harder – thus the longevity. This knowledge sparked another avenue for the artist – that of carving and creating works of art from these gourds. Thus, forming her own business: LaDeDa Gourds. Continue Reading »