Hi, and welcome to my page. I am a 59 year old child at heart with 3 children, 1 stepdaughter, 13 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild and numerous pets. I discovered gourds a few years ago and found they were the perfect artist's surface. Over the years I've experimented with many media and especially enjoy woodburning, carving and painting gourds.           Every gourd shape, each technique, all types of embellishments inspire me to new artistic endeavors. While I am still in the process of finding my own distinctive style of gourd art, I am having a great time learning from other artists and trying new ideas.            I am the regional coordinator for the San Bernardino County Patch of the California Gourd Society. I also hold memberships in the American Gourd Society, Canadian Gourd Society, Society of Decorative Painters, Memory Box Artists, Gypsy Tolers, and am a published author.            I have had the honor of being a contributing artist to the Gourd Patch Quilt Project, the Gourd Patch Wall Hanging, the Canadian Gourd Society Wall Hanging, and Gourd Calendar 2004 published by Margie Malone. My biggest thrill in 2003 was taking part in the artwork on the California Traveling Gourd, in collaboration with another San Bernardino Patch member, Chris Souza.            As well, I am an avid gardener and a large portion of my garden is now happily taken over by gourd vines.            I am active in my church choir and teach in Vacation Bible School.            So now you know a bit about me, personally. Please view my albums and visit the links to see more gourds, gourds, gourds.            Visit Darlene's Gourdoozie.com website and see more photos in her albums: http://www.picturetrail.com/str8edge  and  http://photos.yahoo.com/dragongourd .