Dear Friends,
We're very excited about this year's holiday theme:
Music of the Spheres
You're invited to our 33rd annual open house on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 10-5. Read more about our theme below if you like.
The 'sphere' ornaments are of all different colors and designs. Please note that they won't be available this year until Dec. 5 and that we will have a limit of three per family. Here are a couple of them:
“Music of the Spheres” will be the theme at The Gourd Place for this year's holiday season.
Greek mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras is credited with this intriguing statement: “There is geometry in the humming of the strings, there is music in the spacing of the spheres.”
Although little is really known about Pythagoras, who lived from about 570 to 495 B.C., he is believed by many to have been a mystic. English poet John Milton wrote of him, “If our hearts were as pure, as chaste, and as snowy as Pythagoras' was, our ears would resound and be filled with that supremely lovely music of the wheeling stars.”
Artist and co-owner Priscilla Wilson says she is trying to capture the concept in three-dimensional form by making gourd ornaments that are musical planets. “I've been intrigued ever since learning the hymn 'This Is My Father's World' in Sunday school as a child,” she explains. “It contains the line 'All nature sings and round me rings the music of the spheres.'” She adds that it might be a stretch to say the ornaments are musical, but they do make interesting sounds.
Priscilla's partner, Janice Lymburner, laughs, “Every year she says she's going to choose an easy theme, but then some difficult concept captures her imagination.” Janice adds that she believes this year's ornament is the most challenging and artistic one yet.
Priscilla and Janice have been in business in White County, first as Gourdcraft Originals and later as The Gourd Place, for 39 years. Christmas ornaments have been popular items they've produced for most of those years, explains Janice. “We've always enjoyed making different kinds of ornaments, but beginning in 2001, Priscilla has focused on a specific theme every year.”
“I love the challenge,” admits Priscilla, “and the fact that each kind of ornament is made for one year only.” Many of their regular customers have begun collecting these limited edition ornaments.
This year's 'Music of the Spheres' ornament will make its debut on Saturday, December 5 when Janice and Priscilla will host their annual holiday open house from 10:00 until 5:00. Directions are available at www.gourdplace.com or at 706-865-4048.
