Magnificent Magnolias — Gourd Vases

Saturday, February 7, 2026
9am-2pm (5 hours)
San Francisco County Fair Building — Recreation Room

About the Program

In this class, Abi will teach you how to turn a natural gourd into a Magnolia inspired vase! We’ll start by talking about gourds — where they come from and how they have been used all around the world.

After cleaning and scrubbing the gourds, you’ll choose the one you want to work with and decide the shape of your vase. Abi will show you how to safely use saws and Dremel tools to cut and shape your vase. Abi will also demonstrate Magnolia drawing, gold leafing, and decoupage techniques. Magnolias will be displayed for inspiration.

No experience needed! You’ll leave with a finished gourd vase and a better understanding of this traditional craft.

About the Instructor

I’m Abeni ‘Abi’ Pierson, a Chicagoland native who escaped the cold winters and has been living in the Bay Area for the past seven years. During the 2020 lockdown, I turned to the therapeutic practice of weaving and quickly became passionate about keeping this (and other) ancient crafts alive.

Through my workshops and handcrafted pieces, I strive to spark conversations and preserve the language of these artforms for future generations. My ultimate mission is to reconnect people with nature through sustainable, hands-on creativity — honoring both the materials and the ecosystems they come from.

—

Gardens of Golden Gate Park Members may attend this event at a 20% discount. Contact membership@gggp.org to receive the Member Discount Code, then enter the Member Discount Code in the “Promo Code” field when checking out. Discount codes do not apply to the “Pay What You Will” price level.  

Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable.