About Corona Gourd Company
Several years ago, Mary & Gary Gehley were looking for something fun and different to do for the day. They had heard about something called a gourd festival being held at Welburn Gourd Farm in Fallbrook. The Gehleys didn’t know much about gourds, or why anyone would hold a festival to celebrate them, but thought it sounded like an interesting way to spend a day. As it turned out, this trip to Welburn’s Farm was to be just the first of many. From the farm to the finished gourd art, Mary and Gary were intrigued by the whole gourding process.
Before long, Mary and daughter Laurie were at Welburn taking a beginning gourding class. They were totally hooked. They started creating gourd art for their home, and the next Christmas, all their friends and family received gourds as gifts. More classes, more gourds, more fun….
A friend suggested that we go into business doing what we love and we thought, why not? In August 2006, we started the Corona Gourd Company. We started selling to friends and coworkers, and set up our first sales booth at Norco’s Hillside Farms Art & Craft Fair in December. We were excited and encouraged by our success. In January 2007, we set up our website. Since then we have sold our gourd art at gourd festivals in California and Arizona, and at art fairs and galleries in Southern California.
And so here we are today... Mary retired from a 28 year real estate career at the end of 2010. She contracted with Welburn Gourd Farm in Fallbrook to produce several tutorial gourd art videos which can be seen here. She is the primary gourd artist for the company and has art for sale from her home studio and is local art galleries in Corona, Riverside and Redlands, CA. Laurie is a full-time wife, mother and farm manager. While she currently has little time for creating new art, she does continue to support Mary by attending festivals and assisting with Mary's teaching activities.
We enjoy sharing our love of gourds and gourding by giving demonstrations and teaching classes. Let us know if you are interested in having us attend your event, or if you are interested in learning to create your own gourd at our classes.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story.
Mary and Laurie Gehley
Before long, Mary and daughter Laurie were at Welburn taking a beginning gourding class. They were totally hooked. They started creating gourd art for their home, and the next Christmas, all their friends and family received gourds as gifts. More classes, more gourds, more fun….
A friend suggested that we go into business doing what we love and we thought, why not? In August 2006, we started the Corona Gourd Company. We started selling to friends and coworkers, and set up our first sales booth at Norco’s Hillside Farms Art & Craft Fair in December. We were excited and encouraged by our success. In January 2007, we set up our website. Since then we have sold our gourd art at gourd festivals in California and Arizona, and at art fairs and galleries in Southern California.
And so here we are today... Mary retired from a 28 year real estate career at the end of 2010. She contracted with Welburn Gourd Farm in Fallbrook to produce several tutorial gourd art videos which can be seen here. She is the primary gourd artist for the company and has art for sale from her home studio and is local art galleries in Corona, Riverside and Redlands, CA. Laurie is a full-time wife, mother and farm manager. While she currently has little time for creating new art, she does continue to support Mary by attending festivals and assisting with Mary's teaching activities.
We enjoy sharing our love of gourds and gourding by giving demonstrations and teaching classes. Let us know if you are interested in having us attend your event, or if you are interested in learning to create your own gourd at our classes.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story.
Mary and Laurie Gehley
