Friday Feb. 20 - Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026
Azan Shriner's Center, 1591 W Eau Gallie Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32935
Saturday Classes
Saturday MORNING Classes
S-AM-1 Saturday MORNING 8:30AM-12:00PM Location: C2
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Beach Bum Diorama
Instructor: M.R. Street
Skill Level: Any skill level
Cost - Members: $35 Non-Members: $40
# Students: Min 2/ Max 10
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​Description: Students will decoupage a prepared gourd and insert miniature items to create a diorama scene inside. Students will create a simple rim. Instructor will provide various "beachy" miniature items to choose from, or students may bring items of their own.
Students Must Provide: Instructor will provide prepped gourd and all materials. Students should bring fast tack glue. May bring an apron and gloves if desired and miniatures for your diorama if you have something special you want to include. If you have a hair dryer or heat gun, please bring (to speed up drying of decoupage); instructor will have a few to share.
S-AM-2 Saturday MORNING 8:30AM-12:00PM Location: C3​
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Japanese Vase
Instructor: Sue Haberer
Skill Level: Any skill level
Cost - Members: $85 Non-Members: $90
# Students: Min 5 / Max 12
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Description: Create a unique vase with Japanese vibes. We will use a tissue paper technique and discover a leather gel which makes the gourd look like real leather. You will be able to choose a Japanese medallion, made from a gourd shard, to attach to the vase. ​
Students Must Provide: 1" brush for painting; 1" brush to use with mod podge; paper towels; apron.
S-AM-3 Saturday MORNING 8:30AM-12:00PM Location: C4
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Bubble Ornaments
Instructor: Marla Garber
Skill Level: Any skill level
Cost - Members: $70 Non-Members: $75
# Students: Min 1 / Max 12
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Description: You will use UV Resin, dawn dish soap, and Mica Powders to create one of a kind ornaments.
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Students Must Provide: Apron.
S-AM-4 Saturday MORNING 8:30AM-12:00PM Location: P4
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Ole Smokey
Instructor: Lisa Mohr
Skill Level: Any skill level
Cost - Members: $50 Non-Members: $55
# Students: Min 4 / Max 12
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Description: Student will be provided with a cleaned and prepared gourd which they will then paint and smoke. They may do ink splatters if they so choose and then the gourd will be finished with a paper twist rim. There will be multiple base colors and paper twist to choose from plus an assortment of beads to hang from the neck.
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Students Must Provide: Scissors, apron, a willingness to have a good time.
S-AM-5 Saturday MORNING 8:30AM-12:00PM Location: P5
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Butterflies in Flight
Instructor: Donna McCarthy
Skill Level: Any skill level
Cost - Members: $55 Non-Members: $60
# Students: Min 2 / Max 10
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Description: Colorful butterflies around a stippled circle outlined in a double circle. A swatch of filigree beginning at the top of the gourd and gracefully angling down to the lower portion of the circle. Colorful fused glass cabochons will be available to use, in addition to a selection of patterns to choose from: butterflies, flowers and dragonflies.
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Students Must Provide: Adjustable woodburner with skew tip pen, carving tool with burrs to remove skin, and filigree burr or zip cutter.
S-AM-6 Saturday MORNING 8:30AM-12:00PM Location: P6
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Simplifying Carving
Instructor: Chad Bridges
Skill Level: Any skill level
Cost - Members: $70 Non-Members: $75
# Students: Min 7 / Max 12
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Description: In this class, students will explore carving techniques for creating leaves, sticks, and vines on gourd shards, similar to the elements in the objects pictured. They will learn how to understand layers, and practice undercutting. The instructor will provide Gourd Shards in order to participate in the class.
Students Must Provide: Students are required to have their own carving tools and machines. The following bits/burrs are needed (at a minimum): Stump Cutter (Bud-shaped), Blizzard Flame (course), and Inverted Taper. Here are some links where these are available, but feel free to use other sites:
Stump Cutter: https://mdiwoodcarvers.com/shop/ols/products/german-stump-cutter-7mm-bud
Blizzard Flame: https://mdiwoodcarvers.com/shop/ols/products/18-shank-blizzard-flame-coarse-07-bf1c
Inverted Taper: https://www.amazon.com/Luo-Diamond-Grinding-Carving-Triangle/dp/B09WKBK1SQ
Be sure to have the correct size collets for your bits.
Students are responsible for their own safety, so please have your own masks and safety glasses.
S-AM-7 Saturday MORNING 8:30AM-12:00PM Location: P3
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Georde
Instructor: Deni "delshanay" Halterman
Skill Level: Any skill level
Cost - Members: $70 Non-Members: $75
# Students: Min 4 / Max 12
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Description: Creating a beautiful geode out of a cannonball gourd and glass/crystals. It also has fairy lights!!
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Students Must Provide: Needle nose pliers (larger than jewelry making size), tweezers, 1/2" flat paintbrush, heat gun, mask, gloves, apron, UV light (if you have one, otherwise instructor has extras).
S-AM-8 Saturday MORNING 8:30AM-12:00PM Location: C1
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Spotty Dotty Beaded Necklace
Instructor: Leslie Meier
Skill Level: Any skill level
Cost - Members: $45 Non-Members: $50
# Students: Min 1 / Max 12
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Description: Students will learn to apply a dotting technique on a tiny gourd, creating colorful layers using alcohol ink. The gourd will then become the focal point of a necklace utilizing beads made from metal, stone, and other materials.
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Students Must Provide: Instructor will provide all class tools and materials.
Saturday AFTERNOON Classes
S-PM-1 Saturday AFTERNOON 1:30PM-5:00PM Location: C1
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Nature Series
Instructor: Deborah Hildinger
Skill Level: Any skill level
Cost - Members: $55 Non-Members: $60
# Students: Min 4 / Max 12
​Description: Many of my recent works feature cigar boxes containing both natural and manufactured objects. These creations are designed to be displayed either as standalone pieces or mounted on the wall. In this class, we will focus on the techniques of leafing, utilizing copper, gold, and variegated leaf options. The houses depicted were finished with variegated leafing. Each piece is intended to inspire individual creativity and thoughtful selection of items to include within the boxes. All
materials shown will be provided; however, students are encouraged to bring personal items to individualize their work further.
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Students Must Provide: The instructor will provide a black-painted cigar box, wooden house forms, beads, buttons, palm seed pod stems, adhesives, and waxed linen thread. Participants are strongly encouraged to bring items to further personalize their project.
S-PM-2 Saturday AFTERNOON 1:30PM-5:00PM Location: C2
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Huichol Beaded Bowl
Instructor: Tina Dull
Skill Level: Any skill level
Cost - Members: $45 Non-Members: $50
# Students: Min 4 / Max 12
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Description: You will learn the technique to apply beads to a gourd to create a beaded bowl. Everyone who takes my classes will have a chance to win a special raffle held in each class!
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Students Must Provide: All supplies will be provided by instructor.
S-PM-3 Saturday AFTERNOON 1:30PM-5:00PM Location: C3​
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Japanese Vase
Instructor: Sue Haberer
Skill Level: Any skill level
Cost - Members: $85 Non-Members: $90
# Students: Min 5 / Max 12
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Description: Create a unique vase with Japanese vibes. We will use a tissue paper technique and discover a leather gel which makes the gourd look like real leather. You will be able to choose a Japanese medallion, made from a gourd shard, to attach to the vase. ​
Students Must Provide: 1" brush for painting; 1" brush to use with modge podge; paper towels; apron.
S-PM-4 Saturday AFTERNOON 1:30PM-5:00PM Location: C4
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Sandy Fish
Instructor: Marla Garber
Skill Level: Any skill level
Cost - Members: $70 Non-Members: $75
# Students: Min 1 / Max 12
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Description: You will use colored sand to create a one-of-a-kind fish, sea horse, or octopus.
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Students Must Provide: Apron; small round brush.
S-PM-5 Saturday AFTERNOON 1:30PM-5:00PM Location: P1
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Dark and Light Patterning in Gourd Carving
Instructor: Fonda Haddad
Skill Level: Any skill level
Cost - Members: $40 Non-Members: $45
# Students: Min 2 / Max 10
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Description: Choosing a prepared gourd, students will decide on light and dark areas and stain gourd. Then gourd patterns will be selected and carved into the designated spaces.
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Students Must Provide: Dust mask if needed beyond standard type. If you have a carving tool, Dremel, please bring.
S-PM-6 Saturday AFTERNOON 1:30PM-5:00PM Location: P2
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Flat Reed Fun Basket
Instructor: Jim Anspach
Skill Level: Beginner
Cost - Members: $50 Non-Members: $55
# Students: Min 2 / Max 10
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Description: This is a gourd with spokes in the gourd, painted on the inside and sealed on the outside, ready to weave. The student will receive reed and instruction to make a colorful basket.
​Students Must Provide: Towel and apron.
S-PM-7 Saturday AFTERNOON 1:30PM-5:00PM Location: P3
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Tortilla Warmer
Instructor: Deni "delshanay" Halterman
Skill Level: Any skill level
Cost - Members: $80 Non-Members: $85
# Students: Min 4 / Max 12
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Description: Create a lidded bowl using a canteen gourd. Class will include ink dyes, rice paper applied with PowerTex, and glass cabochon inlay.
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Students Must Provide: Gloves, apron, carving tool with pointed cutter (zip cutter) and fine sanding burr, 1" flat paintbrush, heat gun
S-PM-8 Saturday AFTERNOON 1:30PM-5:00PM Location: P6
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Simplifying Carving
Instructor: Chad Bridges
Skill Level: Any skill level
Cost - Members: $70 Non-Members: $75
# Students: Min 7 / Max 12
​
Description: In this class, students will explore carving techniques for creating leaves, sticks, and vines on gourd shards, similar to the elements in the objects pictured. They will learn how to understand layers, and practice undercutting. The instructor will provide Gourd Shards in order to participate in the class.
Students Must Provide: Students are required to have their own carving tools and machines. The following bits/burrs are needed (at a minimum): Stump Cutter (Bud-shaped), Blizzard Flame (course), and Inverted Taper. Here are some links where these are available, but feel free to use other sites:
Stump Cutter: https://mdiwoodcarvers.com/shop/ols/products/german-stump-cutter-7mm-bud
Blizzard Flame: https://mdiwoodcarvers.com/shop/ols/products/18-shank-blizzard-flame-coarse-07-bf1c
Inverted Taper: https://www.amazon.com/Luo-Diamond-Grinding-Carving-Triangle/dp/B09WKBK1SQ
Be sure to have the correct size collets for your bits.
Students are responsible for their own safety, so please have your own masks and safety glasses.
S-PM-9 Saturday AFTERNOON 1:30PM-5:00PM Location: P4
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Fabulous Fall Colors
Instructor: Judi Fleming
Skill Level: Any skill level
Cost - Members: $35 Non-Members: $40
# Students: Min 2 / Max 12
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Description: In this class you'll create a lovely oak leaf gourd bowl with a rim using a wide variety of alcohol inks and acrylic pens for outline and detail. You'll select from a variety of rim treatments in a huge range of colors to personalize your bowl with a stitched on rim.​
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Students Must Provide: Apron.
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