PLEASE - PLEASE - PLEASE Make sure you use a face mask and clean your gourds OUTSIDE. The inside of a dried gourd is VERY toxic -- a known carcinogen. I once took a class involving gourd painting - the instructor had done several books and had sold her things in several locations. She said that her sister, who used to help her clean out the gourds (sawing, drilling, cleaning out the inside) died from inhaling some of the dust. And be sure to clean the outside of the gourd with lots of bleach.