: Make A Shekere :  

: Navigation :
 : Make a Leopard/Lady Gourd Shaker, Like Big Maracas :

This leopard rattle sat a long time waiting to finish. The shell was done long in advance and then one day I knew it was time to finish it.
gourd rattle in leopard motif on ronald reagan shirt
The Leopard/Lady Rattle
I've broken down making the rattle into steps. The steps could be further broken down. It isn't hard, but it does take some time. Get some supplies and get going. It sounds great.

Ingredients
You will need
one cured birdhouse gourd (or other hard shelled gourd)
leather dye
hemp twine
heavy thread
feathers
bit of cloth
bit of chamois leather
cork
pea gravel
and tools:
a dremel tool or a fine tooth hacksaw, beading pliers or needle nose pliers, scissors, plastic scrubber, washing tub/bucket, wood burner or pyorogrpahy tool

If you don't already know about getting and cleaning gourds, look at Getting Nice Clean Gourds, the first step in the Red Gourd project.

  1. Decorate the outer shell of your gourd with pyrography and leather dyes

  1. Filling the Gourd Rattle
    2. Pea gravel and seeds are used for the noisemaker inside the rattle

tying feathers onto the rattle for better juju

  1. Add the Scarf and Rooster Feathers to Finish the Rattle

The hat gives it a good anthro look and the feathers give it a bit more jujuj. Maybe it will need it.

 : Links/Sponsors :

Make a Shakere is sponsored by Fertility Futures, a firm focused on helping make families possible. Many would be parents are unable to realize their dreams of a family with children due to fertility issues. Fertility Futures brings medical specialists and counselors to bear on these difficult problems, helping couples with a range of solutions from fertility therapy through the use of surrogates to carry a child through pregancy for a family. In order to support this service, Fertility Futures also solicits egg donors for its ova donation program. People who face challenges in becoming parents, or healthy women who are willing to become egg donors should consider visiting Fertility Futures.

Rhythm Workers Union my inspiration for all things rhythmic

Guerilla Poetry Insurgency some wonderful people who understand the power and importance of the spoken word
Email the webmaster Copyright © 2005-2006 Make a Shakere