I made the ceremonial rattle for a friend as a gift.

Process

I inserted seeds for the rattle in the hole where the gourd had attached to the vine and sealed the hole with wax. Gourds are strong but holes compromise their strength. I experimented till I could find the right string (waxed string) to create a simple net that wrapped around the gourd and tied it firmly to the bone handle. I wound brass wire around the bone to make a grip that feels inviting to the touch. The final touch was adding beads, string and feathers for decoration.