How To Cure A Birdhouse Gourd?

I have come to the conclusion that I can grow anything NOT edible. 

I struggle with widening watermelons, plumping pumpkins, and cultivating cantaloupes.  I have a gift to grow weeds and inedible gourds in abundance-  but, can I manage to harvest a spaghetti squash? 

No. 

Last year I pillaged over 200 (yes 200!) 4-6 foot long snake gourds.  Do you know how hard it is to give away 200 decorative gourds?  I supplied 5 towns and three counties with the slinky slitherin.

This year I banished the snakes and tried my hand at birdhouse gourds.  I did manage to bring in a small return for my efforts, but now I am left trying to "cure" the gourds before I can turn them into bird abodes.

To "cure" my gourds here is what I am attempting:

• I let the fruit rest on the vines until the frost killed the foliage.
• I cut the stems long and allow them to harden and remain.
• I put the gourds in a dry and sunny place with a lot of air circulation.
• Now I am waiting.  I don't want to work with the gourds until they are completely hardened.  Hopefully, they will dry and I can transform them into art.

Do you have any tricks for drying gourds?  I would love to know them...