A couple of years ago, while still living in Illinois, I had my own Shop, selling vintage and antique items, with seasonal handmade crafts. The above Cinderella pumpkins, were a big hit, selling out almost immediately.
They weren’t difficult to make but took some time. I wanted them to look as real as possible, because the shop where I rented my space, specialized in American Primitives. One thing led to another, after all, you can’t offer ONE of anything, so my pumpkins, like real pumpkins, came in all colors, shapes, materials and styles. The funny thing about that is this…. I never got tired of making those pumpkins…. I loved it!
A Cinderella pumpkin made from a vintage grain sack, selling Grass Seed.
One mid-July, I went to an auction with my husband, we were both looking for items to sell at the shop, I couldn’t stay long, my car was full of pumpkins to deliver to the store and set up for the next day. Unloading a bushel basket from my car, filled with pumpkins to take to the shop, a man stopped me to talk. Soon, Jon, my husband, joined us, and told me he had “filled in” Michael with all the info about my pumpkins….
I had no idea what was going on!!!
Did this Michael want to shop at my store? Did he need directions? Why was Jon spending so much time talking in earnest to him? WHO is he??
Turns out, Michael’s mother had started a yearly craft festival in the city of Sandwich, Illinois many years earlier, ( forty plus ), and it is still one of the most successful, still operating festivals in Northern Illinois.
Well……knowing THAT, I was honored and surprised that he had even noticed my “work”!
Information was passed along, how to apply, what is required, who participates, etc. etc.
I entered, was accepted, and my life, as I knew it, changed drastically.! Between my “shop” and the Craft Festival, I literally made hundreds to a thousand pumpkins per year ! Tylenol became my new best friend!
Now that I’m “home”, in Indiana, I’ve thought about participating in an Etsy shop. Can you have too many pumpkins? I doubt it, hope not, will keep you posted on how things work out!
Friend, whatever your pumpkin-preference is, if you can’t find your “perfect” pumpkin, you may want to try making your own!
It’s easy.
I promise.
If you make your own, please let me know, I’d love to hear about it!
Yea for Pumpkins!
xx,
