Saturday, the Mister and I stepped out and stepped back in time, or so it seemed, as we found ourselves here at this charming little home-run shop--that was recently built behind the owner's Colonial saltbox home. Pumpkin Hollow is open on a limited basis and by appointment, but the doors were open this weekend, so we took the opportunity and the old scenic route and paid a visit for the first time. We were not disappointed! Every detail was perfection. Truly a labor of love here.
This is the view looking out from the stone porch. See that tree stump in the far left corner? Instead of taking the tree completely out, half the stump was left standing and expertly carved into a big glorious pumpkin. The "hollow" is lower down in the trunk.
Here's a close-up of it. It's really quite large. Anyway, that was just one of the extraordinary things we found here.
The "water wheel" is an actual working grist mill that's turned by water. Neat, huh? OK, so let me take you inside.
I love primitive folk art. At one time, back in the 1980's, I started a little home-based craft business called, Hearts & Hands. It was just a hobby-biz, consisting of myself and a few creative friends who also liked to make things. None of us had much money for crafting in those days, so selling a few things helped us buy the supplies we needed to pursue our interests.
Over the years, I put together a few humble little catalogs with our vintage-style crafts, handmade dolls, quilts, and wooden folk art and sold them by mail-order. These catalogs were super fun to make. However, no computer graphics programs back then, or digital cameras for that matter. So the photographic quality wasn't that great having used developed black-and-white film prints, and an electric typewriter for the print. Everything was layed out and
pasted-up the old-fashioned way; with a T-square, a ruler, and brushed-on glue gum. Then, off to the printer it would go, who did his best with it. (click on catalogs for enlarged view). Once a year, I would open up my house and have a "holiday boutique". This was really the thing we had the most fun doing. I will never forget our annual holiday boutiques! We planned for them all year. Mostly, we just invited our family, neighbors, and friends, and they invited theirs. Just word-of-mouth, that sort of thing. One all-day girl party! This went on for several years, and as word got out our customer base grew. GOOD times. . .GOOD memories.
. . . those were just some of the memories that stirred when I stepped inside. And then I saw these! These were actual gingerbread cookies (of some kind) dipped in wax to preserve them as decorations. The shiny wax looks just like icing. Sweet!
A cozy nook. Did you know that in Colonial times, the pineapple was a symbol of "good luck"? Well, now ya do!
This big stuffed deer had branches for horns and wrapped sticks for legs! Love that. The adorable little mouse standing behind it came home with us. For old-times sake.
(More details about Pumpkin Hollow Mill in this newspaper article.)
But getting back to the shop . . .
Love the pictures in the post!! I gave you a shout out in my blog today!
Posted by: Miss Paula | November 28, 2011 at 03:07 PM
What a charming little spot. And I smiled throughout your discussion of your former business and your annual open house. Humble beginnings, but all that talent still very much in evidence in your home and in your business. So cool!
Posted by: Vee | November 28, 2011 at 06:05 PM
That takes me back too.. I had a stained glass business with my 2 sisters called "Clear Expressions" and we each made certain things and had home parties. I also came up with the idea of having an arts association out here in Corbett, and "Larch Mt. Country Artisans" was the result.. with annual shows and all. I took a break from the organization, then came back and took my jewelry to a jury.. and do you believe the 3 person jury all voted no to let me back in the annual show? Oh well! I didn't mean to go on about that... :-) ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Posted by: Teresa Kasner | November 28, 2011 at 06:19 PM
What a wonderful place to visit. The pumpkin carving is beautiful, what a lot of work to do.
Posted by: Judy | November 29, 2011 at 07:49 AM
Hello! I am new to your blog! I have looked here a few times, but this is the first time I have commented. I love this post about Pumpkin Hollow Mill! This place is exactly the kind of thing that I love! I absolutely love folk art...especially the Christmas stuff. I'm glad you posted the picture of the little tree with all the ornaments and the dried orange slices!! I want to make those for my tree this year and I forgot all about it! Thank you, I will be slicing up my tangerines and drying them in the oven today. Also, looking at these photos brought back a memory I had long forgotten. The holiday open house you talked about...I remember going to something like that, on a big piece of land, in a big, old, beautiful, weathered barn. I feel like it was one of those things that was word of mouth invitation as well...but for the life of me, I cannot even remember where it was...but it was absolutely fantastic! By the way, that little mouse you bought is so darn cute!!
Posted by: Bonnie@WhatAboutPie | November 29, 2011 at 07:52 AM
This looks like just the sort of place that I would love to visit. I love simple folk art and old country things. That wooden bowl full of gingerbread men and greenery is the perfect combination.
A few of my friends and I, used to give a craft sale similar to yours, every year in November. We held it in the home of a friend who has the most amazing home, decorated in old things. We did that for about 20 years. Well, they did. I participated in the last 10 or 15 years or so. I can't even remember now, it was such a large part of my life, for so long. It was such a lovely time, and people used to line up outside the house waiting to get in, every year, so they could have first choice of our crafts.
I love the booklets you used to make. I bet a lot of people held on to those. They remind me of the old Holly Berry Hill catalogs. I still have all of those, with Christine Crockers drawings in them.
Thank you for sharing your visit to such a lovely place with us.
xo
Posted by: Account Deleted | November 29, 2011 at 08:32 AM
What an amazing woodcarving! I'll pass the link on to family members, up there.
Loved seeing the photos of your catalog from the eighties. I think they hold much more charm than the slick, digital catalogs of today (though I'm certain they must have taken a lot of work in those pre-digital days!). What wonderful memories you must have made during that time.
Glad your family had a happy Thanksgiving. Thank you for the sunshine you bring to this virtual world!
Posted by: tinker | November 29, 2011 at 11:20 AM
Thanks Miss Paula--you're a sweetheart!
Posted by: vicki haninger | November 29, 2011 at 02:14 PM
I'm so pleased when I stumble upon another home business such as this. It is very inspiring to me, and hopefully to others.
Posted by: vicki haninger | November 29, 2011 at 02:17 PM
That must've been a bitter pill to swallow; not to let you back into the association you founded. Strange how these things sometimes "evolve". If that was their attitude, you were probably better off without them! (I'm sending you a HUG.)
Posted by: vicki haninger | November 29, 2011 at 02:24 PM
Yes, a whole bunch of work went into that place, and their saltbox home. Very nice of them to share it with us all too!
Posted by: vicki haninger | November 29, 2011 at 02:27 PM
Hi Bonnie, welcome! I'm glad you stopped by and left a comment. You reminded me of a "barn event" I went to years ago in Scappoose, Oregon. I found out about it in a magazine (Country Living--I think it was), and I drove over 1,000 miles to get there as I lived out of state at the time. It was fantastic! I STILL have the hand-carved wooden chicken I bought!
Posted by: vicki haninger | November 29, 2011 at 02:34 PM
What lovely memories we are stirring up together! Please tell me more about the Holly Berry Hill catalogs and Christine Crockers. Haven't heard of them before, but they sound fun!
Posted by: vicki haninger | November 29, 2011 at 02:41 PM
Thanks Tinker--you're a faithful friend!
Posted by: vicki haninger | November 29, 2011 at 02:42 PM
Once upon a time, Dee Foust and Nicol Sayre had a mail order buisness called Holly Berry Hill. They sold their handmade crafts and patterns through a catalog. Over time, the catalog came to include other artist's handmade things and patterns as well. One of those artists was Christine Crocker, who helped to illustrate the catalog. It was a charming thing. All black and white on the look of old paper, and it was mostly hand drawn. I still look through them from time to time, and I was so sad, when they stopped printing it, and sharing their patterns. I think that catalog made a great number of people very happy every few months.
Posted by: Account Deleted | November 30, 2011 at 10:51 PM
Wonderful to know! I guess all good things must come to an end sometime...(sigh)!
Posted by: vicki haninger | December 02, 2011 at 03:09 PM