For a few years, October has meant hosting my fabric collage retreats here in Maine. And decorating many of those retreats have been colorful specimens of stuffed fabric pumpkins made by my mom, Meta Carlson, who lives next door to us, and has developed a passion for pumpkins.
I’d bring a couple big baskets of pumpkins into the classroom to sell and would barely have time to arrange them on a table or two before students would start snatching them up.
I loved being able to share these creations with my students. And my mom enjoyed having her work appreciated and admired.
Generations of Fabric
People often ask where I developed my love of fabric. If you guessed from my mama—and most do—you’re right. There has always been fabric in our house.
My mom trained as a seamstress in postwar Germany. Her skill helped support her parents and six siblings during that difficult time. When she married my dad and came to the United States, she used her training to make most of our clothing—mine, my sister Heidi’s, and her own. For years she made us matching dresses for holidays like Easter and Christmas (I searched for photos, but came up short for this post).
Eventually our tastes in attire changed (Ah, the teen years!) and in the 1970’s my mom switched from making clothing to making quilts. She helped a friend with a custom drapes business. She re-upholstered the living room furniture every few years. Our family ran and supplied most inventory for a seasonal gift shop called The Craft Cellar. My mama has always kept busy making things—wreaths, doll making, household items, and countless other fabric endeavors.
As she’s grown older, she has been struggling with the small, everyday skills required to make things. Threading a needle, much less her sewing machine or serger, is difficult. Her once deft hands can’t cut fabric all day anymore.
But for the past few years she has come up with a craft that she finds rewarding and isn’t as taxing on her physically: making decorative fabric pumpkins.
Over the years she has collected lots of sewing and craft supplies. One such collection is her tubs and tubs of old sweaters. For a number of years she was altering these sweaters to make new garments out of them, felting the wool sweaters in the washing machine. She cut them apart, attached new sleeves, ruffles and lapels, adorned them with buttons, ribbons, and lace to make textural and colorful jackets and vests.
The years of garment making seem to be over, but the tubs of sweaters and sweater remnants—plus upholstery, drapery, and all sorts of fabric—still exist. Enter the pumpkins.
Sweaters make wonderful pumpkins. The colors and textural quality of the knits she uses mimic the pumpkin-y bumps and crevices of the real things. About this time last year she confessed to me that, silly as it sounded, she dreamt of her pumpkins. Thinking of them got her up in the mornings to start working on them.
She lamented that the fall pumpkin decorating season would soon be over, but stated that really, some of her pumpkins were decorative enough to leave out for Christmas, weren’t they? Of course they are, mama. And I upped the challenge with asking for a birthday pumpkin with a double-knit remnant from a jumper she made for me in elementary school. That request was followed with a Valentine’s pumpkin. Around Easter-time, she presented my sister and I with our own fuzzy-fabric rabbit-topped pumpkins—all in photo below. We’ve since requested daisy-topped summertime pumpkins with a bright yellow wool that a neighbor gave to my mom.
Making stuffed pumpkins gives my mom a creative outlet which she enjoys. Just as important, it gives her a lot of satisfaction to use up older and otherwise discarded materials. She brags about how she didn’t have to buy anything to make them. She has the sweaters and other fabrics for the outsides, she cuts up old t-shirts or sweater remnants to stuff the insides, and she has all the decorative leaves, berries, ribbons, raffia, and buttons she’ll ever need already collected for the finishing touches. My dad cuts pumpkin stems from salvaged branches and we all save the stems from various squash varieties destined for eating.
For a mother-daughters outing last October, I loaned my mom a sweater I thought she’d like to wear, above left. A month later, the sweater reappeared as a unique new variety of Cucurbita, lower left. This year some bright new felted leaves appeared on another pumpkin, upper right. Sigh. The entire family has learned to be careful what they place within the reach of my mom and her scissors.
She repurposes her own clothing as well. She looked at her pumpkin-headed scarecrow sweatshirt and thought it would make a fun kitchen table decoration instead, below.
New pumpkins grow out of my mom’s sewing room almost every day, she enjoys making them and—once they’re made—just looking at them, appreciating the touches of decoration and patterns in the fabrics. Both the making and the having of these creations give her pleasure.
We think it’s something deeper though. My mom has helped to support herself and her family with her handiwork her entire lifetime, and it appears it’s not a habit she can release. In addition to sewing and designing for our family’s yearly Craft Cellar show, there have been decades of other craft shows, many of them showcasing fresh crops of pumpkins. Now at 87 years old, my mom has (almost) accepted that she can no longer set-up and attend craft shows herself.
For a few years, the local garden club show and my Maine retreats have provided the outlet she needed to reduce her pumpkin stock—but not in this year of cancelled events, and the accumulating pumpkins have been threatening to fully overtake all available space in my parent’s sitting and dining areas.
So a few weeks ago at a local outdoor Friday Art Walk (above and below), my sister and I set up a couple tables to sell the produce of “Oma’s Pumpkin Patch.” I even made pumpkin face masks for the occasion, and our mom agreed to stay home. We sold a dozen or so pumpkins, but the rest came back to decorate my parent’s living space.
Etsy to the Rescue
Now our technology-adept son, Sam, has stepped in to help with dispersing pumpkins. He has set up an Etsy page for his “Oma”—grandmother in German—even though my mom has no concept of this “new” online-way to find homes for her current, and continuing, stock of pumpkins.
Sam has titled the Etsy shop: OmasPumpkinPatch, and is busily adding pumpkins to the site as I write this post for tomorrow. And Oma is still making more pumpkins that I haven’t even photographed yet—we can barely keep up with her!
We invite you to check out the store and browse through the images—even if you don’t intend to buy—if you’d like to say hi to Oma (she likes it when anyone calls her Oma) you can do so in the comments section below. We’ll be showing her the comments from viewers.
And please check back to OmasPumpkinPatch to see what what my mama comes up with for the holidays and winter season as well—she continually surprises and delights us with her imagination.
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This blog has been and always will be free. The information contained in the blog covers all aspects of fabric collage. For those who can’t afford to purchase an eWorkshop or even my book, this blog can get them a long way toward the goal of learning the fabric collage technique.
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In return, we like to provide incentives to our patrons to show our appreciation. We recently updated those incentives to provide better value for their contributions while making it more efficient (and fun) for us to fulfill our obligations to them. These new rewards went into effect in September.
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Hi Oma from Scotland! Your pumpkins are amazing I love them! We don’t really have much tradition here for Autumn decorating, my American friend Eliza amuses many with her squashes and pumpkins piled up. I think it needs to be brought over here so I shall buy one on Etsy! Yours in stitches, Laura xx
Love Oma,s pumpkins they are not a thing here in Australia but maybe we need them in April ,as that is our autumnwe are having spring at the moment, they look fantastic though hope you are able to sell a lot for her.
Oma, I LOVE my collection of Oma’s Pumpkins I collected over the years of attending Susan’s classes in Maine. They brighten my home every fall and my kitty, Cosette, sniffs her approval but doesn’t “rearrange” any of the leaves or stems!
Thank you for your artistry and sharing your prodigious sewing skills with us all. We all need an Oma’s pumpkin in our lives!
I loved reading about Oma’s pumpkin collections! What a great hobby and such an inspiring story! Keep them coming Oma!!
I think of you each year when I take out the pumpkins I purchased at the retreat 3 years ago. So happy that I can get a few more on Etsy!
I can’t believe it’s only been a year since our Maine collage retreat, really a dream come true for me. I loved meeting and talking with Oma and seeing her wonderful pumpkins. She kept me company with her stories and comments while I struggled with my collage. What a delightful lady. Thank you for posting these pictures which allowed me to revisit a wonderful time, that seems a hundred years ago now, not just one.
Wonderful talent and inspiration Oma. I will look right now to buy a pumpkin and display is proudly.
Thank you Oma ! I just ordered three of your precious pumpkins. You are such an inspiration to all of us. Keep making these because I plan on ordering some for Christmas decorating too !
Much love from Fort Myers Florida
Susan your mom reminds me of my mom. She made all mine and my 4 sisters clothing growing up. Including the most itchy crocheted bathing suit (I was about 5). Four out of 5 of us have inherited my mom’s love for fabric and yarn and knit, quilt and sew. My one sister than doesn’t play much with fiber is the most amazing painter. I miss my mom every day but feel close to her when I sit in from to the sewing machine.
Oma – I absolute love you pumpkins. Particularly that they are recycled. My fashion forward teen is in to remaking her clothing. Mostly into clothing with less material but it is a start.
What a wonderful patch of pumpkins and a delightful story.
L
Oma, Your pumpkins are fabulous! I love the details you add to each one. How do you even think up all of your beautiful decorative touches? Each pumpkin is amazingly detailed and looks so soft and fanciful! You are truly talented. Keep up the lovely work. Best of luck to you with Oma’s Pumpkin Patch!
Hi, Oma and Susan. Loved reading the story about Oma and the pumpkins. My Mom was always sewing and crafting also. I learned to sew when I was 7, made clothes for a while, then got into quilts and now fiber art. I noticed that you two look a lot alike, and I thought at first that was Susan modeling the sweater/jacket. I look just like my mother did, and my grandchildren call me Oma. The similarities in our stories resonated with me so much I rushed over to the pumpkin patch and got me some decorations! Can’t wait for them to arrive.
Hi Oma,
Your pumpkins are lovely! Thank you for the joy they bring everyone. You’re very creative, keep up the good work!
Hi Oma and Susan!
I have one of your wonderful pumpkins. They are such a nice way to spread a little cheer. Great to recycle materials too. We always had to hide wool (woven) fabric from my mother before she could turn it into a rug. Keep your hands busy!
Kathi
Hi Oma and Susan,
I love pumpkins and yours are magnificent. I love all the textures and colors. Your pumpkins must make everyone smile. We all need smiles right now, keep pumpkin-ing, please!
Mary
Dear Oma, your beautifully creative pumpkins make me smile. I ordered a lovely medium size one this morning that I’m hoping will work as a large pincushion in my sewing room.
If not, it will just be a beautiful addition anyway.
Stay well, and keep adding joy to the world with your creativity!
Susie Eaton
Farmington, Missouri.
Hello Oma and Susan from Illinois. I loved your story even though it made me cry! I lived in Germany twice and had my own Oma and Opa there (even though they were probably closer to my parents age. I spent many afternoons in their kitchen enjoying a meal with them as they enjoyed my son (they’d had two daughters and wanted a son so badly). We lived in Schallodenbach (not far from Kaiserslautern) and then in Stuttgart the second tour. I loved Germany and would think she must miss it terribly. So happy to hear of people enjoying making things well into their upper years! You are an inspiration!
Dear Oma, your pumpkins are lovely and one of a kind! You are in inpiration to me and I share your passion for fabric and creativity!! I hope to still be creating at age 87, like you. Keep making those lovely pumkins!! All the best!
Greetings from Portland, Oregon Oma. LOVE your pumpkins. So colorful and spirited. I hope I am still making art when I am 87 years young. Blessings to you.
Howdy Oma – you are a darling, such a treasure for your family. I love your pumpkins! Autumn is my favorite month, and I think it’s great that you design and make pumpkins for all year long. Your smile and creative spirit is inspiring to others. Take Good Care
What a sweet story! Much appreciated and enjoyed.
Hello Oma and Susan,
Just LOVE your creative energy!And the Etsy pumpkin patch that Sam has created will be a new rage!!!
Susan-I do believe you have a photo for your next update on Sam’s collage.
The one with his Oma is just priceless-so full of happiness and family resemblance-. Perfect for the next project ,titled,appropriately “Oma’s Pumpkin Patch”
Thank you for your positive blog which inspires and soothes.
I truly love my Oma pumpkin you gave me at our Oct. 2017 class in Portland. Oma’s creativity and perseverance are inspirational–helping me embrace my creativity into my high-eighties!
Dear Oma,
You remind me of my two grandmothers. Mar-mar and Granny, both of them had needles, thread, sewing machines, wool, spinning wheels and looms at hand their entire lives. When Mar-mar could not longer make the knots when warping her loom, she invited younger Weaving Guild members to help her out. When the number of grandchildren and great grandchildren needing sweaters outstripped Granny’s yarn budget, she made a deal. If we bought the pattern and yarn, she would keep knitting.
Your pumpkins are beautiful. Thank you for continuing to share your talent and skills with the world.
Good zMorning from South Carolina Oma! Your pumpkins are wonderful! Thank you for showing them to us!
Hello Oma, Keep creating those beautiful pumpkins!! Good Luck with Etsy –everyone needs at least three of your beautiful pumpkins!!
Hi Oma and Susan,
You both continue to be a source of inspiration and admiration to all who have come to know your family. Your close family ties and the love and support you show is so heartwarming.
I so miss the Maine retreats and the visits Oma and Opa made to the classroom to share their stories and spread their charm.
I am so thrilled Oma’s Pumpkin Patch is such a success. May the creativity continue to flow for both of you and for all of us that you inspire.
Hi Oma,
Love your pumpkins and heading over to Etsy to find a special one for my Grans.
And me of course. Love all the special details sitting on the top of the pumpkins ????
My mom knitted what she called fist dolls for foster toddlers, as she gradually went blind, her hands still knew how to make them even without seeing them. I would lay out yarn by color, the stuffing and her tools and she sat for hours creating. I had forgotten about her fist dolls until I read this heartwarming blog.
Look forward to shopping.
I enjoyed reading about your love of fabric and your ability to transform it in multiple projects, all through your life. I am sure you daughter Susan has inherited her artistic talents from you. She is amazing and very generous of her knowledge.
Hola Oma, te escribe Teresa desde Lima-Peru.
Me parecen maravillosas tus calabazas!!!!
Me encantan las telas y los diseños; en casa siempre han habido y hay telas, botones, blondas ya que a mi mami le gusta mucho coser y a mi también.
Felicitaciones y adelante con tu hermoso arte!!!!
Thank you Teresa! Here’s a translation for those who don’t speak Spanish:
Hello Oma, Teresa is writing to you from Lima-Peru.
Your pumpkins seem wonderful to me !!!!
I love the fabrics and the designs; At home there have always been and there are fabrics, buttons, doilies, since my mom likes to sew a lot and so do I.
Congratulations and go ahead with your beautiful art !!!!
Happy happy birthday, dear Oma! It was a pleasure to meet you at Susan’s class in Harpswell in 2019 – I enjoyed speaking with you very much – and I treasure the pumpkin I got while taking Susan’s class. My own mom turned 91 this month and I am sending best wishes from her as well! We are wishing you a happy day and a stellar year!
Happy Birthday Oma ????. Greetings from Fort Myers Florida ! I am the very proud owner of three of your beautiful pumpkins and I put them out on my front porch in late September and leave them out for all to see until Thanksgiving time. We don’t have to worry about bad weather affecting them … so I know we will all love them for many years to come. I admire your artistic spirit and loving heart. You are truly an inspiration to all ! Have a beautiful birthday celebration and love to you and your family all year long ❤️
Annie French
Hello, Oma, my friend of many years.You look great and I hope you are feeling good. As you know, you have been my inspiration for many a year. Your pumpkins are beautiful and very creative. And I am the fortunate owner of 3 of them. I am going to call shortly and hope I get to talk to you. This past November I sold my condo in Clayton for a fantastic profit which enabled me to move to an Assisted Living Facility in Franklin, NC. It was time I quit living by myself. It has been a little difficult to get adjusted but I have gotten adjusted and am doing okay now. My handwriting has gotten bad – almost unreadable – so that is why you have not heard from me recently. But know I love you and miss you and Bill. Many hugs, Brenda Winkle