The ground may be frozen here in Maine, but the pumpkins—my mom’s stuffed pumpkins, that is—are ready for another harvest! She has set aside fall colors and is looking toward springtime. Many of you will remember reading about the beginnings of Oma’s Pumpkin Patch back in October. Well, she’s still enjoying making pumpkins, and my son Sam and I keep enabling her to find new homes for them via her Etsy store. Eighteen newbies have been added as of this morning.
After the Christmas additions, she turned to Valentine’s Day for inspiration, and found numerous ways to include hearts as pumpkin toppers. One is even decorated with a dozen red roses for the occasion (above left).
As always, my mom fashions these beauties out of old sweaters or blankets or (in this batch) even a knit skirt. Cut-off remnants from those items, or other fabrics destined to be tossed, become pumpkin stuffing. One day I went to check on her (my parents live next door to us), and she showed me a basket of well aged clothespins that she was using as pumpkin stems (above left)—I had to agree they worked. My mom had already enlisted cinnamon sticks from the kitchen for use as well (above right)—she’s quite proud to “use up what she has in her sewing room and around the house.”
This batch has a few more smaller sized pumpkins which, may I suggest, would also work as heart-felt pincushions—sweet treats for your sewing space. If you purchase any or not, please do leave a comment for my mom Meta (though she loves everyone to call her Oma) either in comments below or on her Etsy site. I pull the comments up on my phone and she reads through them all, so tickled at how she can connect to people from everywhere.
Last week, my mom turned 88 years old. It may have been a nippy birthday, but the sun was out and the wind was calm. We coerced her outside to have celebratory slices of her gift from Tom—a Maine wild blueberry pound cake (see photos below)—a specialty of his that she requests at just about every occasion.
After eight years in Maine, my mom still seems to be in denial about how to dress for winter. So before long, my niece ducked inside and grabbed layers to drape around her Oma. Where exactly she found the hat is anyone’s guess, but it did match the colors of the day, and the newest pumpkins (below) my mom brought out to show us.
Best wishes to you for a safe and cozy new year—from Oma.
Your pumpkins are beautiful, Oma! Happy Birthday!
Oma, you are such an inspiration and a bright light in this world of uncertainty . I hope you continue to create your charming pumpkins. You must have a huge treasure box of remnants and notions to keep your pumpkin patch growing!
Stay well and I hope we will meet again some day soon.
Hugs to all,
Marilyn Davidson
Happy Birthday, Oma, from sunny Florida! My mom turned 88 this year also but I was unable to celebrate with her so I am happy to see you surrounded by your family on such an auspicious occasion. I LOVE my pumpkin and am so grateful I was able to buy it IN PERSON in 2019. May your 88th year be nothing short of amazing!
Happy Birthday to you, Oma, from Lake Wylie, SC!
I love your spirit of creating these charming pumpkins from worn fabrics and clothespins!
That creative talent clearly must run in the family.
I once read that Albert Einstein had said, “Creativity is intelligence having fun.”
Stay warm up there, and keep “having fun”!
Each and every pumpkin is so special. The colours and decorations are unique. They bring a smile as I look through each and every one. Thank you.
Happy Birthday to your precious Mother! Tell Tom that that pound cake looks so yummy! I know it was enjoyed by all.
Hi Meta, your pumpkins are beautiful and very creative. I miss you still and wish I could see you again and hug your neck. Some of your creativity might rub off on me and I would like that very much. I always admired and marveled at your creativity – always loved seeing your new creations when Bill and I visited. And your home – just in your decor and how you arranged everything was always so pretty and an inspiration to me. I talked to your Bill at Christmas and asked him to give you a hug for me – I hope he remembered to do that. I am doing pretty good for the shape I’m in!! Challenging sometimes but I still sew – mostly making Memory Bears and quilts these days. Kristi, my daughter has an etsy shop and I sell them there – it is currently on vacation while she catches up with work. StitcherybyKristi/etsy.com. I love you, Meta, my forever friend, and I am hugging you now.
Belated Happy Birthday Oma. I love your sweet little pumpkins and you look so charming in that hat. Hope you enjoyed that blueberry cake, yum.
Blessings in the coming year????
Happy Birthday Oma!????. Your pumpkins are gorgeous!
Love from Judy in Canada
Sorry for the ??? typos! Much love and blessings!
Judy from Canada
What a wonderful birthday you are having! Right there with your loving family celebrating quietly with you. I want to let you know that my Oma pumpkin I brought last Fall from you works hard everyday as my sewing room pincushion!! And it makes me smile every time I look at it, thinking of you busily creating beautiful and useful pumpkins. Stay safe and well. You are a treasure.
How wonderful! I’m so glad you posted this, I wanted to comment on the first post and now I can on this one! Oma you are an inspiration for sure. I get discouraged at starting something sometimes because of my age and I know that’s silly to do, but getting inspiration from you and what you’re doing is a great bit of sunshine.
Keep making those pumpkins, any thoughts for Spring?
Jane
Happy Birthday Oma,
Your pumpkins are amazing! Creativity has no age limit!
Love from Sue, snowy Deer Park, WA!
Happy Birthday, Oma !!! What a lovely birthday party, you smile is so wonderful !!!
sent from BC Canada
Happy Birthday, Oma! You are definitely the Queen of the Pumpkin Patch and long may you reign. It looks like the weather happily cooperated on your birthday and you were all able to share blueberry cake. It looks delicious. It is fun to see photos of you because you look so much like your beautiful daughter, Susan.
I can hardly wait to see the Easter pumpkins!
Mary in Palm Desert, CA
Happy Birthday to Oma 88 years YOUNG!!!! I can see where your daughter gets her love of color and her imagination!
Do you think your wonderful son-in law would share his blueberry pound cake recipe? Thanks!
Have wonderful 2021.
My birthday is Jan 15 and my grandmother was Oma also(from Holland).
Happy birthday. We used to live in Maine and I do think of it often; but only in the summer !!
Happy Birthday Oma! It’s clear where Susan came by her creativity and love of color. Will you be doing pastels for Easter pumpkins?
I love your Birthday photos! Oma is such a sweet soul! I especially love the way she embellishes her pumpkins in all kinds of fibers, ribbons, etc. Making all these wonderful pumpkins year round is such a great idea and they’re lovely!
Happy Birthday Oma! Hugs from Mesa, Arizona!
i left an earlier comment but I forgot to wish you a Happy Birthday, Meta. Looks like you had a very good one with that lovely cake that Tom made for you. Looks delicious! Have a bite for me. A big birthday hug from me!