The Very First ‘Pumpkinseed’//October 110th, 2021

If you ask me my earliest memories of things related to Halloween, there are many.

The initial thing that comes to mind is my first year trick-or-treating, at age four. I have vivid memories of my pumpkin costume, a hand-me-down from my cousin, and being coaxed out from under a table and into the magical world of Halloween, that would become my world from that moment on. I often catch myself wondering if that’s where my specific obsession with pumpkin people originates from.

I think a lot about those classic McDonald’s Halloween pails, served with a Happy Meal inside. A small collection of them existed in my home before I was born, and I played with them like toys before I’d ever even experienced Halloween. Each one had a name and a personality (my favorite being “Katta”, the witch) and would often leave me with a craving for French fries (or a milkshake, in the ghost’s case) when I was done playing. One day soon, those guys will get their own post here.

There is one vague memory that’s sat at the back of my mind for awhile, though. Like the pails, my parents had many things around the house from before I was born. And the Halloween item that I actually have my very earliest memories of playing with, was actually a small pin the shape of a pumpkin. But this wasn’t just an ordinary pumpkin, either. It had a little string on the bottom, and when you pulled it, a smiling ghost declaring a friendly “Boo!” popped out from inside, wearing the top of the pumpkin like an oversized hat.

It’s one of those things I never really consciously thought about anymore, but the memory was always just there, hazy in the back of my mind, that my first experience with Halloween was with this interesting little relic that I found among a bunch of tiny toys that my parents kept in a little bucket under one of the lamps in the living room when I was a toddler. Every so often I would see it in my mind’s eye, a blurry vision of a little plastic pumpkin and the smiling face of a ghost.

I only started actually thinking more about it recently, after discovering ScaryRigged, a shop run by a lovely lady named Heather, that specializes in vintage Halloween jewelry. This shop has become my absolute favorite for Halloween jewelry. Everything has so much character. I often keep an eye on it for updates, and one day, lo and behold, in Heather’s Instagram story, there was the pin from my youth, that had been nothing but a hazy memory for so long.

It’s such a strange feeling, when these little relics return to my life. I didn’t know the first time I ever held this pin, that my life would one day revolve around all things relating to Halloween, but this truly was the first real piece of that puzzle. Up until I saw this for sale again, I was wondering how accurate my memory even was, but when I hold this in my hand, I know I’m holding the first little pumpkinseed that helped me grow into the pumpkin that I am.

What are your earliest memories of Halloween-related things? I would love to know!

Stay spooky, my friends.

Pumpkin Guts: Devil’s Night//October 277th, 2024

I was recently given the opportunity to check out a new, independent Halloween short film called Pumpkin Guts: Devil’s Night. (Picture from IMDb) I first became aware of this film through the Instagram page , and to say I absolutely knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I’d love it, would be an understatement. I can always tell when a piece of media is truly going to radiate Halloween, in the way that will transport me through whatever month we’re currently in (in this case, probably the most disgusting July on record) and into Halloween night itself. When I was offered early access to this short film, I could not have been more honored. Even though I’ve built up somewhat of a following within the Halloween community, it still amazes me every day that people finally truly see and feel what I’m trying to create; that my love of Halloween finally means something and brings some joy and comfort to others like myself, and that anyone, especially a filmmaker, would trust me ...

Here’s Where The Story Ends//October 337th, 2020

Everyone has moments in their life when they feel like giving up. That feeling of “This is never going to happen, so why keep trying?” Sometimes it relates to a thing that would be trivial to anyone else, sometimes it’s about something more life-altering. But, we’ve all been there. I have moments of discouragement with this blog. Times I’ve told myself, “No one cares”, or “No one will read this”, etc., but I continue on, for the joy of it. And sometimes, something amazing happens. If you haven’t read my previous post, Have You Seen This Pumpkin? , I would strongly suggest doing so before continuing on with this story. The short version is, I saw a pumpkin in someone’s window when I was twelve years old, and have spent the last twenty-one years trying to find it for myself. When I published that post, I wasn’t expecting much of a response. I was really just hoping to hear someone say, “Yes, my family had this pumpkin when I was a kid!” Or “I once saw this in a neighbor’...

Don't Be The Toothbrush In Someone Else's Pumpkin Pail//October 303rd, 2025

It's that time of year again, boils and ghouls! Spooky season has officially arrived on the scene, and Summer Summers of Summerville is just sick about it. She and her cronies are out here acting like that ghost pillow in their local HomeGoods means the beach is now closed until Memorial Day 2026 and the sun will not be seen again until next June. Did you know Halloween decor in July actually shortens people's summers? What a phenomenon! Obviously, this is not the case. It's still, sadly, meteorologically speaking, very much summer. But those of us who want to look ahead have as much right to do so as thought that don't wish to look ahead have every right to do a strange little thing I'll never understand called "enjoy their summer". It doesn't have to be a battle, and yet, ever year, it is. Sometimes I think summer people dwell on autumn and Halloween more than those of us that actually live for it. If you're so focused on what other people are...

Katie Pumpkinhead’s Pumpkin Patch

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