Katie Pumpkinhead’s Pumpkin Patch

 If you know me at all, especially around Instagram, you probably already know that I’m obsessed with the movie Trick ‘r Treat, and its iconic character, Sam.  The movie has really gained popularity over the last few years, especially since Spirit Halloween started selling merchandise, but what you may not know about Trick ‘r Treat, is that it got off to a bit of a rough start. Originally planned for 2007, the movie wasn’t officially released until 2009, direct to DVD save for a few screenings here and there. I recall seeing a little blurb about it in a pamphlet about new movies that we used to get with video rentals at the grocery store. This was probably some time in early 2007. Not much was said about the movie in that pamphlet, I can’t recall if there was even any kind of picture or logo included with it, but being a Halloween movie, I instantly became excited to see it. Halloween 2007 passed, with no signs of Trick ‘r Treat being released, and after awhile, I kind of just...

 One of my goals with this blog for 2021 has been to introduce my collection and their stories/personalities a little bit more. I’m kind of out of practice with such things, as I really haven’t written profiles and the like since I collected “normal” dolls several years ago, but a trip to the cemetery yesterday really inspired me to finally kick this off, with my group of “Pumpkids” from an amazing artist who calls herself  The Beast Peddler  . From left to right we have Hebbard, his tiny sister Wynna, and cousins Abe and Lauretta. Abe and Lauretta were the first Pumpkid additions to the family. They arrived on the same day and I immediately got the sense that, though she is smaller and appears just slightly younger, Lauretta was the more level-headed one, while Abe was the goofball. Case and point, Abe thought this box should be either his tomb or his bed, and you can see that Lauretta is half-amused, half losing patience. Abe is an explorer and tends to be very fascinat...

 As you most likely have already noticed, especially if you know me on Instagram, a great deal iof my Halloween collection is handmade.  I love supporting artists, and finding pieces that are clearly made with love and an understanding of what those of us who love and live for Halloween want to see. As someone with a lifelong appreciation for art, but zero crafting talent, it’s super fun to see what other people come up with. I realize, though, when I think about it, that I have always had a deep love for all things handmade, which likely began in babyhood, as I was always being brought to craft fairs by my mother and aunts. Craft fairs were interesting places to me, and as I got older, I made sure to save whatever money I could scrape up for them, rather than just trips to the toy store. Craft fairs were magical places, where you truly never knew what you might find. Everything there was the product of someone else’s imagination, and you never knew when you might stumble acro...

Due to me being such a shy and socially anxious kid, when I started elementary school, my mother, who I can tell you is just about the least “PTA” person you’ll ever meet, decided to become a “class mom”, one of the mothers who volunteers to help out with class parties and chaperone field trips and stuff. She figured I’d be less reluctant to get involved in things if she was around.  I can’t say for sure if it helped or hindered my social development, but there was one particular instance that I think played somewhat a part in my development into the person I am today.  The biggest perk of being the class mom’s daughter was that, when it came to things like goody bag prizes or craft supplies, if there were any left over, I got to keep them for myself. While other kids were whining and attempting to trade things, I was often content because I knew I had the rest of the coveted collection waiting for me at home. There were instances, though, when sometimes there were just enough...

It seems like the last of the “real” pumpkins around the Patch is about to leave us for the big pumpkin patch in the sky. I am always sad to see them go, despite probably having enough “fake” pumpkins to fill the local farms’ patches, but I must say, they had a terrific run this year.  I thought we could take this time to look back on some of our “real” pumpkins’ best moments through the year. As you can see, it’s always exciting for the residents of the Patch to find a new pumpkin. Either that, or our little ghost friend here is wondering how in the world he’s supposed to carry this one in addition to the three he already has.  A family photo of our dear Pumpkids (and Pendergast the ghost poppet, all of these made by TheBeastPeddler) and most of the pumpkins, taken shortly after returning from Sleepy Hollow. These sorts of photoshoots make post-Halloween depression a little less debilitating.  Another little photoshoot from shortly after Sleepy Hol...