Pumpkin Love

When we were down in Dorset last week driving back and forth to my Mum's cottage, we drove past a small farm house selling pumpkins. Each day there would be three or four beautiful orange pumpkins of varying size placed on the wall in front of the house, with an "honesty box" and a hand written sign pricing them at £2.50.

I spent many hours sat with my Mum last week whilst J took the Little People out and about. When we got back one afternoon the Little Peeps made me close my eyes as I went into the kitchen (I honestly had no idea what was going on), then there was this big Ta-daaaaaaah!! and this amazing pumpkin was revealed. It was such a sweet thing for them to do to cheer me up, as they know how much I love carving our annual halloween pumpkin.

Because of the way the pumpkin had come to me this year, I wanted to do something a bit special with it. I hopped onto Pinterest and began drinking in all sorts of ghoulish ideas for spooky pumpkin lanterns. Nothing quite grabbed me until I came across this Night Owl. The design came from a website called "Zombie Pumpkins" (yes, really) and I managed to fairly easily print the design and trace it onto the front of my gorgeous Dorset Pumpkin. 

On Friday afternoon, The Little People were off getting dressed and made up ready for a Halloween Party, so I was given full, peaceful permission to Do The Pumpkin. I used an ice cream scoop to carve out the pumpkin flesh, then a small sharp kitchen knife to carefully cut out the shapes. Finally, I used a lino cutting tool to carve some extra patterns, and I tell you I was one happy, satisfied, Halloween Mummy!

I was absolutely chuffed to bits with how it turned out and couldn't wait for it to get dark so that I could light up the candles inside.

Everyone who came to our door trick or treating that evening loved it, and even took photos of it. It's definitely my best halloween pumpkin to date, and the Little People were suitably impressed by my carving skillz.

I was left with 600g of scooped out pumpkin innards, so on Saturday I decided to have a go at baking a pumpkin pie.

I don't think any of us here in the Attic have ever eaten pumpkin pie before, so it was a bit of a gamble really, but I did want to give it a go. I found a recipe on the BBC Good Food website, then set about doing pastry stuff and making my spiced pumpkin filling. It took an age to do.....and the result? I have to confess that none of us really liked it! I mean, it was oh-kay, the spice flavours were really quite strong (I might've put too much ginger in) and I thought it was going to be much sweeter. But anyhow, we all really tried to like it, and bless the LP, they didn't want to tell me they didn't like it until they saw me screw my face up then they were able to breathe out and admit they didn't much care for it either. Oh well, you can't win'em all. Pumpkin soup next year then.

I've had pumpkins on my mind all weekend, thinking about how much I loved doing the carving and how I would really like to have a go at making more pumpkin lanterns. The above pages are cut out of an old Country Living magazine and have stuck in my mind (they're about 6 years old I think), I just loved the simplicity of making these sort of seasonal decorations for the home.

Last week I also came across these beauties on Facebook, which has certainly fuelled my carving-craving! Aren't they beautiful? They were designed and carved by a super talented artist called Amy Swann, who is perhaps better known for her incredible wedding cakes.

And then today, I found these wonderful designs on a US website giving ideas for things to do to celebrate Fall. I mean Autumn. Autumn-Fall.

So can you guess what I did this morning? Yeah, course you can, I am nothing if not predictable.....

....I got out my nifty little lino cutter, ready for an hour of peaceful gouging. I bought my cutter from a local shop but they are easy to come by online (on Amazon UK here)

I wanted to do another pumpkin, but in the days after Halloween there was not a pumpkin to be found. So I had to settle for a short, squat little Butternut Squash. I chopped it's top off then set about getting rid of the innards. I can definitely recommend the ice cream scoop method, it works a treat.

I hollowed out the lid too, but in the end I discarded it and made a candle pot instead of a full candle lantern.

I didn't bother to draw the design, just waded straight in with an idea to create some stems and leaves and maybe a birdie. I didn't really faff too much, just went with the flow....

....and produced something rather pleasing and very rustic shall we say. But oh the pleasure! I was sat in my little back yard with a cup of coffee, scraping and cutting and piercing to my hearts content.

The instant results were very gratifying, and I immediately put my carved butternut lantern to good use on the table.

Oh, cute!

This little project has really pleased me today and delivered a welcome dose of happy. I know the lantern won't last long, but that just makes it more special. It's of the moment, and I like that.

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Comments

[Rudi O]

Did you know that in the US we use a special type of pumpkin for pie? It's called a 'Sweet' or 'Pie' Pumpkin. They're smaller than the carving ones & quite a bit tastier!

Great pumpkin carving skills!!!

[Beverley]

A very pretty pumpkin Lucy. We did them too. The girls followed patterns which were very intricate, but sadly they fell apart. So we had to start again and do traditional faces. These worked well.
Sending hugs.

[Thomasina Tittlemouse]

Your pumpkin lanterns are so beautiful! Love them! I completely agree with you about pumpkin pie - pumpkin muffins on the other hand - To Die For! The recipe I have devised for these takes a lot of beating, though I say it myself - it's in my post here http://mrsthomasinatittlemouse.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/cinderella-slippers-and-pumpkins.html
Scroll past the slippers and encounter pumpkin heaven! I don't know how grating excavated pumpkin bits would work but you could probably get more than enough out of the bigger scooped out pieces put through a hand grater or a grater attachment on a food processor. Try it - I bet neither you nor the family will be disappointed! Lots of love E xx

[melissa]

That is pretty darn cool!!!

[Cathy at The House with The Blue Door]

Who'd have thought that carved pumpkins could be so inspiring? Yours are absolutely beautiful! I've made a few pumpkin pies over the years, and my three children hated it when they were little, but love it now they're grown up. The recipe I've used includes brown sugar, cream, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Interesting to read others' comments about canned pumpkin - I'll have to give that a try :)
Cathy x

[Jen Y]

Beautiful! How inspiring. :)

I'm not much of a pumpkin carver but I read an idea recently I'd like to try. Sprinkle cinnamon inside your carved pumpkin & it's supposed to give off a yummy scent as the candle burns.

thanks for sharing

[josiekitten]

Your pumpkin carving is just beautiful, love it! Thank you for sharing.

[Opeyemi]

Beautiful. .I don't think I can carve to save my life lol

[Louise]

I love your blog. Remember: it's yours to do with as you wish. As for the rest: live and learn. It's a life lesson. Keep it up! You're the best! Crochet people all over the world have to hang together.--Louise from Canada

[Debbie]

Loving the carvings!!! And isn't it nice to have something to look forward to about the darker evenings!!

I'm not a fan of pumpkin pie either. I like the idea of it but it just wasn't my cup of tea. I tend to prefer the taste of pumpkin that has been roasted (and then maybe made into soup, or eaten as is) I think the Pumpkin and Ginger tea loaf could be worth a try though!!!

[kim]

Your pumpkin and your squash look wonderful but not liking pumpkin pie??? I wonder if your recipe had condensed milk in like the one I use? All of my children happily devoured my pie as did I with no compaints. Let me know if you want a copy of our version :-) x

[Monika Holzschuh]

I was not upset that you did not get to telling us more about Yarndale sooner, just very curious! I really enjoyed all the pics - how beautiful it looks! Thank you for making such a world-wide creative idea a reality! I certainly don't want my mandala back - I know with you it's in good hands!
Take good care
Monika

[Heather]

Wonderful love it

[Dane]

Quel talent Lucy !!!!

[Maureen]

Hi Lucy. Love pumpkin pie, but, I do admit, it's an acquired taste. Didn't like it as a child. At all. Sweet potato pie tastes similar, but stronger. I guess that's Really and acquired taste!

[Andrina]

These are all wonderful! I had to giggle about the pumpkin pie. I wonder if your family would enjoy sweet potato pie--it's milder and sweeter than pumpkin. And use a light hand with the ginger. :) Cinnamon would be lovely though. ♡♡♡ to your family for thinking of you and their kindness!

[Angela-Southern USA]

Saw this and thought you'd like it too.
http://accordingtomatt.blogspot.com/2014/10/crochet-flower-lamp.html
Have a good one!

[Cathy]

This post thrilled me to bits. Loved the pumpkin/squash carvings. But I laughed out loud when I read that you and your family didn't like the pumpkin pie. I was beginning to think you were super-human - master crocheter, creative blogger, fantastic Yarndale organizer, super cook... That little anecdote just reminded me that you're a real person and not everything turns out perfectly. And I mean that as a true compliment. :) Thank you for sharing your life with us.

[Louise Gilbert]

Fabulous, I love carving pumpkins for Halloween and always do something a little special, this year it was Tinkerbell and Gru & Minions so not at all scary. I use a pumpkin carving set which is a bit cheap and nasty and spent ages on Amazon looking for a new set of tools, I ended up buying the same ones again as they have lasted a number of years, but now I've seen your lino tools I've bought them as well! I love the effect of carving the rind off but leaving the flesh but never managed it before, so thanks for the heads-up and I'll be even more creative next year!
P.S. I know its sacrilege but I throw the pumpkin flesh away, every time I've tried to make something its been revolting!!!!

[Joy]

loving the carvings Lucy ... well done you!! I got Dave to do our pumpkin last week, I did the drawing and he did the carving ... we ended up with a rather boss eyed Mr Pumpkin - but hey ho. Happy Hallowe'en :-)Xx lots of love Joy Xx

[Clare]

Wow they are so lovely I'm a little bit in love with them, I wasn't well enough to carve one this year but my fab nephew carved one for me, so tempting though and I do have a Butternut Squash coming with tomorrows online shop...
Clare xx

[Allison]

It's worth noting that pumpkins grown and sold for carving are not usually as tasty for eating as they've been bred for appearance. You might enjoy pumpkin pie more with an eating-otiented variety more.

[Lise]

Isn't it great with the creative urge just hits you? Lovely pumpkin/squash!

[Michelle]

Oh my goodness adorable and what kind gesture. Love the squash - what a clever idea xx

[Diane Pearce]

Inspirational. Thank you.