An Early Autumn with Velvet Pumpkins

This summer has been so hot and humid and I am ready for fall... but then again, I am always ready for fall! I decided to start making pumpkins earlier than last year, and evidently, some of you are ready for fall and have started placing pumpkin orders already! Thank you! :)

Over the last couple of years I have managed to collect several colors of vintage velvet and think I have plenty for this fall's harvest. The hues range from white to gold to faded peachy orange to bittersweet to dark orange and then a dark russet. I really wish I could find a gold/green color or a silvery gray... maybe I'll run across something at the 127 Sale this year.

I nearly panicked, thinking I wouldn't be able to find the fiberfil that I have used for years to stuff my pumpkins. Morning Glory is my go-to brand of fiberfil. On the 5-lb. box, it says it is manufactured by Carpenter Co. I remember a few years ago everyone was worried that it was no longer available and then it started appearing in stores again. Recently, I had trouble finding it, and today when my daughter brought two boxes home, I noticed the packaging design had changed. I'm writing to the company to see what's going on and if I will need to hoard bulk order so I don't run out for a long, long time.

I'll be sharing more photos of pumpkins as I get them made. For now, I only have one color available for single pumpkins in my Etsy shop.

Before long, I'll have velvet pumpkins all over the place! :)

Come back soon...
Lana

Thrift Store Coffee Table & Velvet Pumpkins

In my last post I mentioned pumpkins would have to wait. That was not the case today. I already had several stuffed and sculpted, waiting on leaves and stems. So while I had tomatoes simmering on the stove and jars of tomato juice in the canner, I sat at the dining table and added the finishing touches to a few pumpkins.

And then I placed them in an old ironstone compote bowl and placed that on a thrift store coffee table I bought yesterday... for $10!!!

I LOVE the aqua color in contrast to the pumpkins! What do you think?

I only have the lighter pumpkins photographed and listed. I'll take photos of the darker orange ones Monday.

Oh, and I hope to get a quilt finished next week, too! Yes, I am that far behind in quilt-making. :)

Blessings,
Lana

Get an Early Start on Your Autumn Decor!

If I decorate for a holiday, I am usually a last minute decorator. Maybe it's because I dread getting down boxes of decorations and I don't even want to think of fighting the holiday crowds at the stores. So I finally set out a candle or two that evokes feelings of fall and pumpkins and burning leaves... oh wait! That's my candle burning and wax running over the edge of the table... and that is why I now use candle warmers, lol!

I do love cozy, rustic scented candles and I love leaves and pumpkins and warm colors of autumn. My little velvet pumpkins are just the thing for a touch of autumn here and there without going overboard or dragging out half the boxes of holiday decor only to find I decided to get rid of my old decor and make new fresh looking items... which never happened.

I also like decorating with pumpkin artwork. Everyone puts out a fall wreath or a pumpkin or a bowl of acorns and gourds... but how many people bother to change out the artwork on their walls for fall? I do that now that I have some of my own paintings to use.. and I have some in my Etsy shop if you'd like something special for your wall, too!

I'll let you in on something... I have a coupon code for 30% off anything and everything in my Lana Manis Designs Etsy shop... including original artwork! It's good through July 31st and is in celebration of my 30th wedding anniversary later this month! Just use this code during checkout: 30YEARS and you'll get 30% off! :)


As for the velvet pumpkins, you can orders yours right here. I have over 3 dozen velvet pumpkins made and ready to ship. They are made from vintage velvet and recycled wool (cashmere, lambswool, etc.). They are about 4" across and do double duty as a pincushion if needed!

Choose by pumpkin color listed under each photo.
Stem and leaf color will vary slightly but you may specify if you want green or neutral.

Just email me --- lanamanis{at}gmail.com OR honeysucklelane{at}hotmail.com --- with your choices. I'll get right back to you with a PayPal invoice.

$25 each plus a flat rate of $5 shipping in the US.
If outside the US, please email me for a shipping quote.

BITTERSWEET

PALE PEACHY SALMON

BRIGHT ORANGE

WINTER WHITE

RUSSET

Thanks for stopping by...
have a blessed weekend!

Lana

Lumina Pumpkins {& a question at the end}

 I love white pumpkins even though I have difficulty finding them for sale around here. So, most times I make my own, whether it be fabric pumpkins,

pumpkin block prints,

or paper pumpkins.

This week I have done lumina pumpkin watercolors. I'm having trouble deciding if I will sell the originals or just sell prints and note cards.

I really enjoy working with watercolors...

you never know just exactly what you're going to get when it's finished...

I'll have some paintings available at TDIPT Mercantile Wednesday night. One will be a watercolor of an old crock I recently purchased:

and maybe I'll list the pumpkins, too! :)

Here's my question ~ to all the artists out there: Can you recommend a scanner for scanning artwork? The one I have {HP Deskjet F4240} is a great all-in-one but it doesn't get true colors in a scan and that is so frustrating! I have to edit all my art scans to get close to the actual color and even then I usually don't get the exact color. I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks so much!

Take care and God bless,
Lana
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Vintage Velvet Pumpkins - Come and Get 'Em!

I've opened up orders for vintage velvet pumpkins this month. I will begin shipping them October 15th. Last year I had orders for several dozen pumpkins, so I thought I'd better get started. I'll be doing the Norcross Art Fest this weekend and will start on pumpkins when I return home next week.

If you'd like to read more about the pumpkins, you can find them in my Honeysuckle Lane Etsy shop. I had every intention of combining all my shops, even announced it, but people keep searching for and coming back to my old shops... guess I'll have to figure something else out. :)

Thanks for stopping by!
Take care & God bless,
Lana

P.S. Anytime you think someone may be interested in a post, you can easily share it by using the social media links just below this. :)

Pincushions & Pumpkins

(pincushion clamp)

I've been working on new product designs here at home, and while some of them are time more consuming, I did need to get a few more things added to my Honeysuckle Lane Etsy shop.

(round make-do pincushion)

I dug out the designs that I carved a couple years ago and made more hand-pulled prints.

I like the textural look I get when printing on watercolor paper.

(strawberry make-do pincushion)

My block print designs are based on antique pincushions that I own (the pincushion clamp and the round pincushion) and one that I made that was inspired by antiques I have seen elsewhere (strawberry make-do pincushion).

(part of my pincushion collection)

I also printed more of my pumpkins.

I loved making these and I am coming out with new block print designs this fall.

These were inspired by the fabric pumpkins that I have been making for several years.

The baskets and urns were inspired by early fraktur work designs.

If you like these, you may see them and read the full descriptions here.

A purchase of the entire set of three (pincushions or pumpkins) will entitle you to a free block print as seen below:

I was looking back through my blog posts, and I think I started relief printmaking in middle of 2008 because I posted a little about it here.

Well, I guess I'd better get back to work. I have a few special orders to finish and my notebook of designs is begging to come to life as actual objects and curiosities. :)

Take Care and God Bless,

Lana

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Pumpkins & Pincushions

Autumn is finally, really, and truly here! The leaves are changing, the air is crisper, the skies are clearer... it's nature's beauty at it's best!

~*~

I finally have some things on eBay again, pumpkins and make-do pinushions ~ all with an Autumn decor in mind, so please click here if you'd like to see and read about them. I will be listing pumpkins in a cornucopia tonight.

~*~


I was going to blog about a Cottage Santa that I had for sale, but he is already sold! Thank you dear customer! If you'd still like a peek, click here.

Take Care & God Bless,

Lana

~*~

Featured on Bliss Guild, updated w PUMPKINS

Pop over to the Bliss Guild blog to see what I'll be working on over the next few weeks. Be sure to check back to see the other artists and entrepreneurs that will be featured from time to time.

UPDATE: I've had several inquiries about the pumpkins. I will be listing some for sale on my website near the end of the month, but I will also take orders as time permits. These are hand made and hand painted by me, from start to finish. They will be similar, but not identical. Please email me via the link in my profile to place an order or to ask questions.

Thank you for the interest in my pumpkins!

~*~