A painted pumpkin with bold autumn blooms is a perfect hostess gift.
Last night, we were invited to a neighbourhood gathering, and as the new folks on the street, we were excited for the chance to meet everyone.
It was a potluck-style barbecue, with a great spread: I brought a pasta salad, someone else made a classic Caesar, and there were all kinds of finger foods—and some absolutely delicious guacamole. Of course, no backyard BBQ is complete without the staples: burgers and hot dogs, fresh off the grill.
Young and not so young brought together for fall gathering.
I love that the crowd was delightfully mixed with a balance of energy and wisdom. Two main groups emerged: the under-35s with their sweet babies and toddlers, and the over-50s holding down the other half of the yard. Conversations varied: we talked about our new homes, projects completed and yet to be done, travel, our children...
And the weather, oh, the weather couldn't have been better—summer made an encore appearance, and though we know it won’t last, we soaked up every sun-drenched moment until darkness fell.
Not wanting to show up empty handed, I opted for a hand painted pumpkin as a hostess gift. As in the past, I chose wild colours to make this gourd really be the centre of attention no matter where it will be displayed. The metallic blue (inspired by the neighbour's car) background topped with wild, abstract flowers exploding in all directions are definitely eye-catching. I added sparkle on the stem as well as a few Swarovski crystals here and there on the leaves to make this pumpkin anything but ordinary.
Is this pumpkin bold? Yes. Is it quirky? Definitely. It surely will outshine any pumpkin spice or apple cinnamon candle anywhere! Although I don’t know my young next-door neighbour very well, I thought this pumpkin was the perfect gift for a young hostess with flair for the unusual, or at least, one with a good sense of humour! (I suppose time will tell if she has that sense of humour!)
Hostess/host gifts with added originality and flair.
Invited to a gathering and don’t want to show up empty-handed? Want to bring something really special? Think of seasonal gifts that will add a touch of art and charm to any décor. A unique hand painted work of art will make a memorable impression whether you are attending a cozy dinner or a fall barbecue. There are so many artists in any area that would be happy to know their art is appreciated as a hostess gift.
What have people bought as hostess gifts?
I often have art work left from series I have painted so if you live in my area and need a special gift, do contact me. I would be pleased to paint something special for you or you might find that I already have art work readily available for gift giving.
What a lovely gift to take your new neighbour. So colourful and unique. Do hope the move is going well for you. Best wishes, Vivienne
Thanks Vivienne. It’s a slow process getting everything in the house just right. This is the first time we buy a custom built home so still a long way to go to make it the way I want it.
Hi Louise, I bet your neighbour will be delighted with your artistically painted pumpkin, particularly now it is nearly Halloween. I haven’t taken a gift of my artwork, usually something from the garden or jam or chutney, maybe I should trawl through my work and start gifting it.
Several years ago, I bought half a dozen plain pumpkins at a craft store and each year, I paint one or two. One year I collaged and added flowers and gave that one to a friend whose birthday was in September. I have one plain pumpkin left so perhaps I should start looking for more. They are so much fun to paint. Thanks for stopping by!