Gorgeous Gourds

A lit fireplace with the mantel decorated with fall leaves, candles and pumpkin.
Traditionally, when decorating pumpkins we open them up, scoop out their filling and turn them into haunting, toothy grinned jack-o-lanterns. However, with the growing interest in pumpkin varietals, these seasonal squashes are now recognized as objects of beauty in themselves. With such color rich textures and patterns, it’s an honest shame to cut them up. This year we set out to decorate our pumpkins (because it is still fun), while preserving their natural beauty and keeping them in tack.
With that, operation pumpkin glam was underway. We purchased a variety of types, sizes and colors of pumpkins to display on our mantle. We then tasked several team members to get their craft on with the odds and ends we had here in the studio. The only proviso- no carving.
A top view of a lit fireplace with the mantel decorated with fall leaves, candles and pumpkin.
Bows, decorative knobs, butterflies, and bejeweled flowers graced these gorgeous gourds.
A close-up top view of a mantel decorated with fall leaves, candles and pumpkin.
These pumpkins were dolled up with beads, colored string, tassels and glitter.
A pumpkin and some gourds decorated with ribbon and glitter.

You could also decorate one or two, place them in a basket and let their natural color and beauty be your fireside display.
A basket filled with pumpkins and gourds.
With that you have a festive and fabulous, fall display the pumpkins will thank you for.
A room with a lit fireplace with the mantel decorated with fall leaves, candles and pumpkin.