What would a great Halloween extravaganza like The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze be without a great gift shop? Just that, a great Halloween extravaganza sorely lacking a great gift shop. We can't have that. Neither can the Blaze organizers.
Instead, the Powers o' Blaze are already planning an over the top presentation of merch that should satisfy (they hope) even the most die-hard pumpkin/Blaze/Halloween aficionado.
I've just learned the Blaze Shop, the last stop on the tour after the path of pumpkins, is expanding in size this year. For my money, some of the coolest new items will be the ones that are 100% Blaze specific and available there and there only, such as t-shirts, caps, magnets, paperweights, and mugs, all adorned with Blaze imagery.
But the highlight, (which, quite frankly, I can't even believe they are offering) has to be art-pumpkins hand-carved ON SITE by local artists. That's just incredible. It's like taking home a piece of the actual event! And, because they are art-pumpkins ("funkins," as they're referred to in the pumpkin trade), they'll never rot.
But wait, there's more! Matted and framed wood-cut Blaze prints, 3D pumpkin postcards, journals and postcards featuring carved pumpkins from Blaze, porcelain pumpkin plates, platters, tureens, pitchers, lanterns, teapots, glass pumpkin ornaments...
OK, my head is spinning. Perhaps something to eat will help. The Powers o' Blaze Shop thought of that as well. They are offering pumpkin and ginger cookies, pumpkin pancake mix, Jack O'Lantern cookies, creme pumpkin candies, pumpkin cobbler, and pumpkin shortbread cookies.
And of course, you can adorn yourself head to toe in glow and/or flash in the dark necklaces, bracelets, rings, pins, and earrings.
There will also be more than 50 books for all ages such as "Spooky Pumpkin" "The Truth about Jack O'Lanterns" (uh oh), and "The Fierce Yellow Pumpkin." (I need to get my hands on a copy of that last one to see what all the fierceness is about.)
Many popular items from last year will make a guest appearance, including BlazeBlogger's personal favorite, the punching pumpkin pen, pictured here.
Are they missing anything?
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Subscribe to this comment's feedwritten by Pumpkin Pirate, October 25, 2007 @ 08:57 AM
written by Pie Lover, October 07, 2007 @ 07:29 PM
written by Pie Lover, September 27, 2007 @ 07:55 PM
written by The Harvest Queen, August 22, 2007 @ 01:02 AM
By any chance, do you know if they will have that beautiful painting of the house with all the pumpkins?? I saw it last year and regretted not buying it when I saw it! It sounds like the gift shop is going to be AMAZING this year!! I can't wait!!
Yours in pumpkins,
The Harvest Queen
written by Saturnia Prometheus, August 21, 2007 @ 05:29 PM
We were looking forward to buying a funkin carved by your very talented artists but were sad to see that none of them were 'apartment sized'. As beautiful and affordable as the funkins were, they were all too large for our NYC flat.
It was decided last night that the Blaze shall be a family tradition and we hope to find apartment or 'kid-sized' funkins in your shop next year. Pumpkin Pirates Rowan and Liam suggest that some 12" funkin designs might include a simple but pretty butterfly (for the girls), a simple but scary "spooky face" (for the boys), and a celtic knot (for the older kids).
The entire Pumpkin Pirate family thanks you for hosting such a special event! We left the Blaze with wonderful memories and a warm Halloween glow.
Can't wait till next year!