When her equestrian daughter, Katie, rode off into the sunset to college, Sue Hadden sold the horses. Faced with empty-barn syndrome, she transformed the abandoned structure into a retreat where she could work on her art.

A soft-spoken mother of two, Sue is a far cry from Morticia Addams. But the Grants Pass, Oregon, artist happens to have an affinity for creepy collectibles—black crows, rodent skulls, and doll eyeballs. Her offbeat taste is reflected in the barn’s décor.

Raised on a dairy farm, she developed a vivid imagination at a young age, busying herself with creative endeavors like sewing clothes for her troll dolls. Her crafty bent continued into adulthood. After growing more gourds than she knew what to do with, she began covering them with painted paper and fashioning them into whimsical figures with twig extremities. "They’re kind of goofy and people get a kick out of them," she says of her pieces, which are sold at local galleries, stores, and art shows.

Hosting get-togethers in the refurbished barn is another favorite creative outlet. After harvesting a banner crop of pumpkins, she and her husband, Jim, invited pals over for a Halloween pumpkin-carving party. "Afterwards, our friends got to take their jack-o’-lanterns home and enjoy them."

top left: Sue wanted the sitting area to be an informal and comfy spot to hunker down.

bottom left: Beyond barn doors awaits the outdoor dining room, scene of many memorable parties, including this Halloween soiree. Sue carved the diminutive pumpkins (above wreaths) and fashioned a nest for the faux crow perched atop the metal arbor.

Pumpkinpalooza page 1 | 2
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