Ok, so I have shown you the map. Now I need to show you why you should go here. Let's return to those shoes by the door first. As you can see, a lot of them are painted. They aren't actually shoes, but shoetrees; used by Evi's Grandfather, who used to be a shoemaker. A helpful sign relates their story:

I discovered the wooden shoetrees in grandfather's store room, at the old shoemaking shop. They were left forgotten on shelves, silent witnesses of an era where nothing was simple or imported. I was moved because they were wrapped up in human stories and dreams of handmade shoes worn with love and pride. I decided to give them a new lease of life and transform them to works of art, putting all the sensitivity, colours and imagination I had in me. From the store room of the shoemaking shop to the shelves of the modern homes, I created a bridge that unites the past with the present, the 1920s with 2016, as aesthetically beautiful as I could. A dedication to grandfather the shoemaker and all the forgotten shoemakers of yesteryear.

* Shoetrees were given as charms on New Year's Day to keep evil spirits and evil eye away from the House.

As Evi was showing me the shoetrees she pointed out how few there were for children. Was this because children went around barefoot, or because they relied more on hand-me-downs? They are an enchanting piece of history, and the decorated ones make lovely gifts. You also get a little scroll explaining what it is.

But shoetrees make up only a small part of Pumpkin House. Let's continue our tour...

I loved the three painted pumpkins on this shelf, decorated as musicians.

These two chaps were not actually made by Evi, she was at pains to tell me. Her Grandmother originally brought them from Alexandria. She liked them and felt they enhanced the shop. They certainly do, but I can't for the life of me work out what they are supposed to be holding?

Like her sister, this lady was made out of papier mache.