The North American Pumpkin Relief Project

Spoooooooooky..... Reader,

HOORAY!!!!!!!!!! Today I did something that I've been wanting to do for as long as I can remember! Today, heart filled with holiday cheer, I took part in celebrating the reason for the season. Halloween is fast approaching, Reader, and this year I decided to try my hand at one of autumn's most practiced, ages-old traditions. Today, for the first time in my life..... I CARVED A PUMPKIN!!!!! MWAH-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!

I can actually pinpoint the time in my life when my "enthusiasm" for Martha Stewart began. **cough**OBSESSION!**cough** Readeeeeeeeeerrrrr! Shhh! I recall very clearly (at about age 10) watching a Halloween themed episode of LIVING, one Sunday morning, and being floored by the work of a guest who created portraits on gourds rather than traditional jack-o-lantern faces. For years now, carved, seasonal, pumpkin art has been one of my favorite staples of Martha's empire; and though I always pay very close attention to how the process is done, I have never actually taken a crack at it myself. **cough**LAZY!**cough** Oh, COME ON! Growing up in my family, we painted pumpkins instead of carving them. If I remember correctly, when I was about 4, my sister and I looked on as my dad dug into a huge gourd and created a traditional jack-o-lantern for us. Shoveling out orange, seed covered goo with his bare hands for what felt like forever, I seem to recollect the phrases, "JESUS CHRIST!" and "NEVER AGAIN!" being used. I didn't mind. My parents' plan to make Halloween a little bit easier and a little less messy in the years to come went over big with me. Not only did I love painting faces on my designated pumpkins, which I could by myself as a knife wasn't involved, but they lasted far longer than their pierced counterparts. No depressing decomposition period.
Though fully satisfied with my family's take on pumpkin art as a child, as I got older, I knew in my heart that someday, I too would carve fancy, light up squash; just like the ones on TV. Today, I fulfilled my destiny. Inspired by the design of the big M's "Pumpkin Prints," and ready with a gourd (given to my by my sister,) I fished out a stencil and my wood cutting gouges to take on this project. The skull stencil I used has been doing right by me for nearly a year now, showing up on everything in my life from tea tins to greeting cards to pumps. With a Sharpie, I traced the design onto my pumpkin, then filled it in with the black ink. Next, with a washable marker, I drew two circles on the squash; one around the skull, one around the stem. With a small, serrated knife, I followed the line of the top circle, opening the pumpkin and creating a lid. I wiped off visible marker lines with a damp rag. Then, using a large spoon, I scooped out the 'guts,' making sure to scrape the inner walls completely clean. ALMOST DONE! The final step in the series is the most fun and most rewarding. With a gouge, peel away the orange skin around the skull design, and inside of the surrounding circle; revealing lighter, more translucent flesh. Insert votive candle, light, and enjoy!
I'm madly in love with my festive jack-o-lantern! The technique I used was a nice bridge between the painting of my childhood and the glowing carvings of my future. The total time for this project was around only one hour, making it totally doable for anyone of any skill level. Go get yourself a gouge, Reader, but remember.... only use it for good, not evil.... They come in mighty handy, and I think I've just rekindled a love affair with mine. BOO!