Sunday, October 30, 2011

Our Pumpkins

About 10 years ago, my husband discovered a talent for carving pumpkins.

Actually, I discovered a book of templates and carving do-hickies at Michael's. Charlie began to explore his carving proclivities, and the rest is Halloween history.


Serrated knives -- check.
Pointilist wheels -- check.
Templates -- check.
Junior Mints (to keep up one's strength) -- check.


This is my all-time favorite template. The mouth reads Naperville. Our carver, however, does not like to duplicate himself. Ergo, we can only have this carving every two years in order to stay fresh and inspired.


The only step in the process that I am involved in is drawing the circle around the stem. (It's a lot of responsibility.) Charlie does all the actual carving. 


Raise your hand if this makes you queasy.

The results, however, are always worth it.

And now, with the advent of TuneIn.com on the iPhone, one can carve whilst listening to the Eagles play Dallas and take one's time while outlining witch hair. (Football on a phone. That is some kind of magic.)


And tomorrow night, we get to go trick-or-treating with Buzz


and a blue-eyed Lady Bug.


Have fun tomorrow night.

Come check out our pumpkins.

Bring candy.

9 comments:

betsy said...

Those are awesome. This is Betsy from West Lafayette, IN and we had the Hula Hoops and tie my heart snakes (made from vintage neckties). I just wanted to drop a note that we well be returning to the Kane County Flea Market this Saturday and our shop is ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas shopping. I hope to see you there. Don't forget your camera! You take great pictures.

BFL said...

Too bad you are so far away. You could bring those two cuties by for a treat . . . joining the 250+ trick-or-treaters we are likely to get. Sigh.

The Gray Ghost said...

Sarah and Charlie got all the artistic talent in the family. I, on the other hand, can sheetrock and fix a broken toilet.

I think it's adorable that Charley and Natalie Claire are wearing the same costume (Illinois and Georgia). Such close little cousins!

Have fun- Your Halloween Sister-In-Law who lives on Gray Ghost Lane. (really!)

Carol said...

Happy Halloween! What a wonderfully talented pumpkin carver you've got there.

I hope Buzz and the Ladybug had a great time trick or treating. They both looked so cute!

Sharon said...

We stopped by your house with Jilly Bean to get candy but you were off with Buzz! Happy Halloween.

Megan (Best of Fates) said...

Okay, those pumpkins are fabulous - clearly the Junior Mints are working!

Kathy and Freddy said...

As always the pumpkins are great. I think C wins the award for the hood's best punkin carver.
Where has the toy truck gone???

Naperville Now said...

thank you! moved it into the garage in the event a goblin saw it as a Halloween offering :)

Kathy and Freddy said...

That truck makes me smile.