Day 151 - Look Both Ways...

How many times has your mother told you to look both ways before crossing the street?

This is why!

Day 150 - Snowflakes

Yes, for the last century or more pumpkins have been associated with Halloween and Thanksgiving...but truthfully, they are just as beautiful when used for Christmas! White pumpkins, especially, make beautiful centerpieces when surrounded by red and green, or sculpted with snowflakes as luminaries in the snow, welcoming guests to your home. Next year, try something diffferent...Carve your Halloween pumpkin, but stretch your imagination and use them for the ENTIRE holiday season!

Day 149 - Off With His Head!

It's amazing how creepy just a little pumpkin head can look all by itself....don't you think? Especially if it's screaming!

Day 148 - I Triple Dog Dare Ya!

While being snowed in the last several days, I had the opportunity to watch "The Christmas Story" over and over...and over....again! One of my favorite scenes was when Schwartz was Triple Dog Dared to stick his tongue to the flagpole...which he did....and all his friends left him there! So, to all the fans of this movie, this ones for you!

Day 147 - Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all both near and far, may your wishes come true wherever you are!

Day 146 - Christmas Snow

For the first time in more years than I can remember, we're having a white Christmas! Keeping with the snowy spirit, I turned pumpkins into winter luminaries. I think I'll save a few pumpkins every Halloween just for this! They're beautiful!

Day 145 - Catching Snowflakes

Just as snow starts to lightly fall, I love running outside and trying to catch snowflakes on my tongue. Even at ninety I'll probably still wheel myself outside to do it! I think this picture sums up how we all feel about catching those first few flakes of the season!

Day 144 - The Crash

Okay, so maybe sledding without opposable thumbs wasn't such a good idea!

Day 143 - Sledding!

Today woke up bright and clear...blue skies above, crisp fallen snow below...the perfect day for sledding! Just because pumpkins don't have opposable thumbs doesn't mean they don't like a turn steering the sled!

Day 142 - Buried Alive

Today we were buried...in snow! Living in an area that hardly ever if ever never rarely gets snow, it was a wonderful surprise to get a foot dumped on us...and not lose power! True, I can't get my car out of the yard and it might be days before doing so...but that's okay! The best part? My mind is working overtime creating. Images of pumpkins are dancing in my head...and the snow! Tomorrow is going to be a busy day!

Day 141 - Snowy Skull

Over the course of the last few days we were hit with a Noreaster...a descent sized storm that left us with ten inches of snow! Loved it! Except that it buried my car! Before the ice set in, we decided to clean it off, but not before my son decided to use it as his blank canvas. I think his snowy skull turned out quite well!

Day 140 - After the Season

When pumpkin season is "over," this is how I feel. It's an exhausting process! If only I could spread it out all year! Now, for Zip this is a ten minute power nap....but it's how I feel all the time!

Wouldn't it be nice to feel THAT GOOD?

Day 139 - Pumpkin Claus

My son made me the perfect Christmas card in his German class today....meet Pumpkin Claus! I love this card! Written in German, it says, "Wir weinschen euch alle ein schones Weihnachtsfest!" Loosely translated, it says, "We wish you a Merry Christmas!"

Day 138 - Blue Man

Carytown is a beautiful little mile of shops in Richmond, Va. It's a town within a town. And this Halloween it became Scarytown. Now, I couldn't get you the picture of the zombie postman riding his bicycle down the street, but I was able to get a snapshot of this Blue dude. He was finishing up a superhero costume though I couldn't tell you which superhero he was. Still, I just loved his blue glow!

Day 137 - Fruity Pumpkins

Here's an easy pumpkin project for the kids, especially if you don't have a pumpkin to carve! Grab an orange or a smaller clementine, and with your fingers you can carve out a little face on each. Make a whole army of them for your breakfast table! This is one time your kids won't mind eating something healthy!

Day 136 - What's Bugging You?

Let the buggy goodness continue! Today's creepy creation is a resin encased flower bug. This little bug has the most vivid deep orange coloration with black spots. The pendant's metal trim is a shiny silver and I've hung it from a black velvet cord for just the right gothic touch. If you'd like to get one for yourself, they'll be available on my ETSY site this Thursday, Dec 17th. Check it out!

Day 135 - You're Buggin'

I love jewelry that's, well, different. Pretty, a hint of sparkle, sweet at first glance...until you take a second glance and realize that pretty little pendant is a bug! This little ten spotted beetle is a shimmery gold, but I'll have a scorpion and other beetles to show you soon. I made a few necklaces this week out of these resin encased beetles, adding a gothic style velvet cord. If you'd like to have one of your own, you can order them through my ETSY site as of Thursday, Dec. 17th. Check'em out!

Day 134 - Christmas Pumpkin

A friend gave me this beautiful pumpkin. It's amazing! The skin is marbleized in shades of red and green....it's the perfect Christmas pumpkin! It's so pretty I don't have the heart to carve it!

Day 133 - Pumpkin Head

You want to know the best thing about Halloween? Having friends to enjoy it with...friends who will do anything for you...even grow a big ole giant pumpkin head just for you!

Day 132 - CV Claus

Halloween isn't the only holiday with costumes! Meet CV Claus! Thanks to abcfamily.com, I was able to turn my cat's picture into a holiday snowglobe. Check it out, then make one of your own! Copy and paste this link to see it: http://bit.ly/5Vj55c .

Day 131 - Gourdgeous

Sometimes all you have to do to decorate your doorstep is to just set out nature's own little piece of artwork! Although I love carving pumpkins, the natural beauty of a variety of pumpkins and gourds is enough by itself to make a stunning display. You don't have to be an artist to appreciate a beautiful design...sometimes Mother Nature's touch is best left on its own if you really want something amazing by your front door.

Day 130 - Lucky Shot

Sometimes life cuts you a break. My cats are notorious for moving at precisely .3 seconds before you take their picture. I am forever getting blurry shots of the top of their head, the inside of an ear, or someone's left nostril. Until now. I heard a tiny little chirp behind me and lo and behold CVP is in the photo tent. Posing. And I MEAN posing...he even gave me time to get the camera and take several shots while he held totally still.

I pretty sure this was his Christmas gift to me!

Isn't he the most beautiful black cat you've ever seen?

Not that I'm partial or anything!

Day 129 - Finals

Like college students everywhere, I, too, have final projects due this week. And this photo tells you all you need to know about what they're doing to me! In my Drawing class, my final project has to be a self-portrait, drawn from life. Do you think this would be a good pose? Perhaps I should keep this face and go as a complete lunatic next Halloween?

Day 128 - Beautiful in Black

Sock Monkey was an odd, "ugly duckling," sort of kitten...but he has long outgrown his lanky features and a beautiful Halloween cat has taken form. Of our herd, we call him the Miss America of cats (or should I say Mr. America?). All he wants is World Peace...for all of us to just get along. He's been the peacemaker between our new kittens and the older cats and has truly brought comfort to the household. I pray his reign as Mr. America is a long one!

Day 126 - Pumpkin Patterns

Pumpkin patterns don't just refer to pumpkin carving. There are dozens and dozens and dozens of pumpkin varieties, and some have the most beautiful varigated patterns! This gourd has gourdgeous (sorry, I couldn't resist!) greens mottling its skin. Others have spots and stripes of red, gold, and amber. Next Halloween, don't forget that the leaves aren't the only things filled with Autumn's colors!

Day 125 - Uncle Sam

What would Halloween be without amazing costumes? Or the theater? My son's latest theatrical endeavor has him walking in a parade scene as Uncle Sam. Drywall stilts and velcro pants are amazing inventions! Since we're all vertically challenged in our family, we joke that this is the only way any of us will ever be tall!

I think tomorrow night we'll hand him a basketball so one of us will finally be able to dunk the ball!

Day 127 - Eye See You

Had this very cool little paper mache skull that I thought would make a great little Halloween artifact. We lit the skull with a flashlight and snapped a photo of it. The photo was just "okay". But when paired with a Photoshop filter? Creepy goodness!

Day 124 - Wild Things?

I've discovered Where the Wild Things Are! Slipping into a coma on the computer table. My hubby has succumbed to their charms and set up a little blanket bed by his monitor. This is what happens to Wild Things after a six hour play session. As you can see, Zip and Zoomies are still living the good life!

Day 123 - Indian Summer

Today's little pumpkin was created by Emma, a school friend of my son. It's so simple to do...a little splash of paint, beads, and a few feathers creates the perfect litttle pumpkin for Indian Summer, that last return to warm days before winter sets in...generally with a vengance. Which it did. Today. Waking up to thirty one degrees and frost so heavy it looked like snow! But with this little pumpkin we can hold on to warm thoughts and Fall's color just a little bit longer before embracing this season's red and green.

Anyone seen my coat?

Day 122 - What Rake?

Rake? What rake? I don't see any reason why we'd need a rake...or a leaf blower...or the force of a giant hurricane to find our yard again! Two acres of leafy carpet where grass once stood! There are officially more leaves on the ground than in the trees. I bet if we took a big piece of cardboard we could sled right down the hill into the lake! About the only one happy about the leafy mess right now is Little Bit, another furry member of our feline herd. He's having a blast searching for little critters under the leaves and chasing leaves on the wind. I'd be happy, too, if I didn't have to clean it up!

Maybe for Christmas I'll tell Santa to just forget the presents and just send the elves to help instead!

Day 121 - New Toys

Every time I go into Michael's I feel like a kid in a toy store! Every toy my little heart desires is right there at my fingertips! I haven't had paint pens in awhile, so when I saw gold I had to buy it! I traced the leaves I found yesterday, then loosely drew in the veins before filling the leaves with the gold paint.

Beautiful!

Day 120 - Tis the Season

I am in awe of Fall. I can't get enough of the colors around me...rich, earthy browns, sunset golds, Tuscan reds. My eyes bounce from leaf to leaf, each prettier than the last. I'm going to cherish these last few days of fall while the final tendrils of color slip through my fingers...and dream of next year!

Day 119 - Black Friday

So today, shoppers everywhere were buying computers, cameras, sweaters....me? Well, I'll give you three guesses! I bought 13 to be exact...lol appropriate number for me, don't ya think?

Day 118 - PotatAHHHS!

Happy Thanksgiving! No Thanksgiving dinner would be complete without Turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, biscuits and skulls...er....I mean potatoes! And now that this little guy has been carved, it's time we add him to the pot! Nothing like butter and mashed skulls...um...I mean mashed potatoes....to complete our Thanksgiving dinner!

Day 117 - Hairy Herbert

Spent all day taking pictures of pumpkins...again! I sooooo want to take a day off - Thanksgiving would be nice - but I can only do that if my brain lets me! When you work from home as an artist, you are definitely at the mercy of your imagination as far as scheduling is concerned!

Today I found a bag of black feathers that looked more like hair than feathers to me! As it was about time to toss out this pumpkin, I thought I could hide a few bad spots and make it useful one last time! Tomorrow, it's going to be pumpkin pie for possums!

Day 116 - Goobers

There's an old saying, "Never work with children or animals." What if your working with three grown children that act like animals? It took eight millions photos like this one here before I finally got one or two to work with! They laughed. They giggled. They poked and wiggled. Stuck their tongues out. Made noises I won't describe here. Talk about working with a big bunch of goobers! And yet, I still claim them as my guys...three generations that still love each other...and me.

Day 115 - They're All In On It!

Since the beginning, The Pumpkin Lady has been a family business...our son was the one who first begged for a carving kit that led us to where we are today! And after eleven years, we've managed to somehow drag everyone into it! Take our little pre-Thankgiving visit to see the in-laws. Upon discovering that our nephew, Jeremy, was back from college for the holiday, we threw him into a little impromptu photo shoot with his cousin. What a good sport! As you can see, they put their own little spin on things...we knew from the beginning that there was no way that we'd ever get a serious shot! But they had fun and that's what pumpkin carving is all about, isn't it?

Day 114 - Troll Baby

Since we're a Halloween family, it's only proper for us to have black cats! CVP (Cat Voice Phenomena) is our baby...our Troll Baby that is! Troll Baby is his nickname because he Daily gives us this freaky look. We have NO idea why he does this, and we often wonder what is going on in that furry little head. Have any guesses?

Day 113 - The Hounds of Hell-o

At Halloween, things aren't all that they appear to be. What looks like an insane dog is really one that is...bored! This is what she thought of today's photo shoot. We were all just a big Yawn to her! You know things are bad when you bore a seven month old puppy. Guess next time I should bring out more treats?

Day 112 - Unconventional Items

When decorating your little mini pumpkins, forget the craft store and visit an office supply store! A million mulit-colored push pins become perfect pumpkin accessories. My little artist friend, Sam, created this mini pumpkin spaceship out of his favorite colored pins. It was quick, easy and, best of all, lots of fun!

Day 111 - Little People

Oddly enough, grown ups stress over carving pumpkins. Adults think, "It has to be perfect!" Our subconcious mind translating that statement into, "This will be my greatest masterpiece!" And they then proceed to freak out over the whole event, making everyone miserable because someone could possibly slightly ever so subtley crash and burn into a big carving mistake. Sad isn't it?

Kids, on the other hand, don't think about failure. About carving it "wrong." Don't worry that every line has to be perfect. Heck, they don't even have to carve the pumpkin to have fun! A stuffed animal- sized wig, chalk or markers, can turn little pumpkins into little people in the blink of a child's eye. Does my Godson look like he's stressing out here? Nope, and neither should you. Pumpkin carving is a perfect experience if you don't worry about carving perfectly. Have fun and, however things turn out, you'll have a perfectly great time that you'll never forget...for all of the RIGHT reasons.

Day 110 - Go for the Glory

When I carve a pumpkin, about 90% of the time I create and then apply a pattern onto it before I start carving. Granted, it may be the wimpy way out, but it works for me and I make a lot less mistakes! However, there are much braver souls out there than I. People that grab life by the carving saw and just go for it, carving without a pattern, with an idea they grab out of the stratosphere and then just carve for all they're worth. Today's photo is just that...a pumpkin carved by Emma, a dear family friend and a girl who has the guts to just go for it. Carving saw moving like lightening, she whipped out this pumpkin carving of the crest from Hogwarts (all you Harry Potter fans should know this image well!)...and she did a marvelous job!

I raise my glass to all you who throw caution to the wind and give it all you got when pumpkin carving! When I grow up, I hope to be just like you!

Day 109 - Out With It!

A few weeks ago, I spent the weekend with a few wonderful families, taking photos for future reference. One of my subjects was my most adorable three year old God son. He is one of the most beautiful children to photograph...BUT he is still three. And you never know what a three year old is going to do! He fussed. He fumed. He grumped. Until the sun shone upon us and for one magical moment the most beautiful grin appeared on his face...triumphantly victorious in pulling OUT the stem on the little artificial pumpkin he was holding! Beauty in the face of destruction! NOTHING made him smile....until he pulled apart the pumpkin. Too funny.

And yes, I am totally going to photoshop something else in that little guy's hands...after all, it would be a shame to waste that smile!

Day 108 - PuMandMpkin

I was sadly disappointed today when my local Food Lion had yet to receive their shipment of Christmas M and M's (it's just not Christmas without my red and green M and M's and my Coca Cola with Santa Claus or Polar Bears on it...don't ask me why...yall know I'm crazy anyway!). But all's well that end's well. My regular M and

M's did a great little job of making my chocolate puMandMpkin. And the best part? Now that the photo has been taken...it's time for dessert!

(Wanna know something else weird? Blogger won't allow me to use the ampersand symbol in my post...now THAT's weird!)

Day 107 - Seeing Eye to Eye

When it comes to pumpkin carving, my son and I still see eye to eye. He's a great help for sourcing new ideas...and he has some mad carving skills of his own (gee, I wonder where he gets it from?). And just right for our Halloween niche, he has a wicked sense of humor. It's nice to have someone pass down the torch, er, carving tools, to...instead of The Pumpkin Lady, I guess we'll have to call him The Pumpkin Dude!

Day 106 - One Bad Apple

It's been awhile since I've gotten to play with my food...so I thought it was about time to do so again...until my son beat me to it! Here's his cool little version of the proverbial Bad Apple...

Day 105 - Necromancer

Yet another of my all time favorite carvings. I carved this portrait of Necromancer for the game Guild Wars awhile back. It was one of the most challenging carvings I've ever done. What the picture doesn't show are the braids extending around the pumpkin.

Isn't she gorgeous? Especially for a pumpkin!

Day 104 - The Agony

Another Halloween has come and gone and still there was no sign of The Great Pumpkin. His little minions will have to wait a whole other year to even hope of seeing him again. Linus, where are you when we need you?

Must find a more sincere pumpkin patch next year!

Day 103 - The Horror

Halloween is truly over! Oh, the Horror! And I still have a dining room of pumpkins to carve! lol maybe that's what the pumpkin dude is so worried about! Think I'll save him for last....

Day 102 - I'm Bringing Sexy Back

It's official. I have the best son in the world. How many other teens would volunteer to put a pumpkin on their head? And if that wasn't enough, pose? We got a lot of great shots in other poses, but this has to be our favorite.

Watch out people, I'm bringing sexy back!