Someone asked me this morning about New Year’s resolutions in the past that I didn’t keep.

“I don’t make New Year’s resolutions”. I said.

“I set goals and I don’t wait for New Years to do it”.

Of course, I do enjoy taking the opportunity around the holiday season to reflect on the direction my life is taking. But I also like to do this throughout the year.

I believe setting and working on goals is a balancing act between work and play. Achieving great things and celebrating successes.

To me, carving pumpkins and watermelons is play. It’s also a way to improve my talents and express myself artistically.

Happy New Year everyone!

And congratulations if you’re still on track with your own resolutions.

Happy Carving!

Here is a special Christmas Watermelon carving pattern that you can use to impress your guests with this season:

Reindeer Pattern

Hey, if you’re like me, the holidays are too busy as it is and carving a watermelon just isn’t on my agenda.

But I’m not entertaining guests this year either 

If you’re ambitious and you still have energy to create a fun holiday centerpiece for your kitchen table, then feel free to download and use this cool reindeer pattern from my book, You Too Can Create STUNNING Watermelon Carvings.

Merry Christmas!

My new thanksgiving pattern can be found here:
Pilgrim Turkey

We have so much to be thankful for – one day a year hardly seems adequate. It’s my wish that you may be thankful every day of the year. Go ahead, complete the sentence, “I am thankful for…”

Good. Now repeat.

Do you have left over pumpkins? What do you do with them?

I’ve also had years where I ran out of pumpkins and still wanted to carve more even after Halloween. But I couldn’t find any at the stores. Have you ever had that problem, or am I the only strange addicted pumpkin carver out here?

Do you struggle with after Halloween pumpkin carving withdrawals? What are your thoughts?

Although I haven’t had the chance to go see it yet, I’m excited to take the kids to the movie.

Celebrate the movie with my Wild Things patterns here:
http://pumpkinglow.com/Patterns6.htm

Recipe for Pumpkin Carver’s Pumpkin Pie:

Ingredients:
1 Vine Ripened Pumpkin

Directions:

• Cut hole large enough to reach entire inside of pumpkin, and remove seeds and all other contents.
• Carve pumpkin using pi pumpkin pattern.
• Insert candle and serve.

(or, of course, you could use some other cool free pumpkin pattern from my site)

Say you have the perfect idea for an amazing pumpkin carving for the Halloween party this weekend. If only you could get a hold of that special pattern…

Here are some options for you:

You can design the pattern yourself. From my links page I link to several sites that give detailed instructions for creating patterns (look under section titled “How to create pumpkin patterns”):
http://pumpkinglow.com/Links.htm

You could have a skilled pattern creator like me design it for you for a fee:
http://pumpkinglow.com/CustomPat.htm

What if you’re short on cash, talent, ambition or time, and the above two options just won’t work for you? You could Google it and see what comes up. Personally I like to use the following two resources.
http://pumpkinwizard.com/
and / or
http://zombiepumpkins.com/

These two pumpkin carving sites have a forum with a section on “Pattern Requests”. Chances are the pattern you’re looking for already exists.  By making your request on one of these forums you’re almost guaranteed to get a response.

Happy Carving!

Stupid question, I know. Most people try to avoid commercials.

However, some advertising can be entertaining. Some advertising sticks with us over time and some actually plays a role in shaping culture.

Remember Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef?” campaign? How about the Budweiser Frogs?

This year’s selection of pumpkin patterns are on TV commercials. Pick your favorite and carve it up into a pumpkin.

How “Un-Halloween” is that?

Also check out the candid dog pictures with pumpkins slide show:
Dog-Breed Pumpkin Stencils: LOL Outtakes

In fact, Better Homes and Gardens has other great Halloween Pumpkin Carving patterns as well as other cool free stuff, like:
Halloween Pumpkin Carving Ideas
Free Printable Pumpkin Stencils
Halloween Pumpkin Decorating

Enjoy!