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Bluff Park -
October 2007
It's that time of year
again! Bluff
Park
is getting ready for Halloween. Look around on doorsteps and count the
pumpkins residents have put out. On Halloween they are not going to turn
into a magical carriage by a fairy godmother but will become lighted
faces to greet trick-or-treaters coming for candy.
Resident Tracy P. Hamilton and family
make pumpkin carving a tradition each Halloween. “It is a father – son
activity, my son really enjoys choosing the design,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton and his son have carved many
expressive and advanced pumpkins including a Michael Jackson pumpkin and
a Eye of Sauron (from Lord of the Rings) pumpkin.
“When I was growing up, our family always
had Halloween decorations and a pumpkin. The early pumpkins were more
traditional,” Hamilton said. Now Tracy shares with BluffParkal.org how
to make a pumpkin masterpiece.
“First,
you have to brainstorm ideas. We look on the Internet for inspiration.
(Search “extreme pumpkins”). Stores also have stencil sets with
patterns that can be used.”
“After finding a pattern, choose an
appropriate size and shape pumpkin.”
“For example, if using a stencil the
pumpkin needs to be a tall pumpkin with a flat face because it is the
easiest to attach the pattern to. After finding the perfect gourd,
attach the paper pattern and perforate (with a nail or toolkit), or just
draw the pattern in magic marker.” 
Next,
“slice off the skin in the pattern indicate about a quarter of an inch
deep. We use a 12-piece wood carving set purchased from a hobby store.”
The messy part: “Hollow
out the pumpkin and scrape the inside behind the pattern until light
shines through evenly“. Poof, you have a Pumpkin Masterpiece.
Tracy was asked what he likes about
Bluff
Park around Halloween time?
“My wife
certainly enjoys the decorating; I enjoy the weather, and watching my
son go trick or treating. I also enjoy getting the occasional candy bar
as well.”
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