Woodcarver Butch Preisel, of Signal Mountain, applies his skills to pumpkins at Crocker Produce. His Signal Mountain woodcarving club is offering a free lesson in extreme pumpkin carving Thursday, Oct. 20 at 5:30 p.m.
Photo by Emily CrismanIt's pumpkin carving time, and Signal Mountain's woodcarving club is offering a lesson in extreme pumpkin carving for those who want an edge on the competition for best pumpkin on the block.
A pumpkin and a creative mind are all that is necessary for workshop participants to come create their best pumpkin yet at the home of Walden resident Farrell Eaves Thursday, Oct. 20 beginning at 5:30 p.m.
"We use woodcarving tools, which are expensive," said Butch Preisel, a member of the woodcarving group who discovered several years ago the art of extreme pumpkin carving, which is very similar to carving wood.
Participants will have access to the group's tools, as well as their step-by-step instruction and assistance. Preisel said a simple pumpkin will take a beginner about two hours.
"We'll make sure they leave with a carved pumpkin," he said.
Preisel said he mainly carves pumpkins for charity events, such as his recent visit to Crocker Produce. Owner Lynn Crocker donated pumpkins for Preisel and Eaves to carve and sell at the event to benefit Signal Center, a local organization which helps individuals with disabilities be independent and live a normal life.
For those who are unable to attend the workshop hosted by the carving club, Preisel suggests purchasing woodcarving tools from Woodcraft in East Brainerd, Harbor Freight Tools in Brainerd or on the Internet.
Nice chisels can cost around $30 to $40 apiece, but he said less expensive tools are available which are not suitable for woodcarving that will work fine for pumpkins.
Priesel said he likes the instructional book "Extreme Pumpkin Carving" by Vic Hood, and tutorials can also be found at youtube.com.
GET CREATIVE
For directions to the workshop, contact Eaves at 886-5045 or Preisel at 886-6012. Harbor Freight Tools is at 5839 Brainerd Road and can be reached at 899-0130, and Woodcraft is at 1414 Jenkins Road and can be reached at 826-0163 or chattanooga@woodcraft.com.