Pumpkin carving and design tips as fall begins

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. (WPVI) -- As we usher in a new season, we got some tips to decorate your house from some experts in autumn.

Jan Gilchrist is the owner of Prim and Pumpkin, which serves the Greater Philadelphia area. She brings the beauty of the season right to your doorstep with her concierge delivery and decor service.

"We do everything. We source the pumpkins, we bring the pumpkins, we set them up, then we take them away," says Gilchrist.

We watched at a client's home in Plymouth Meeting while Gilchrist carefully styled piles of pumpkins of all different shapes and sizes.

She starts with a base, like hay. Then she places the big guys and builds.

Gilchrist says there's no such thing as a flawed pumpkin, the differences add character. She also tailors her designs to her client's preferences and space.

To celebrate our Super Bowl champions, she even has an Eagles theme up her sleeve with a mix of green and white - a popular choice now that the Eagles remain undefeated at 3-0.

"It's that mix between fall, football, pumpkins - putting it all together, and especially after yesterday, maybe we'll see a few more of those," Gilchrist says.

Apple cider vinegar and cayenne pepper help keep the pests away and at the end of the season, Gilchrist will collect the displays.

"We will pick up the pumpkins, we will donate them to a farm for animals to eat, and people can choose to compost them as well," Gilchrist says.

Ellen Glendinning is a master pumpkin carver and the founder of Sweet Productions. She shared how to pick the right pumpkin.

"You don't want anything too big. If it's too big, it's going to be too thick, too hard to clean, and too hard to cut," Glendinning explains.

She says store bought carving kits are just fine to use and recommends cutting the pumpkin from the bottom.

She prints out designs like the Phillies 'P' and cuts slits to mold the paper around the pumpkin's shape.

"You're going to poke holes in the pattern, and you want to just go gently so you're going through the paper," Glendinning says. "When you're taking your pieces out, make them smaller so you don't break some of your critical parts."

A few more tips from Glendinning:

- You don't need the biggest pumpkin. They often have thick walls that make carving difficult.
- "Defects" can add character to your design.
- Scoop your pumpkin from the bottom to easily place pumpkin over candles.
- Cut the small pieces first and work from the center outwards so you are not putting pressure on areas that are already cut.

For more information:
Primandpumpkin.com
Sweetproductions.net