Blaze carver Cristal Rose Stevens tells the blog about all things pumpkin, including her very good friend, Alfred.

BB: What's your day job?
CS: I'm an art student at SUNY Purchase, musician, chef, stilt-walker, and freestyle rapper.
BB: A Jill of all trades.
CS: Absolutely. And I've worked at Van Cortlandt Manor since I was 12 with my mom, Faith.

BB: What kind of carvings are you working on for Blaze 2007?
CS: Everything that you see and can purchase.
BB: What are your favorites?
CS: My favorites that I've carved are the clowns and mushrooms.

BB: Are you working on any other Blaze-related items?
CS: Well, I'm making a lot of Halloween costumes.

BB: What are your preferred carving tools and methods?
CS: I prefer to use only a thick-handled X-Acto blade to carve freehand on funkins. I also use a Sharpie.

BB: Got any carving tips for a novice?
CS: Don't drop your blade on your leg, or your leg will hurt a lot.

BB: What's your favorite pumpkin-based food?
CS: I enjoy pumpkin coffee and any organic vegan pumpkin concoctions.

BB: What's your favorite Halloween movie?
CS: Hands down, The Nightmare Before Christmas. I just saw it in 3D. Other than that, does Labyrinth count as a Halloween film?
BB: Sure, if Dune counts.

BB: Toasted pumpkin seeds: Salt or no salt?
CS: No salt!

BB: What makes pumpkins so special?
CS: Well, one time I met this talking pumpkin named Alfred. He took me on a special tour to where he grew...
BB: Uhhh...
CS: Wait, that's just nonsense. They are special because they grow a lot of mold.

BB: If I were a carved pumpkin, I'd be...
CS: A fairy. Hanging out with the other fairies, and dancing around with the mushrooms and butterflies.

BB: Thank you, Cristal!

I've just learned that Historic Hudson Valley will be announcing the winner of the Blaze YouTube Video Contest on Monday. The talented winning videographer will be receiving a 42-inch flat screen TV, high def DVD player and a bunch of DVDs, courtesy of K104.7. Not a bad haul considering he/she also got to check out the Blaze!

The judges were pretty thrilled with the quality of the entries and are taking a few more days to decide. But, Monday I'm told will be the official announcement. I'll leak notice of it here, and it will also be announced on WHUD, The Peak, and K104.7

Vernon "Vern" Ford has spent several evenings doing carving demonstrations at Blaze. He took some time off to participate in our MtC series.

BB: What's your day job?
VF: I'm a graphic designer, real estate sales agent, and writer of short stories and poetry.

BB: What kind of carvings are you working on for Blaze 2007?
VF: The giant spider web, funkin fish for sale in the gift shop, spiders, Celtic knots, Dead Sea denizens, dinosaurs...
BB: A lot.
VF: Absolutely.

BB: Are you working on any other Blaze-related items?
VF: I worked on the giant pumpkin arches, the skeleton constructions, and the mother spider.

BB: What are your preferred carving tools and methods?
VF: I like to use a number 2 X-Acto knife, preferably with its blade changed often.

BB: Got any carving tips for a novice?
VF: Select the thinnest portion of the pumpkin to carve and take your time. Haste makes waste.

BB: What's your favorite pumpkin-based food?
VF: Pumpkin pie, warmed up with whipped cream on top.

BB: What's your favorite Halloween movie?
VF: How about ET!
BB: Offbeat, but a classic, and yes, I suppose it is a Halloween movie!

BB: Toasted pumpkin seeds: Salt or no salt?
VF: I never salt anything I eat.

BB: What makes pumpkins so special?
VF: They are all American.

BB: If I were a carved pumpkin, I'd be...
VF: Orange and all cut up, scarred for life and no place to go, but wait to be set aglow, or rather, wired and blazing. If Pierre Van Cortlandt could see his place now!

BB: Ha ha! Thank you, Vern!

Yes, The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze is a good thing. And now Martha Stewart will make sure the world knows it...or at least her very devoted fan base.

Tomorrow's Martha Stewart Show will feature a lengthy segment on Blaze and Celtic knot carving. First, you'll see footage from Blaze that the good folks at Martha shot last week on location. Then, our own Michael Natiello will be IN THE STUDIO carving Celtic knots with Martha.

I know, I know. It's really exciting and it's a great reward for all of those who have worked so hard to put Blaze together.

Want to see a preview on Martha's web site? Go here and click on Thursday, Oct. 25.

The show is syndicated nationally and airs in the tri-state area at 1 p.m. on NBC channel 4. It will be repeated at 8 p.m. on Friday on the Fine Living Network. If you can't view it live and don't have Tivo, don't despair. After the show airs, you'll be able to view it marthastewart.com.

Renatta Minnerly took some time to share her thoughts about all things pumpkin for our MtC series.

BB: What's your day job?
RM: I'm retired, so I get to do whatever I want.

BB: What kind of carvings are you working on for Blaze 2007?
RM: Skeletons, bats, heads, and hands.

BB: Are you working on any other Blaze-related items?
RM: I am helping out with the lighting.

BB: What are your preferred carving tools and methods?
RM: Saws and graphic knives.

BB: Got any carving tips for a novice?
RM: Have fun with it!

BB: What's your favorite pumpkin-based food?
RM: Pancakes, pie, and doughnuts.
BB: Pumpkin pancakes? Never thought of that.
RM: You should try it!

BB: What's your favorite Halloween movie?
RM: Hocus Pocus.

BB: Toasted pumpkin seeds: Salt or no salt?
RM: Spices and salt.

BB: What makes pumpkins so special?
RM: They are fun to carve and they make me happy.

BB: If I were a carved pumpkin, I'd be...
RM: A witch.

BB: Thank you, Renatta!