Halloween is almost here, and you've probably just returned from pumpkin shopping. But you're stumped on how to carve something that doesn't look bludgeoned and hacked with a butter knife.

We have the tools for you.

Martha Stewart recommends wood carving tools. (Check out the pumpkin carving tips on her website.) If it's good enough for Martha, it's good enough for us.

Shelter carries palm gouges (like the incredibly sharp Flexcut line—see recent blog post), carving knives, gouges, and chisels of almost every size.

What kind of results can you expect?

A Shelter customer, Tom, sent us these photos of his amazing and huge pumpkin carving at last year's Damariscotta Pumpkinfest and Regatta. Tom tells us that he used chisels purchased at Shelter to create his art.

Maybe you should start a little smaller than Tom, but why not challenge yourself and wow your neighbors with a perfectly carved pumpkin this year?