Maneki Neko Pumpkinby =johwee

Artisan Crafts / Culinary Arts / Pumpkin Carving

The second pumpkin of my big theme group for the year, which was inspired by my trip to Kyoto this spring. The experience changed my life, so I knew I had to carve some pumpkins based off it.

Maneki Neko, or Beckoning Cats, were everywhere in Japan. Or maybe I was just looking for them everywhere since I'm a but obsessed. I bought like ten different charms and a bunch of different statues of them. We even got to visit Hokone Castle, where the legend of the Maneki Neko supposedly began.

I found this pattern from ThinkGeek's pumpkin carving pattern contest page, made by Toffeemama. I shaded the kanji on the coin since you kind of have to, it's not the best designed pattern. I'm still glad I found it though, since it saved me the trouble of making my own.

Light Version: [link]