![Natalie McGill/The Gazette
Ami Hazell of Lothian points out materials she used for her first place-winning \"Skipjack Santa\" display Saturday in the 12th annual Gingerbread House Contest and Show at Darnall\'s Chance House Museum in Upper Marlboro. The show is open from noon to 5 p.m. today through Sunday and Dec. 8-11.](/storyimage/PN/20111127/NEWS/711279999/AR/0/AR-711279999.jpg "Natalie McGill/The Gazette
Ami Hazell of Lothian points out materials she used for her first place-winning \\"Skipjack Santa\\" display Saturday in the 12th annual Gingerbread House Contest and Show at Darnall\'s Chance House Museum in Upper Marlboro. The show is open from noon to 5 p.m. today through Sunday and Dec. 8-11.")
This story was updated on Nov. 28.
Standing at the helm of his red ship with the Maryland flag emblazoned on its sail, Santa Claus was ready Saturday to chart a course on the open seas.
He was also delicious.
So was the sail Ami Hazell, a teacher at Cheverly's Judith P. Hoyer Montessori school, made from pasta, and the turquoise icing shaped like ocean waves around a gingerbread house covered with frosting and sunflower seeds to resemble stone.
Hazell entered her "Skipjack Santa" display in the 12th annual Gingerbread House Contest and Show at Upper Marlboro's Darnall's Chance House Museum, which was open to the public Saturday.
Visitors who pay $1 admission may also vote through Dec. 11 for which adult and child will receive the "Viewer's Choice" award. The winners in each contest get $350.
Hazell reaped the reward for more than five weeks of work: first place.
"I was totally shocked," said Hazell, who lives in Lothian. "I didn't really expect to win because I was doing it in a hurry."
Hazell has competed 11 of the 12 contests, which began in 2000, said museum manager Susan Reidy.
Three judges, all Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission employees, evaluated the houses and chose the first, second, third and most creative prize winners in both the adult and children's competitions Nov. 21. First prize is $100 for adults and $75 for children, said Meghan Decker, Darnall's Chance public relations director.
There was also a guest entry from high school students attending the James E. Duckworth Special Center in Beltsville.
Just like the Santa Claus on Hazell's ship, everything must be edible from the inside and the outside and structures such as buildings are strongly encouraged, Decker said.
About 1,500 people visited in 2010 to view and vote on 42 contest entries, said Decker and Reidy. This year there were 21 entries, fewer than the 35 registered. But Decker said sometimes people run out of time, structures break or they're too busy helping their children with their own entries.
Tammy Wylie, 51, and her goddaughter, Lauren West, 11, both of Bowie, said they came to see the contest a couple of years ago and were drawn to its creativity.
One of Wylie's favorites in the children's contest was Berwyn Heights resident Rachel Pavlat's "Have a Huffy Puffy Christmas," a display that used the story of the “Three Little Pigs.” The house of sticks was a pile of pretzel sticks. The house of hay was made from shredded wheat. An edible gray wolf stood in front of a sturdy gingerbread house lined with candy canes and gumdrops.
Another favorite of Wylie's was Bowie resident Donna Schneider's "Advent to the Holidays" entry, a gingerbread advent calendar where small doors open up on each day of December and contain something inside such as candy canes and gingerbread men. Schneider won the "Most Creative" prize for her entry.
"I think that is a completely different way of thinking about a gingerbread display," Wylie said. "It's very tidy. I like the nice sharp edges on the opening of the box."
Schneider convinced her friend Susan Ammirato of Bowie to enter in 2010. This year Ammirato channeled her love for Christmas nativity scenes into a gingerbread scene featuring the three wise men, camels, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus made out of fondant, which is icing that can be shaped for cake designs. Ammirato placed third in the adult competition.
"Each year I look at everybody's stuff and I learn different techniques," Ammirato said. "It's definitely a learning experience. I think everybody should join [the contest] because it's a lot of fun."
Because she collects "a bazillion" nativity scenes, Ammirato, 52, is waiting until after Christmas to leave her creation on her porch for squirrels and deer to munch on.
"It's my Christmas present to them," Ammirato said.
nmcgill@gazette.net
If you go
Where: Darnall’s Chance House Museum, 14800 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, Upper Marlboro
When: noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 1-4 and Dec. 8-11
Cost: $1 admission
Call: 301-952-8010
Contest Winners:
Adult Contest:
First place: Ami Hazell of Lothian, $100;
Second place: Mary Elliott of Timonium, $75;
Third place: Susan Ammirato of Bowie, $50;
Most creative: Donna Schneider of Upper Marlboro
Children's Contest:
First place: Bronwyn Lewandowski of Sunderland, $75;
Second place: Andrea Pavlat of Berwyn Heights, $50;
Third place: Catherine Elliott of Timonium, $25;
Most creative: Hailey Guit of Owings
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