The Cottage Industry of One Spook

Getting ready here at Bindlegrim's studio for Halloween Trunk Show 10 in Denver!

Although Bindlegrim's art/design objects utilize many processes reminiscent of larger scale production (printing, die-cutting, etc)... there is still the manual assembly (and signing) of these limited-edition Beastie (final product shown here). Somehow after all the time spent creating the art... I conveniently forget about the impending assembly. None of this is made in China. This is, as mentioned perhaps previously, a one-spook operation. Many hours yet to go!

Here are some quick photos of the process of multiples... 

Go Forth and be Beastlie...

Thank you all for your patience with this one-spook enterprise as the initial Beasties are assembled and shipped. These are new processes to the stiff ol' Bindle fingers, and I want to make sure these vintage-style honeycomb baskets are done correctly. I hope you'll let me know what you think upon their arrival at your doorstep... and maybe snap a photo or two of them in your autumn decor. See previous entry for some display ideas.

I really enjoyed packaging the first three inside their vellum envelopes tonight and boxing them up for their journey. Here's a photo of #1/50 just before the lid closed... and Bindlegrim slouched off to bed with a contented grumble.

What makes a Beastie? These roly-polys use a orange tissue-paper honeycomb re-created to have the smaller spacing and layer count of vintage items circa 1920-1930. The characters have a slot within the basket that allows for Halloween treats or placement of a small battery operated tealight. Authentically diecut characters are dual-side printed (in a limited-edition run) in rich color of blacks, oranges, and yellows on a thick 34pt matte stock. (with an almost waxy surface) They can be placed in upright positions (with minimal support), tilted (at their randomly natural angle), or as I discovered when a wind came thru the window - in spinning motion across the table.

Final Farewells - 3rd Annual Studio Purge

Bindlegrim has purged a few remaining Halloween items from the studio - some vintage-style candy containers and Hallowe'en lanterns from the 2013 and 2014 seasons. A recent tradition during these last two summers, this would be the third albeit mini Summer Sale - via jumpkinpunkins on ebay. And here's a small review of the items listed:

The following three listings from this sale, are all the last of their limited-edition series. Auction bidding ends August 9th, 2015. (Note - all sets include the addition of four Hallowe'en postcards released in 2014). 

1. Vintage-Style Halloween CREEPS #4/5 Set 6 Artist Signed Candy-Container Lanterns (click here to visit ebay listing).

This listing is for the last packaged set of six vintage-style candy-container-lanterns from  #4/5 Creeps (Shadow Edition) mechanically diecut, signed and sealed during the production. The candy-container design features classic slot-and-tabs to create an open-top box that holds treats, and doubles in function as a lantern with translucent eyes, nose, and mouths.

Each character is also signed and hand-numbered on inside base - for example: "Creeps (Shadow Edition)" #1 (1-6 for the characters), #4/5 (edition with the artist's Halloween signature), 2013 Bindlegrim.  More photos (the artist's creation process and final production shots) as well as various video is available on flickr: the Creeps album.

2. Vintage-style Halloween lantern Traditional Grim 6/6 last signed limited-edition (click here to visit ebay listing).

#10 Traditional Grim #6/6 (last one) comes from a series of 12-sided lanterns - this one was created especially for sale to attendees at the Halloween Trunk Show #9 (2014).  The imagery was a return to traditional orange and black and is a hybrid of two previous lanterns. (The pumpkin vines from "The Pumpkin Patch" and shrunken-head style pumpkin faces from "The Horrid Decor"). It was briefly displayed during the show (with a postcard stating it's history before being sealed in its package). 

Because I missed getting any studio shots during the craziness of preparing for the show, I wanted to share this awesome photo by Johanna Parker who to my wonderful surprise, included one from this edition in her home decor for the season! (PS - the bat hook is also by Bindlegrim available on the Bindlegoods store). 

Some item details --- when flat the lantern measures about 12" by 12" side to side. The frame is made from 2-ply acid-free museum board. The vellum imagery is laser-printed for durability. Advised best lighting with an LED or low 3 watt white light for best color range (anything hotter is not advised, nor is exposure to the elements). Every process was Made in the USA and hand-assembled by the artist. The main packages is hand-numbered. The lantern inside is signed and numbered "Traditional Grim" #6/6 (edition with the artist's Halloween signature), 2014 Bindlegrim.

3. Vintage-style Halloween lantern Harvest Moon 4/6 last signed limited-edition (click here to visit ebay listing).

#9 Harvest Moon #4/6 was also created especially for sale to attendees at the Halloween Trunk Show #9 (2014).  The imagery was inspired by early century pumpkin faces, and is heavily detailed compared to early 2012 silhouette lanterns when the 12-sided series first began.

In the same madness, I didn't get any studio shots, but collectors were very kind to send in images of their acquired lanterns - and this colorful photo is a definite favorite with the beautiful autumn colors contrasting the lantern panes!

Similar construction information applies to this lantern. Note that this lantern was produced and sealed at the time it was created. The last one for this listing was never displayed.

Thank you again for ogling the goods - and in the next month hoping to have some new standard products available on the Bindlegoods store. Please remember that the artist does take a break from this one-spook operation near the end of October (pre-Halloween) so early ordering is recommended.

Short, Sharp, Stocked (no longer)

As announced earlier today on the Bindlegrim facebook page it was cleaning day in the studio (beneath monsoon skies) and a few items (the last of their kind) were gathered up for an official 3rd annual summer sale - see preview image below. Note this will be a very quick and small sale starting tomorrow (8-2-2015) finishing at the end of this one week of listings. End results of this sale will be used to fuel the 2015 releases which should be out the beginning of September!

The sale will at least include the last available of some items shown above: 1 package of 6 silhouette Creeps (2013), a 12-sided lantern "#9 - Harvest Moon" (2014), and a 12-sided lantern "#10 - Traditional Grim" (2014). More details will post very soon! 

Disintered Creeps

Disintered Creeps 

or 

More Peeks of Bindlegrim Summer Sale 2014

As Bindlegrim continues to dig-up old Creeps from the dark places of the studio... it appears the first week's listings have been cued for the front of this years's 2nd annual summer sale, which by following tradition of the first, lists a few items every week for about a month... and then, they are gone!

Please post a comment if you have input on separating or keeping packages intact for the sale. And, I thought it might be worth looking back into the processes of these items - with most printed and cut by dies in the studio.

Item 1 (or six???): opened pack of Creeps (artist proofs 3/3) which could be sold as a set or separately considering any input from the Bindlegrim faithful?

Production notes: The 2013 Creeps were printed and diecut in the artist's studio. There were 3/3 artist proofs with those shown here as the last of them. (Some earlier artist proofs were sold last year on etsy). This was the final print of the artist proofs that determined print & cut of the 5/5 limited edition run, and these were used in the various photographs for the set during 2013. Each item is signed as 3/3 A.P.

Item 2: unopened pack of the 2013 Creeps. These, like all 2013 sets were produced in a limited run of 5 (not including the artist proofs). Printed and cut with dies in the artists studio.

Production notes: The Creeps candy-box lanterns were Bindlegrim's first foray into a printed item, and the entire process was done in-house from the printing to the die-cutting. (Note the process is cut with a metal die to be most like a vintage-item - and not hand cut which would have created jagged inconsistent qualities). There were 3/3 artist proofs to get the expected print and alignment quality, and the final sets were a limited run of only five. Shown is #3/5 from the final run.

Item 3: one unopened pack of silhouette museum-board Creeps, a six pack of vintage-style candy-container lanterns.

Production notes: The 2013 Creeps were first conceived as a printed item, but sometime during the production I decided to test museum board, and thus this "soot face" set was born. There were 2/2 artist proof runs to make sure they would work (some sold on etsy), and then a final 5/5 limited edition run. Each character has been signed by the artist identifying the set and shown here #3/5.

Item 4: the only 12-sided lantern produced for the 2013 season. Creeps #3/5 special edition to go with the six-pack candy-container-lanterns of the same year.

Production notes:  To my recollection this was the only 12-sided lantern created in 2013 as a special edition to accompany the Creeps candy-box sets. There were only 5/5 created, with each signed and numbered. Shown is #3/5.

Bindlegrim's Bindlegoods

So these last couple of months, there has been much talk about the opening day of Bindlegoods. Wasn't that set for February..? Was it going to creep up during March..? Hey, hasn't April blustered by already without a sign..? Well those days have passed (hopefully with most of the southwestern dust-storm season) and looks like opening day is going to fall sometime during this first week of May! I know this to be true because two orders (from fans who snuck into the crypt) are going out the door this week. The web shoppe address, btw, which I forgot to mention, is bindlegoods.bindlegrim.com

Here's a couple of photos of some Spooklights contents (lamp base and lamp shade) ready for packaging... which will soon be a small non-limited run (vs. limited edition) from Bindlegoods. 

As well the Spooklights postcard set just arrived in the studio and is set to ship out free with the first orders (while supplies last). These are colorful Halloween illustrations on a 4x6 matte postcard.

I do believe the next post will be an announcement for the opening of the shop! Thank you for your patience with the ol bones of Bindlegrim! Keep up to date with latest Bindlegrim news via facebook, twitter, and check out some additional imagery via flickr.

By the way, if you've read this far, you just might be a true Bindlegrim fan --- so don't forget last summer started a Bindlegrim tradition for selling the previous year's designs... and there a few limited-edition Creeps (lanterns and candy containers) and Spirits who might be in need of a good haunted home. 

Halloween Gives Me the Creeps!

There has been a big sigh of relief here in the Bindlegrim labs - as the Creeps have walked off the production slab, and nestled snug in sealed packages ready for new homes. As of tonight there are 3 listings at 3-day auctions on ebay for your consideration, just in time to arrive before Halloween week! Oh, but what shall it be? There are Creeps (Shadow Edition), Creeps (1st Color Run), and Creeps (12-sided lantern). Well obviously the main idea here appears to be giving you the Creeps! Links are listed below in order of first to the last listed.

1: Creeps (Shadow Edition) Full set JOL, Witch, Bogle, Cat, Devil, Clown, as stark soot-faced minimalistic design versions. Silhouettes lend to their mystery and fit a classic to modern Halloween decor style... with translucent facial features that glow in the dark. The diecut characters are made of 2-play acid-free museum board (same as Bindlegrim 12-sided lanterns): Vintage-Style Halloween CREEPS SOOT FACE Candy Box Lantern WITCH CAT DEVIL CLOWN

2: Creeps (Color Run) is a first edition 5/5 print run of this artist-designed diecut series .This is for the complete set of six characters, on vintage-style slot-and-tab candy container/lanterns offering printed imagery on front, sides, and back, and of course those translucent eyes for that after dark glow:  Vintage-Style Halloween CREEPS Candy Container Lantern Set WITCH CAT DEVIL CLOWN

 

3: Creeps: (12-Side Lantern) - A very special limited edition return of the Bindlegrim 12-sided vintage style Halloween lantern with Creeps imagery! If your counting this very special 5/5 limited run is the eighth Bindlegrim 12-side lantern and was unplanned but the idea spilled over from the candy container/lantern project seen above - here re-introduced on full-color translucent vellum scenes: Vintage-Style Halloween CREEPS 12-Side Lantern WITCH CAT DEVIL CLOWN SCARECROW

So that's all for now all you autumn-minded folks! Please accept the deepest of apologies for squeezing these in so close to Halloween... but auctions will end Wednesday, October 23rd, and I can be sure to ship on Thursday in time for next week's celebrations.

Happy Halloween from Bindlegrim...!!!