Monster-Size Lanterns (Catching Up, Part 2)

This follows a previous post (same day) as a bit of catching-up to various lantern work from Halloween artist Bindlegrim occurring since many moons past. And while the previous entry covered the March 2026 release of a 12-side lantern #14 Spook Show (Instagram) here now is discussed the first two of a new made-to-order monster-size series. The first is an immense ballroom lantern based on 1930's-1940's framework, and second is a humungous centerpiece based on the memories of childhood drawings and, by scale, 1960's-1970's Hallmark. Both are available on Bindlegrim's Etsy Shoppe.

Bindlegrim 2026 monster-size Halloween ballroom lantern.

Bindlegrim 2026 monster-size Halloween centerpiece lantern.

Bindlegrim 2026 monster-size lanterns compared to others.

To back-up a bit, The Halloween Retrospect has in it's archive (which it uses to write fact-based Halloween guides about vintage collectibles) a certain mid-century ballroom lantern by Beistle. You can view images of that vintage lantern on THR's Instagram account (sampled below). The lantern appears in Halloween Artifacts, Volume 1: Lighting which gives catalog source data for date verifications - including Beistle's own supply catalog. 

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Anyway, the ballroom lantern by Bindlegrim references just the form as a starting point, then moves further... which is part of the artist's aesthetic as respect for the originals. It is not in the artist's way to just simply copy old imagery but rather to be inspired by it, to create something new.  Here are few images of the lantern from afar, and with close-up details...

Bindlegrim 2026 monster-size Halloween ballroom lantern.

Bindlegrim 2026 monster-size Halloween ballroom lantern.

Bindlegrim 2026 monster-size Halloween ballroom lantern.

The second monster-size piece, a haunted house centerpiece lantern was the artist having fun dreaming up a haunt much like one might have done with construction paper in elementary school. This became quite a bit more complicated than those however, and over many weeks the project went from cardboard concept.... to newsprint drawing... to various test cuts... all toward the final shown below in various shots in-the-round...  

Bindlegrim 2026 monster-size Halloween centerpiece lantern.

Bindlegrim 2026 monster-size Halloween centerpiece lantern.

To follow, both lanterns are created from scratch from stock material of sturdy 4-ply museum board and artisan crinkle-crepe paper. It took quite a bit of time to create such designs at the beginning, but can now be re-created as made-to-order items for interested parties. Once again, they are available on Bindlegrim's Etsy Shoppe. Once ordered, the artist will be happy to get back into the studio and create:

Bindlegrim 2026 monster-size lantern in production.

By the way, have you been keeping up with Bindlegrim these past couple of year? Bindlegrim created for THR some industrial style vintage products (below) based on 1940's faux stained glass window products based on works by Milton Bradley. 

Dual-side faux stained glass paper window (2 shown) for THR.

The new items are true to the general feel of vintage pieces, but cannot be mistaken as such (as with other Bindlegrim productions) due to a deliberate difference in size, imagery, color, and production.  Much like the lantern (above) the windows are made of 2-ply museum board but with in this case use colored tissue paper.

The Halloween Retrospect Vol 1,2,3,4 & Halloween Artifacxts.

 For more images see THR's website or THR's online book shop (or even via Instagram @halloweenretrospecs), but note Bindledgrim is not selling these - they are free with a copy of THR's newest edition of research from its archive library publications on Etsy. 

Halloween Stained Glass Window

 

Bindlegrim is very excited to be back exploring the warm glow of autumn light... with a special Halloween Window created as a one-time insert included only as a freebie with each copy of the new vintage Halloween collectibles guide The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 4. To start then, let's just begin this blog entry with various arty views of the windows, at times together with the book set as described via THR's etsy bookstore or recent blog entry "Vol 4 Halloween Retrospect."

Dual-side faux stained glass paper window (2 shown) for THR.

Not to scale: window shown (right) with book trio inset (left).

Faux stained glass windows assembled by hand are limited.

Detail of matte color tissue paper that creates a warm glow.

Following is a description for these windows --- importantly noting once again that they are not-for-sale on their own, but only included as a free insert with copies of the March 2025 vintage Halloween collectibles guidebook series The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 4. (Etsy link here).

To begin, Bindlegrim designs are inspired by research pursued by THR that proves the originals to be vintage 1940's products created by Milton Bradley. Those originals hail from a time that included well-known art contributors (such as Louise D. Tessin) when the company is regularly involved in education (not only entertainment) and regularly publishing a magazine for educators called American Childhood. (Internet Archive link here). And while the new items are true to the general feel of vintage pieces, the modern Halloween Window cannot be mistaken as such, because Bindlegrim's version is deliberately different in size, imagery, color, and production method (and collages the four characters into one space). 

As for construction, the Bindlegrim versions are made of a thick 2-ply museum board frame which has been laser cut by the artist yet hand-assembled in the final steps. Still, the result is a doubled-sided decoration with colored tissue paper inside (very old school) which by result means either side is equally presentable as front or perhaps simultaneously from both sides at once. The tissue paper glows with a brilliant color while the framework remains strong and steady.

But again, this is part of a set (shown below) and Bindledgrim is not selling these - they are free with a copy of THR's newest edition of research from its archive library publications.

THR, V4 is shown here with book, crossword, and decoration.

A little bit about vintage Halloween collectibles guides are in order here, particularly the newest book that releases March 2025 by THR. If you are not familiar with THR publications - basically the archive library publishes research that utilizes many hundreds of primary sources from its collection - to better understand the history of ye olde holiday market. So far there have been four research digests and one art survey book (with more planned in future). The newest of these digests is The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 4 with book cover shown below (see THR's website or THR's online book shop).   

Cover art for The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 4 by THR publications.

While many preview images of the book are available THR's website or THR's online book shop (or even via Instagram @halloweenretrospecs) here are a few to make sure this blog entry is complete...  

Page preview of The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 4.

The Halloween Retrospect, V4 book, puzzle & decor.

THR, V4 featuring an homage window by Bindlegrim

Well, to close this blog entry, Bindlegrim might advise that while this vintage-style artist has had the pleasure of being involved with Volume 1 and Volume 4 digests... THR since it's first release in June 2023 has five books now full of data or images about vintage Halloween collectibles of the past. They are great references for seasoned or new collectors of the hobby.... and here is an up-to-date image of those that the bookstore currently offers:

The Halloween Retrospect Vol 1,2,3,4 & Halloween Artifacxts.

Hope you enjoy and if you do, perhaps Bindlegrim will continue to explore such Halloween lighting projects in future!?!?

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Halloween Hibernation

Bindlegrim returns to vintage-styled Halloween designs, now for 2015, after a much-needed winter's rest. And as of today travelled to meet some old friends. First stop was a cave, hanging out with this familiar-faced witch creating some new finery for her with this honeycomb base. I plan next to meet with a certain black cat, bogle, and devil (from 2014 Spooklights) to outfit them all in a similar fashion so that a full set is available on Bindlegoods.

Here's a a couple of snapshots of the witch showing off her new orange honeycomb base, by an old haunted tree just outside the cave entrance.

Stay tuned for all things Bindlegrim this coming year, through the blog, as well as facebook and twitter. 

Bat Wall-Hook Decor

Just added to the Bindegoods online store, this wall hook offers a chance to display vintage and/or vintage-style lanterns. Bat offers to carry your decor with either its feet or in its mouth... (and itself holds a candle behind the rear spirals).

Updates on Bindlegood's Spooklights

A quick update on what's happening on Bindlegoods:

The newest addition to the Spooklights line, this "haunted tree" lamp base (candlestick) is now available (picture below). Just like the previous base (featuring a trick-or-treat scene) this will also pair perfectly with the lamp shade (pendant lamp cover).

The second item (not quite ready) is this monster candle-votive that is a hybrid of German-style Halloween lanterns that has morphed at bottom into a creature that now stands on eight legs. The images here show the first test offering a giant eyeball... although I'm not sure I'm quite pleased with this as a pane option. News to follow - on facebook, twitter, and on the online store Bindlegoods.

Farewell to Summer (Sale Final Week)

A gargantuous thank-you to all who attended this year's online summer sale of Bindlegrim's past designs 2013, and to those who shared with others... much appreciated...! Wrapping up the last week this Sunday August 10th, 2014 having bid farewell to much of the Creeps pictured below... except for the following:

1) Vintage-Style Halloween CREEPS #2/5 Silhouette Set Candy-Box Vellum-Eye Lantern

Vintage-style candy-container lanterns from the Creeps (Silhouette Version) #2/5 from a limited run of five signed and sealed during production. The same characters are also found on the 12-sided lantern in listing 2. The design features classic slot-and-tab containers to hold treats, and as an open-top box doubles in function as a lantern. I imagine these (in the photo I failed capture before all were sealed) set for a gruesome table of six at a cool ghoul Hallowe'en party. (You can see various photos of the Creeps here on flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/30673837@N02/sets/72157632571946262/).

2) Vintage-Style Halloween CREEPS 2/5 Artist Signed 12-Pane Lantern Limited-Edition

The last available listing for this edition --- one vintage-style 12-sided lantern Creeps #2/5. If you've been keeping track of the 12-sided editions, this was #8 in the Bindlegrim series of lanterns (and was a special edition only for the 2013 year), with the panes inspired by the Creeps (Container-Lanterns). I imagine (again in that missed photo opportunity) this lantern hanging as centerpiece to the table of candy-boxes above listed. You can see various photos of the Creeps here on flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/30673837@N02/sets/72157636738777095/).

Thank you again to all those who found new homes for the various Creeps (and other studio oddities) from the 2013 bindle of forgotten goods. I haven't a clue what will appear next year... but stay tuned for the new designs completing the Spooklight series at bindlegoods.bindlegrim.com. There's bound to be a few mysterious products that are created in the lab along the way... or perhaps even the remaining stock of Spooklights should they suffer discontinuing before next year's summer sale...

Grim Bindles (Past and Present)

Week three (of four) for the Bindlegrim sale - and this week really dug deep into the bindle for something old (cards from 2004), to something new (two one-off hybrid lanterns) all ending this coming Sunday August 3rd, 2014.

1) Vintage-Style HALLOWEEN 9 Card Series: ghosts, pumpkins, bats, haunted houses

Bindle' really scoured the crypt for this set created in 2004. The photo-collages feature original photography and digitally created elements. The background scenery followed a personal journey across the U.S. from the swamps and abandoned house of the Southeast, to the mysterious ghost towns and lonely deserts of the Southwest, to the spooky drizzle and moss-covered roofs of the Northwest. The ghost character was shot in studio, as were some of the props like German-esqe Jack O'Lanterns and bats, and later all was brought in the computer for an artistic integration. You can see more images in this earlier blog entry, or in this flickr set: Hallowe'en.

2) Vintage-Style Christmas WINTER LIGHTS 6 greeting cards, old electric decor

The imagery here of vintage Christmas lights dating from 1920's to the 1960's, and were photographed by the artist in the studio, with graphic design added later in graphic programs. Cards are approximately 4.25" wide by 5 1/2" tall. More images can be seen in this flickr set: Winter Lights.

3) Vintage-Style HALLOWEEN 8-Sided Lantern HORRID DECOR jol pumpkins orange/black

This listing is for vintage-style 8-sided lantern hybrid created to test Spooklights for Halloween 2014. The lantern panes are like those for the 12-sided lanterns (and therefore feature the pumpkin-and-leaf motif in the corners). The imagery was for the only non-limited run of lanterns from 2012 known as "The Horrid Decor" and this one features orange and black prints on vellum.

4) Vintage-Style HALLOWEEN 8-Sided Lantern HORRID DECOR jol pumpkins blue/black

This listing is for the 2nd of two vintage-style 8-sided lantern hybrids created to test Spooklights. The lantern feature the pumpkin-and-leaf motif in the corners. The imagery derived from the only non-limited run of lanterns from 2012 known as "The Horrid Decor" and this one features blue and black prints on textured paper.

Thank you again, and stick around for next week - the very end of the sale...