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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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.

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! 

Future hauntings...

In the studio again watching Hallowe'en 2015 designs materialize...

 This will be a small party-good table-piece with a honeycomb base, inspired by paper ephemera designs for the 1920's-1930's.

Grim Goods for a Halloween Trunk Show

A bit of last minute art from the Bindlegrim lab is making its way to the Halloween Trunk Show #9, in addition to all the original Spooklight characters (witch, devil, black cat and bogle) that will be available at the Bindlegrim booth. This time the German-style Jack O'Lanterns have taken center stage, attired in some early century garb.... for Harvest Moon (with versions of the artwork available on 4-sided pendant shades as well as a special limited-edition of 6 artist-signed 12-sided lanterns), pics below...

Bindlegrim's October Schedule:

• October 11 - Halloween Trunk Show #9
• October 17 - Deadline to order Bindlegoods for Halloween 2014.
  (Shop closes for the autumn season)
• October 31- Happy Hallowe'en!

 

Halloween Tea Time