Some of my projects start with a simple idea that quickly spirals into a full-blown obsession, and this latest project has been just that. The plan was to craft a few quick vintage-inspired ornaments – swiftly moving through all the steps of pattern designing, testing, creating, and adding them to the shop. Unfortunately, the ghosts of Halloween ambition had other ideas.
The original plan for three ornaments has now evolved into six, because apparently Iโm incapable of leaving well enough alone once the spooky inspiration starts flowing. The original vision was entirely fabric-based, but somewhere along the way, paper and felt crept into the madness. Then came the testing phase – which was supposed to be straightforward until certain dreadful details refused to cooperate, forcing redesigns, revisions, and at least a few dramatic moments spent questioning my creative sanity while buried beneath a pile of creepy craft supplies.
And – Iโve loved every minute of it. Thereโs something strangely satisfying about chasing that perfect blend of vintage Halloween charm and eerie little details, even when the creative process leaves my spooky studio in complete disarray. Thankfully, the finish line is in sight, and Iโm excited to soon bring them into the spotlight.
Since the collection still needs a bit more time in the crypt before itโs fully ready, I figured now was the perfect excuse to share a few newly acquired haunted treasures instead. So if youโre in the mood for vintage Halloween goodness, curious finds, and a little seasonal inspiration, settle in and take a peek at whatโs new at my haunted house.
I live for the thrill of unearthing a piece of holiday history! If you, too, love the eerie satisfaction of chasing lost ghosts, then be sure to save this post for the next time you are thrifting for haunted treasures.
A recent stroll through Facebook Marketplace yielded this ghoulish little group of goodies – a (1970s?) Russ black cat pin, four skull cake picks, and two Hep Cat cake toppers. We have amassed quite a large collection of dreadful cake decor, so I was quick to snap these up.
These tiny treats are a simple and affordable way to incorporate vintage pieces into your spooky designs. And, if you are new to collecting or lack space, these are perfect as they are very affordable and can be displayed without taking up too much room. ย
Our stash of creepy cake accouterments is currently stored in glass jars, but Iโm preparing some shadow boxes so we can put them on display.
Another Facebook Marketplace find was a set of four plates featuring frightfully fun costumed kiddos. The pattern Goblins by Ursula Dodge was released by Signature Housewares Incorporated in 2000.
Since my childhood dates back to the 60s, 70s, and 80s, plates from 2000 donโt seem that old to me, but they are officially vintage. I think these will make for a creepy-cute display come Halloween season or an eerily excellent gift when loaded up with Halloween treats.
Speaking of childhood, Facebook Marketplace strikes yet again with two melted plastic, aka plastic popcorn, Halloween decorations. I recall these in my classroom when I was in elementary school. These whimsically weird decorations were often hung in the windows or near the bulletin board during spooky season.
Accidentally invented in the 1950s by The Kage Company in Manchester, Connecticut, these weirdly wonderful decorations were created for every holiday, and some are quite elusive.
We have two Jack OโLanterns (aka Peter Pumpkin) in our collection, and weโre excited to finally find the skull and the witch, but there are many other designs we have yet to capture.
Another inexpensive find for the collector is Halloween napkins. This trio was buried under a pile of other assorted papers on an antique store shelf and looked to have been forgotten. After fishing them out of the heap, they now await a frame for display.
And, speaking of forgotten, the orange napkin featuring the witch and cat is already in our collection and is framed on the wall above my chair in the office. Now we have two in our collection. Sorry – not sorry.
A quick pop into the Goodwill yielded this find from my childhood – The Ghost of Windy Hill by Clyde Robert Bulla, 1968 hardback edition. This is the exact edition I read as a child, and even though I have the paperback, I just had to grab it.
The story follows the Carver family as they trade city life behind for a friendโs country home, whispered to be haunted. Determined to prove the ghostly rumors false, they soon discover that Windy Hill may hold more eerie secrets than they ever expected.
My favorite second-hand shop, DAV Thrift Store (last one in Kansas), recently closed – Iโm so bummed. A few weeks before we said goodbye, I was casually walking through and paused in front of the large piles of albums. It was overwhelming, so I opted not to dig, thinking to myself, โIf thereโs a Halloween album in there, itโs going to have to jump out at meโ.
At that moment, a woman behind me asked me a question. I turned back to answer her, and something caught my attention. At the front of a stack in an old milk crate (IYKYK) was a 1977 Halloween Horrors: The Sounds Of Halloween (And Other Useful Effects) LP by J. Robert Elliot.
I love the cover artwork on this, and even though available wall space is shrinking, I already have a frame for it, and I look forward to getting it on display with our other albums.
A trip to a local antique shop unearthed another addition for our haunted library: a 1964 edition of Charles Addams’ Drawn and Quartered.
This paperback goes nicely with our other Addams editions, which weโve tucked into a magazine rack in the office next to an oversized chair. The perfect pairing for when one needs to relax with a bit of macabre wit.
A lot of traveling took place over the past weekend, which gave us the opportunity to visit some antique shops outside our usual hunting grounds.
This vintage 1960s Fun World skeleton noisemaker horn is in very nice condition. We almost overlooked him as he was buried in a locked cabinet, and had it not been for a Beistle skeleton right up front, we would have missed him completely.
This piece is not uncommon or expensive, so I canโt say why we havenโt gotten one sooner, other than sometimes itโs more thrilling to find these in โthe wildโ than online. Regardless, he is now at home in our Cabinet of Curiosities.
The final acquisition is this crepe paper party hat with a black cat medallion and a checkerboard band.
Itโs in very good shape aside from a small tear along the band on one side. Very minor, considering the fragility of these items.
I was unable to find any information about this particular piece. It may not be super old, but I believe it to be at least vintage, 20-plus years old or older.
The fold of the hat is similar to other 1930s party hats, and the crepe paper looks legit. However, the checkerboard band is throwing me off, so Iโm reserving judgment for now. Regardless, I love it, and it will look great tucked into our collection.
The store that offered this piece had a second one featuring a Jack Oโlantern medallion, but it had a bit more damage, so we opted to leave it behind. That means itโs still out there awaiting a Halloween fanatic to come along and give it a good home (hint, hint).
All of this haunted hunting has me exhausted, so Iโm going to settle in and work on stitching up those ornaments.
Until next time – stay spooky.