Vintage Halloween paper goods

When it comes to vintage Halloween collectibles, there's one company that stands out as highly collectible. Beistle Halloween decorations are probably the most popular of all of the different vintage holiday decorations that you could buy. The die-cuts made by Beistle are the most well known, but the company also pioneered the use of paper honeycomb to make those decorations from tissue paper that can stand up. These decorations are popular and lots of fun, but do to their substance, they can be hard to find in good condition. Tissue paper doesn't last forever.

The Beistle company, who are still around today, specialize in all kinds of paper party products. It is the vintage products made by this company that are collectible. These include the paper honeycomb decorations, die-cuts of ghosts, black cats, goblins and pumpkins and all kinds of the usual party goods as well, such as paper napkins, cups, plates, etc. If you can find vintage Beistle items that were never opened, those are worth the most money. But what that means is that if you want to maintain the value then you can't open them either.

So if you prefer to have some fun with your decorations, look for Beistle decor that has been used, but is still in good condition. Then you can hang them in your own house without feeling guilty.

Another option is to find reproductions of the original Beistle Company die-cuts. These are well done copies of the original vintage versions. The big difference is that the new reproductions are dated and they are made from heavier paper than their vintage doppleganglers. Also, the reproduced Halloween die-cuts are licensed to a company called Party Partners.

Is it Halloween yet?

I know it is only July, but August is nearly here and then after than we will have Labor Day. Once Labor Day comes, it truly is time to start preparing for Halloween. This is probably my favorite holiday of the year. I love ghost and goblins and Halloween parties, Halloween costumes and all the fun spooky decorations.

Some of the best parts are making pumpkins, eating pumpkin pie (or pumpkin cheesecake!) and enjoying the Fall harvest -- warm spiced apple sider with a piece of pumpkin pie covered with ice cream is the perfect treat.

Then on Halloween itself, there's bobbing for apples, candy corn, and lots of picking from the kids candy bags.

I usually start decorating for Halloween pretty early, bringing out some of my collection of Vintage Halloween decorations, slowly adding more until I have quite the houseful of them. Usually they will be on display for at least another week or two after Halloween and then it is time to put them away and bust out the Thanksgiving decorations.

Vintage Motorcycle Goggles

Recently I picked up a great pair of vintage Royal Air Force goggles. They reminded me that I'd been meaning to post about vintage motorcycle goggles for awhile. Of course, I don't actually own a motorcycle, but that doesn't stop me from wanting a pair. The thing about vintage goggles is that they look so cool!

I imagine myself with a long white scarf and a leather jacket, motorcycle goggle strapped to my face. My dog sits in the little sidecar as we go racing down some dirt road, avoiding the mud where possible. The side car bounces around a bit and I don't want my dog to get dust in her eyes either, so she has her own pair of doggie vintage goggles. Okay, they aren't meant for dogs. They are ladies's sunglasses that wrap around so they'll stay on her head.

Sometimes I find it hard to believe that motorcycles were actually invented before the 20th century. But I've seen pairs of vintage goggles on Ebay that must have belonged to some exciting and adventurous cyclists. Too bad they cost an arm and a leg :)