The countdown to Halloween begins! Fall is here:)

Here's a recipe from the cookbook:

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds:

1 large pumpkin
1 or 2 Tbsp. worcestershire sauce
½ Tbsp to 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
Salt (about ¼ to ½ cup)

Carve pumpkin, use the discarded seeds to roast–was them to remove majority of pulp. They do not have to be completely clean as a few little bits of pumpkin are tasty when roasted.

Soak pumpkin seeds overnight in bowl with warm water, salt, worcestershire and soy sauce.

Next day, pat them dry, and spread seeds onto parchment lined cookie sheet and bake in a 250 oven for about an hour. Cool.

Spicy Pumpkin Seeds:

Follow the above recipe and after roasting the pumpkin seeds in the oven and cooling them, you can add spices to taste.

Combine in a bowl, ¼ tsp. salt, 2 Tbsp. sugar, a pinch or two of cayenne pepper or enough to suit you, and any other spices you enjoy. Cajun seasoning works well.

Heat about 2 Tbsp. of extra light olive oil or peanut oil in a skillet on high heat and add seeds and about 1 or 2 Tbsp. of sugar, cooking until caramelized. Then pour into bowl with spice mixture and stir. Cool and enjoy!

Jenn:)

Paper Bag Albums

We have added a paper bag album section to our Scrapbooking/Stationary/Crafts section:

http://www.vintagehalloween.com/paperbagalbums.html

Featured are starter kits to make neat Halloween albums along with a sample album that will be auctioned off at eBay in several weeks. The cover of that album is pictured here.

Jenn:)

Old-Time Halloween Party Games

An old-time Halloween party is the perfect theme for any modern Halloween party. Mixing old and new can create an interesting and historical bridge to the past and yet keep traditions alive in the present and future.

If you're going for a vintage flair to your parties this year, I recommend some old-time party games to help set the mood.

Here are two old-time party games from the 1926 Dennison Bogie Book:

Blindfold Witch Fortunes

A blindfold witch stands in the center of the circle. All join hands and dance around and around until the witch says, "Stop!" Someone who has previously been selected to interrogate the witch asks a question that might apply to anyone present, such as, "Who will be a famous opera star?" The witch takes a step forward and points. The person to whom she points is the answer. All join hands again and dance. Repeat eight or ten times.

Broom Dance

One person has a broom for a partner (if desired it may be dressed as a witch, ghost or other appropriate "creature"). All other dancers are evenly matched. The music stops suddenly and the person dancing with the broom drops it and all change partners. The person who does not secure a partner is compelled to dance with the broom. Repeat quite often in order to keep the fun lively.

Enjoy!

Jenn:)

Dennison Bogie Book Party Ideas

The Dennison Bogie books were a great source for party planning that advertised many of the Dennison Halloween decorations available that particular year each book was printed. They are a great resource today for what was available and provide some interesting old-time party tips and suggestions.

If you want to provide vintage flair to your parties, I recommend picking one of these up. They might cost you a pretty penny depending on where you purchase them as they routinely sell for upwards of 50.00 to 200.00+ at auction at eBay. There used to be a seller who sold reproductions at eBay.

Here are some party tips from the 1926 Bogie Book to inspire you:

1. The invitation offers the first chance for real originality.

2. Fortunately, Halloween decorations need not be a related scheme, the more weird and spooky the better.

3. No matter how simple or elaborate the decorations are in the dining room, the table itself must be a bright spot of color.

4. There is nothing that gives such satisfactory results for overhead decorations as crepe paper festoons and streamers.

5. Dance favors are popular for Halloween parties and noise makers are always among the most interesting.

6. With the help of cut-outs and crepe paper the very simplest articles may be transformed into attractive and unusual favors.

Jenn:)

Festive Fabric Buttons

I really like the fabric buttons I've added to the store:


http://www.vintagehalloween.com/fabricbuttons.html

Several are pictured.

Jenn:)

Spooky Things I Like 2 & Craft Project

I enjoyed seeing the line of craft products that Martha Stewart designed--available at her website and at Michael's Arts & Crafts stores. The window silhouettes and the kits are fun--some of you will remember the items in the kits from past Martha Stewart Halloween segments or magazine spreads like the invitation with the reminder finger kits. The poison labels are fun.

In her regular craft line, she sells a charm bracelet kit and I have pictured here, the bracelet I created with some vintage Halloween images--both sides. Now all it needs are lots of sparkly beads and other fun embellishments. The kit is inexpensive and would make a fun project for yourself and for the kids at Halloween parties.

Jenn:)

Spooky Things I Like

Spooky Things I Like:

I was browsing through Hallmark's latest magazine: September/October '07 and they have a cute Halloween spread but advertised some of their line which is available only online, there's a coupon code to get 15% off your order. They have some nifty things online including the pumpkin silhouettes, witch lantern, and the witch stand with lantern--I've included pictures in this posting. Love them! The witch stand up with lantern reminded me of something--check out Martha Stewart Living's 2005 cover, also pictured.

Here's a link:

http://www.hallmark.com/

Other magazines I recently picked up: Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion and Country Living's October issue--very cute spread on a Halloween party with some vintage collectibles featured.

Jenn:)

The Abingdon Party Book

The Abingdon Party Book by Ethel Owen is a cute little piece of vintage party history. I picked up this volume several years ago at eBay while looking for vintage Halloween party books.

The book features all kinds of parties and for all Holidays too. The frontispiece is a neat color picture of vintage Halloween party decorations--from the Gibson Art Co. The latest copyright in this book is 1937.

The party chapter on Halloween is called, "A Halloween Frolic."

Highlights include:

"Have plenty of jack o' lanterns hung from trees and porch, and two extra big ones at the entrance to the house."

A witch stirring a cauldron invites party guests to write a stunt on a card and these are throw into the cauldron, she stirs it up, and guests must draw cards and perform the stunt written.

Menu Suggestion:

A Bewitching Concoction (Salad)

Sweet Fortune (Cake)

Friends En Masque (Potato Chips)

Couples of Mystery (Sandwiches)

Chills (Ice Cream)

Woody Fruit (Nuts)

Emissaries of Fate (Apples)

Aroma of Destiny (Coffee)

What's so amusing is that the author references purchasing party items in stores at "reasonable prices." Considering what some vintage Halloween collectibles cost today, we dream of "reasonable prices." :)

Often at parties, stunt and fortune games were played and you can find most of these fairly reasonably at eBay like the punch board game above. Finding them complete and unused is a challenge sometimes!

Jenn:)

Lemax at Michael's Crafts Stores

I couldn't help but purchase this Lemax item at Michael's this year--witches dancing around a fire at "Stonehenge." Fun! Halloween items are starting to hit stores, some neat vintage style pieces.

Jenn:)

'Tis the Time for Halloween!

Sept. 1st has rolled around and fall is on its way! Here's an image of a pie pumpkin from a local pumpkin patch I took last fall. If you're yearning for fall and haven't gotten away from the summer heat just yet, pick up Better Homes and Gardens Halloween special publication. It's now on stands. Full of lots of fun things and some yummy looking treats! There's a fun article on folk art by Johanna Parker who designs for Primitives by Kathy. Some cute party hats. An interesting "Hallo Wedding" also is featured--talk about spooky vows!

We'll be updating our Blog as often as we can leading up to Halloween with interesting party ideas, sightings of interesting vintage style Halloween in stores, and old-time fun!

Jenn:)