Honeycomb, Honeycomb, Me Want Honeycomb

Over the last year I've developed an obsession.  I'm not too proud to admit it.  I can't get enough of vintage paper honeycomb.  It sort of coincides with my vintage Hallmark obsession.  The designs back then were just so awesome!  So fun!  I feel like they have a real whimsicality that hasn't been fully captured since then.

On Friday I went to the second day of an estate sale.  It was a digger.  Tons and tons of crap, everywhere.  And by "crap" I obviously mean treasure. Plus, it's all 50% off. This is the kind of sale that you bring your Indiana Jones hat (and whip) to.  You are going treasure hunting, and things may get a bit hairy.  

I'd seen the photos online and decided on some items I'd scoop up if they were still there on the second day.  Not too much stuff, but enough to get me to drive across town.  Plus, I could tell it was a digger.  And the promise of "you never know" is quite a lure.

I arrived early and was surprised that numbers were being given out.  Numbers are nearly unheard of on the second day of a sale!  

Somebody call Short Round. We're going in.

My number was called during the "first wave". I looked for the items I'd seen in the photos first.  No luck.  But I was still pretty excited because this place was packed.  Floor to ceiling. Underfoot. On every surface.  Stuff.  I cannot imagine what it had looked like in there on the first day.  Whoa.

As I strolled through the dining room, trying to take it all in, a tiny bit of Christmas caught my eye.  And by "tiny bit" I mean, a box full of Christmas corsages.

They were all individually priced, but I scooped up the entire box.  Half price, right??

Some delightful chenille snowmen.

Some lovely flowers, including purple!  That one will get displayed in my dressing room when our upstairs revamp gets completed.

A huge flocked poinsettia that should remind you of The Grinch, a very large nest of sparkle with Santa sitting pretty, and a gorgeous sugared bell with mercury glass beads.  That one might be my favorite.

So, I'm starting to sweat with delighted anxiety as I stroll up the stairs.  One of the bedrooms is bursting with yarn, and sewing patterns, and vintage fabric, and magazines.  I start pawing through the boxes and spotted a large paper envelope, the word "Hallmark" emblazoned at the top.  I yanked that sucker out so fast!  And then saw it wasn't alone!

FOUR vintage honeycomb centerpieces! Three Hallmark and one American Greetings.

And a honeycomb grab back for good measure!

The whole time I was having this panic attack/euphoria another shopper at the sale was chatting me up.  She was wearing Mystery Machine colors (lime green and orange) and wearing a straw hat with matching flowers. She complimented my outfit and from then on I have no idea what it was she said.  Or, what I said back.  My mind was having a honeycomb breakdown and I can't be held accountable for the things I say when I'm finding honeycomb.

Let me present to you...

The Vintage Hallmark Honeycomb Creation Party Centerpiece: Fruit Basket.  Please note, that the basket is also honeycomb. (!!) The large strawberry on the right and the orange in the back are not original to the set, although I'm super happy to have found them in the package and will keep them with their fruity kin.

Behold: The Hallmark Plans-A-Party New Year Decoration: Father Time. I can't get over this guy.  His Gandolf beard, his golden sickle, and best of all, his tiny pocket watch! 

Next we have the Hallmark Plans-A-Party Decoration: (That's all that was on the package, so I'm making this part of the name up all by my onesies.) 

50's Record Kids! (I'm super creative.)

Can you even, with these two?? All of the sets were complete!  It's so fantastic!

And last but not least, I give you the American Greetings Valentine Novelty: 

Taffy The Dragon!

People.  People. She even has her original matching place cards that have never been opened.  You can see them to the extreme right, there.  I couldn't figure out a great angle to take a picture so that you could see the full effect of all her marvelous details.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again.  The 60s was a weird time. A lot of drugs were done, a lot of stuff was made.

Here are the items I kept from the honeycomb grab bag.  Check out that tiny little pumpkin!  So wee!  A pink Easter egg and another huge pumpkin.  That makes three huge pumpkins, in case you are counting.  I don't have room for any huge pumpkins.  But, we're making it work.

I also nabbed this amazing vintage cat mask.  The original price is on the back along with a tag reading "Made In Italy".  So purrrfect.  Yep.  I said that.

A few Christmas cuties that were sitting on a random table in the basement.  Never again, cuties! You are a part of a vast and growing collection now! No Christmas left behind!

The middle thing is a vintage compact with glitter.  One of my favorite phrases.

And lastly, I unearthed this bunch of millinery beauties. I know that the things in the vase are supposed to go in the middle of a flower, but I love them on their own.  The black and white ones are now living happily in my Halloween display, looking for all the world like antenna eyeballs. The velvet leaves are also being put to work in my fall display.

When I was finally ready to check out I happened to be in line right next to Mystery Machine lady.  She was intrigued by my purchases and wanted to know If I "just liked stuff".  Oh lady, let me tell you.  She said "How old are you?  Well, I'm 65, just think of all the things you'll have by the time you are my age!"  A terrifying and delightful thought!

If you need a vintage hit, check out my Etsy shop, here.

Until next time, happy hunting!