Postcard from 1916 Iowa: Paddling Her Own Canoe

Isn't this a fun bit of ephemera?
Our story on the postage side is a bit comical, in that "Mollie" has a request that her mother should remember to fetch her some new stockings, " size 9 1/2." :)
I love old messages on postcards. They take me on a journey to the times and attitudes of another century, when life was less about machines and more about people.
The pansies on our illustrated side signify thoughtfulness, while our canoe paddler is ready to take on more fun.
As is our habit, we offer both the old and the refreshed looks to both sides of our quaint little postcard. We hope our readers may find more than one use for each of the 4 images we offer this time.
Happy Summer Creative Fun!
Rose

Old Time Vacation Postcard

Illustrated Side--Refreshed

Downloadable Version HERE

Old Look

Downloadable Version HERE

Postage Side--Messy Look

Downloadable Version HERE

Postage Side--Refreshed

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

You are free to:

use the above images in your artwork, for fun or profit.

You are not free to:

repackage them in any way for sale.

Thank you for respecting the rights of the public.

Victorian Photo: Young Woman with an Outrageously Wonderful Hat

She was obviously ready to show herself to best advantage at the time this picture was taken. The lacy ruffles of her shoulder garment (a pelerine, if I'm correct here) is finely decked with all the trimmings, while her hat--a confection if there ever was one!--is really quite precious. Her hair looks more in the mode of, say, 1875 to maybe 1880, maybe later. Perhaps we can date her portrait from the bustle dress era.
I love her pert pose, the way the bonnet sits on the back of her head, along with that straight laced collar ruff up under her chin. 
As usual, we offer both versions of this item, the first being the somewhat renewed look, and the second with warts and all.
This is a favorite of mine. We enjoy the look of both versions, and hope you will too.
Happy Creativity!
Rose

Antique Victorian Portrait Photo of a Young Woman

All Cleaned Up

Downloadable Version HERE

Original Look

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

Free for Public Domain Use

Antique Postcard from Wales (with postmark)

This postcard has a lot of charm and makes me smile. Here is a young officer, probably part of the British Royal Navy, romancing his sweetheart by the sea. The lovely view, with the seagulls floating above the water, is truly refreshing, as is the loveliness of our young lady's person.
On our postage side is evidence of where this postcard came from, as well as where it got sent. Note the somewhat unusual postmark! And the stamp is quite fresh looking, despite its 104 years of age.
We're offering two versions of the illustrated side, along with the same of the postage side. We hope you will find plenty of reasons to use our postcard collection to its best advantage.
Happy Creativity!
Rose

A 1907 Postcard from Wales

Illustrated Side--Refreshed 

Downloadable Version HERE

Original Look

Downloadable Version HERE

Postage Side-Some Cleanup

Downloadable Version HERE

Original Look

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

You are free to:

make artwork for fun or profit with the above images.

You are not free to:

repackage them in any way for sale.

Please respect our gift to the public.

Thank you.

Antique Illustrated Children's Rhyme Page

Aren't these quaint?--and very oldfashioned! They are from a simpler time, when the advent of TV had not reached our homes, and when even radio had not become a home word. Though many homes could play recorded music on their Gramaphones, most children either played outside for the most part or would linger over a picture book filled with tales of olden times. And these might come out of an even simpler time for that reason, barring the steamship picture, of course.
I like how every simple line has more meaning than our first reading may give us. For there are stories behind some of these rhymes which are unsaid but which make their presence felt through simplicity.
Thank you for coming by. We hope you'll enjoy our latest addition into the collection, and that you or your children may find a fun way to use any of the images included in this page.
Happy Creativity!
Rose

Children's Rhyme Page c. 1910

Black and White

Downloadable Version HERE

Original Look

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

Free for Public Domain Use

The Motor Car in City Life c. 1907

Here we have two photos from a magazine's pages, the details of which we found of interest. A "Taximeter" would be one way to get around town on one's own, and for shopping it would be marvelously handy. It can't have run cheap, either, in spite of their gas prices back then.
Horses were also a concern when motoring was still young. I like how the lower photo is captioned, don't you? Even a horse might have an advantage over traffic, I suppose! Lucky for the modern horse, they never have to handle our traffic issues except when carrying our mounted police or pulling carriages in places like Central Park. What tickles me, though, is how often we see them even in any major city.
Note the closely tucked veil the lady is wearing! Was she shy about a camera?
We hope our visitors may find plenty of uses for both these antique images.
Happy Creativity!
Rose

Antique Magazine Photos of City Motoring

Modern Black & White

Downloadable Version HERE

Original Look

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

You are free to:

make artwork for fun or profit with the above images

You are not free to:

Repackage them in any way for sale.

Please respect our gift for the public's use.

Thank you.

Antique Views On Old Time America: A Currier & Ives Print + Bonus ATC Background

One of the nicest things we've received in a while is a partial print collection from a dear and prized associate. Our fellow Possum has a big heart and a valuable set of ideas, one of them being how a few additional goodies here or there might be fun to use.
In this one, there is a definite summer appeal. The calm water, the fisherman, the people on the grass, plus all the foliage, combined, speaks to a peaceful environment far from the crowded life of the city dweller.
Makes me want to take a quiet boat out onto still water and look at the summer sunset.
For more info on this grand tradition in American printmaking, you can go HERE.
We're taking the liberty of also offering an ATC background version of this view on American rural life in the 1800's. Hope our readers find plenty to do with their summer, including with this old print.
Happy Summertime Fun, all!
Rose

"The Old Ford Bridge" by Currier & Ives

Old Look

Downloadable Version HERE

***

BETTER HOME PRINTER VERSIONS

Original Look HERE

Enhanced Look HERE 

***

Enhanced

Downloadable Version HERE

ATC Sized

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

Free for Public Domain Use

A Blissfull Swap Partner's "Wedding" Themed ATC

After failing to get with anybody who had camera experience enough to do this good work justice, I'm afraid I had to give up and resort to showing it here as our scanner sees it.
That doesn't diminish the artwork, however.  :)  
We like the touches of humor in the wolf, etc. It's just that, well, all of Patricia's really fun dimensional work gets undercut by the scanner, I'm afraid. :(
Thanks, Patricia, for your wonderful trade! I know I'm late--something's drying for you even as I type this! Sorry! (whew!--it's been quite a strange month year for me!) 

So much humor in this one! Makes me smile every time!

Only sorry I couldn't do it more justice with some actual photography.

Happy weekend, everybody!

Rose

July 4th Color Me™ Page: A Key to a Famous Painting

Here is what we hope will be a fun and/or educational addition to today's earlier post of Independence Day ephemera.
This time, we are using different sources other than our own stock to add to the mix. We hope to be introducing other works outside our own stock (one example of this was our recently posted Wedding Bookplate Sets) now and again, as a part of our service to our readers. We hope you'll enjoy what we offer here in both cases.
So here's our two-part addition. 
Part One is the famous painting itself, Trumbull's Declaration of Independence. John Trumbull was a very prominent American artist. We highly recommend the reader follow the above link for more info on his life, work, and times.
Part Two is the Color Me™Sheet that offers a key to the painting--who were all those men, anyway? What were their names? We may recognize right off the few more well known men shown more prominently in the artist's composition. But as may be seen in the painting, there were many others present as well at the time.
This might even be a family project for a little further learning. If, that is, you can pull the kids away from their summertime activities for long enough to squeeze a wee bit more information into their brains. ;)
Happy Summertime Creative Fun!
Rose

John Trumbull's Painting

The Declaration of Independence

Downloadable Version HERE

PPS Color Me™ Sheet

The Who's Who in Trumbull's Painting

Downloadable Version HERE

Original (prior to our fiddling)

courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Patriotic Collage Sheet: featuring Independence Day & Our Statue of Liberty

With Independence Day just around the corner, we thought we'd add to the fun by collecting together into one sheet those images we all crave, such as the American flag, our Liberty Bell, a few famous scenes, and a surprise or two.
Hope you'll like them--we sure do!
Rose 

American Symbols of Freedom Collage Sheet

Downloadable Version HERE

At last! I can load pictures again!

whew!

Images used from Wikimedia Commons

and nypl.org

Antique Illustration: Colonial Times in Old America

These are from our continuing series out of Thackeray's "The Virginians." We really have a good time looking at every detail in each one. Thackeray not only gave us his "Vanity Fair," and "Barry Lyndon" novels, but he wrote many other things besides, all of them so mid-Victorian they almost wear corsets or tophats! ;)
This one is a cutie pie, if you ask me. Here's one mother sharing her young babe in arms with another. It's sweet and fun to look into. For instance, you'll note the presence of a slave companion to one lady standing behind her, almost at center. Thackeray's first accounting of his storyline was well before our Civil War had ended. In fact, the author himself met his end a few years before its start.
This novel, which was written for a periodical in parts, takes place long before our Civil War, however. The 1700's are a fascinating time period in our American history, but also in our world's history as well.
The story behind Thackeray's books and drawings and a full accounting of his life may be found HERE, where you'll also find links to his plot line for this story (not intended for those looking to read his work--too many surprises spoiled).
So here we have his "Master Miles Warrington" illustration, in both our Black & White and Original Look versions.
Happy Creativity!
Rose

Thackeray Illustration: "Master Miles"

Black & White

Downloadable Version HERE

Original Look

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

Free for Public Domain Use

Steamy Collage Freebies: Two Themed Collage Sheets

Meet the two newest Collage Printables, both intended for the Steampunk style everybody loves to play around with. ;)
Both are designed to fit comfortably any 81/2" by 11" sheet of printer paper, so anyone can use them. 
I've used a 1907 book's cover liner as the basis for each design offered. 
I love the textures in both of these, and I hope you will too!
Happy Creativity!
Rose


P.S. Please do not package to sell any of the offerings made for this blog. They were made to be FREE for all time. And please credit all of the makers of the brushes chosen for these, as their input is invaluable to the art process for both. Obsidian Dawn's rules for use are posted at their website. Please check there before using either of these 2 backgrounds.
Thank You
Rose H. McGuinn

Steampunk Themed Collage Backgrounds

Steamy Starlight

Downloadable Version HERE

Steampunk Dream

Downloadable Version HERE

Digital Sources: Obsidian Dawn, and JS Scully and gojo123 of Brusheezy.

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

You are free to:

use the above images in your artwork for fun or profit.

You are not free to:

repackage either of them in any way for sale.

In other words, make art, 

please give credit where credit is due, 

and

Don't sell either of these two images as is.

Please respect our gift for the public's use.

Thank you.

Seeing Double 3 Ways: Antique Views on San Francisco's Ferry Depot

We see many stereoscopic view cards in our travels, but this one caught our eye. It is so simple, such a basic background, the thought was: "An ideal background for Collage!" It's a turn of the century look without any clutter or fuss. And it's a tinted plate, meaning more fun in general!
I myself already have plans for this image. :)
For more information on the fascinating history of this remarkable structure, you can go HERE. It has survived more than one major earthquake!
Imagine the potential for art use here, though. Add people, mix, stir, and find yourself a brand new collage!
We think the possibilities may be endless.
Anyhow, here it is, and we hope you'll enjoy both our Original and Brightened versions, along with our Steampunk color way version.
Please do not repackage any or all of these images for sale! Let's keep free things free!
Happy Creativity!
Rose

Stereoscopic View of Old Time San Francisico

Brightened Look

Downloadable Version HERE

Original Tone

Downloadable Version HERE

Steampunk Colorway

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

Free for Public Domain Use

Circus Boy Printable: A Farm Boy's Dream

This is such a fun little bit of ephemera. Look at the boy's eyes, how they are full of mischief, good tricks, and silliness--even pride, a little bit.
We love it so much, we decided it must be done both ways for you, with brighter colors for those with an eye to the modern design value inherent in such a piece, and with the original coloring for those who prefer that "well loved" look. :)
Its size is set to fit a standard 81/2" by 11" sheet of printer paper, with some leeway.
So here it is, and we hope our visitors will find plenty of uses for it.
Happy Creativity!
Rose

Circus Loving Farmboy Printable Miniposter

Brighter Version

Downloadable Version HERE

Original Look

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

You are free to:

make artwork for sale or profit using this postcard.

We would like attribution, yet know we can't insist upon it.

You are not free to:

Repackage our images in any way for sale.

Thank you for respecting our gift for the public's use.

Three Muses Challenge: "Postmark Paris"

We are having such fun today with the Three Muses' latest challenge! This will be the second foray into trying one of their challenges, and it's so much fun, we'd like it to go on all weekend!

Please respect all artists' copyrights and follow my Guidelines at this blog, including those below this image. Thank you.

Below, you'll see the result. This is actually a Rose McGuinn Original, and therefore has copyrights, everyone. Please keep that in mind for us, won't you? After all, anything not marked with our copyright here is totally free for our readers to use, no strings attached. But when it comes to any Artwork for display here, as in one of the challenges or an ATC with our Blissfull friends, we ask that you neither copy them for your own personal use nor publish them anyplace at all. That includes for ATC trades as well as ephemera, etc.
That being said, here is the copyrighted work on display.
Happy Creativity!
Rose & Studio Friends

Par Avion en Paris

(no link--this is not downloadable owing to its status)

Credits:

The Graphics Fairy for both plane and butterfly print, Obsidian Dawn's digital brushes, and our own basis, the French text Frame from our Hearts Within Hearts post. (Still trying to find our source for the Eiffel Tower image--can anyone help with this? We'd like to give credit where credit is due)

Please help us to support and respect the copyrights of artists.

Thank you.

Victorian Botanical Art c. 1888: a Pitcher Plant

Harper's Readers are among my favorites for a feel of old time learning. In many cases, I think they were very intelligently compiled. Our chosen outtake for today's post is a lovelier one than I can remember, for the artwork is tasteful and refined.
Such engravings are harder to come by nowadays, and if you find one, it's best to snap it up for keeps. We did this about a year and a half ago at a local book sale. So now we're able to share all that wonderful ephemera with our readers! That's even more fun than finding the books we often refer to as "The Stash" or "The Archives."
We are, as per our usual habit here on PPS, including both our Original and Upgraded Looks. We hope you'll find plenty of uses for both.
Happy Creative Weekend, all!
Rose


FYI: We only pull apart things that won't otherwise scan for you, and then only as our team determines there is more value in a picture's use than in the book's overall value in its entirety. The book we are using for this post was a "second" in that it had been misbound, was tattered and had some writing in some of its margins. As a book, it wouldn't fetch more than $5 or so. (I think we paid all of $1.50 for it at that sale--a nice deal for our collectibles stash) But, as an archive addition, it makes for invaluable usage, wouldn't you say? ;)

Harper's Third Reader Pitcher Plant Study c. 1888

First Two Page Section

Downloadable Version HERE

Second Two Page Section

Downloadable Version HERE

Original Patina First Section

Downloadable Version HERE

Original Patina Second Section

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

Free for Public Domain Use

Please do not repackage for sale.

This is a gift for the public.

Thank you.

Rough Cut & Wrinkled: Antique Handwriting in French

Isn't this fun? I dearly love all things French, including our funny little jotting for this afternoon's post.
Letter writing itself is vanishing. A fine art once, those who wrote a "fine hand," or cursive, were often sought after to redraft their friends' correspondence. Nowadays, it is no longer in the curriculum of many of our schools here in the U.S. Pretty soon, nobody but those over 40 will be able to decipher the scribblings of the past unless taught for the purposes of, say, research.
For now, let us ponder our quickly scrawled brief epistle to find clues as to its history.
For one thing, we don't have enough French between us to fully comprehend what this was all about. :)
On the other hand, the free translators online are there for anyone to use--if, let us say, there are no mystery words left over. With a dictionary, we had been able to determine only a brief sketchy outline for you, while the online free translating service we chose took parts of what we gave it and made it sound a bit weird. "Eles" became eels. Go figure.
Ultimately, it was decided there were too many variations within speech to complete our free translation. However, there were some decisive victories over this mystery, one being how the person writing our note wanted news of his or her tobacco or a camera (free translations can be tricky!). Had these items arrived as planned? Apparently somebody was soon marrying and all were invited. An apology was given for the poor quality of the writing paper chosen. Nothing historic, for certain. But fun? We think it could be.


With our refining process, though, the image began to lose some of its potential for fun. It began to look middle aged, not 4 years shy of its 100th birthday. [Note: It is now over 100 years of age as of 6/12/16] A decision had to be made: to post as is or delete it from our archives altogether.
Well, you know the rest. :)
Happy Creativity en Français!
Rose

French Handwriting (Rough Cut)

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

Free for Public Domain Use