A new theme just in time for a patriotic annual celebration. As usual, the set works best if cut out with accuracy. One inch circle punches or cutting stations with a one inch setting will be most useful. Please respect my copyrights by following the red letter Guidelines listed at the foot of each post that isn't public domain. Thank you. There is also a new July 4th Bunting here in my blog. That may be accessed by following the link HERE. Happy Creative Independence Day crafting!
For celebrating Independence Day, Flag Day or for special military events. Those of you who are familiar with this blog might have noticed before how I'll occasionally offer decorative celebration items here. In the past, I offered an autumnal version of this Bunting pattern. That time, I offered the option of an alphabetized set, but this time I am going to keep it simple. I will leave the rest to whomever chooses to decorate using this design whether to add alphabet letters or not. Please respect all copyrights listed at the foot of this post in my red letter Guidelines (same as those that are shown in the printable download itself). Thank you. Happy Creative Celebrating!
The International observance, known in the U.S. as Veterans Day, began in 1918 with a different name. Back then, it was known as Armistice Day. According to Wikipedia, "Armistice Day is commemorated every year on November 11 to mark the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning—the 'eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month' of 1918. The date was declared a national holiday in many allied nations, and coincides with Remembrance Day and Veterans Day, public holidays." (To read more about Armistice Day, please follow the link HERE) In the U.S. the same holiday was given a new name in 1954, that being our Veterans Day (see more HERE), but this is still an International day of observance, regardless of our nation's name change for the same date and time. A number of my family members fought for the Allies in WWII. Some barely made it out alive. I like to honor all of our service members, both men and women, along with all medics, nurses, and doctors etc. who've either supported troops or who've been in the thick of combat, whether still living or now lost to us. No matter where in the world this day is being observed, let it be a sign to us as to war's cost in human lives. Let's likewise give some thought to the numerous conscientious objectors who drove ambulances and worked as medics or support staff. Even they risked their lives so that as many people as possible could return home to their families. They, too, even though they didn't choose to do battle, were an essential part of the world's times of war. " The World War I draft law recognized the peace churches [the Quakers, Mennonites, Church of the Brethren and Seventh Day Adventists] but prosecuted anyone else who objected on the basis of their own beliefs. Five hundred objectors were court-martialed – 17 received death sentences for refusing to fight. Although none of the death sentences was carried out, almost 150 objectors were jailed for life, and others were harassed and beaten. Finally, in World War II, the draft law exempted from military service those who "by reason of religious training and belief" opposed war. The objectors still served. They were assigned to "work of national importance." This service fell into two types: First, about 25,000 objectors served in the military in "noncombatant" roles. They were medics who were in the Army but didn't carry a gun. Second, those who objected to being in the military served on the home front. About 20,000 objectors fought forest fires, built conservation projects in rural areas, or took care of the mentally ill in hospitals. There were objectors who refused to even register for the draft, believing that the draft itself was supporting the killing. About 6,000 of these men went to jail." From an online article at http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe40s/life_05.html Let's take the time to honor our veterans of all ages this coming Friday, November 11th. Additionally, in the UK or for those of us elsewhere who are religious, this coming Sunday is known as Remembrance Sunday. (the Sunday closest to the 11th) The old song title says, "Are We Downhearted? No! No! No!" This was a fairly popular song for some of the troops of WWI. According to a Wikipedia article, "Before entering the war, the U.S. had remained neutral, though it had been an important supplier to Great Britain and the other Allied powers. During the war, the U.S. mobilized over 4 million military personnel and suffered 110,000 deaths, including 43,000 due to the influenza pandemic.[1] The war saw a dramatic expansion of the United States government in an effort to harness the war effort and a significant increase in the size of the U.S. Armed Forces. After a relatively slow start in mobilising the economy and labour force, by spring 1918 the nation was poised to play a role in the conflict."
IN FLANDERS FIELDS POEM
The World’s Most Famous WAR MEMORIAL POEM
By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields
Composed at the battlefront on May 3, 1915
during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium
(found at http://www.flandersfieldsmusic.com/thepoem.html)
Below the Display version, I will add 3 YouTube videos of antique recordings plus one of a very short overview of the history of this very important day. Let's Honor all our Veterans, including those among our allies this November 11th!
I'd never read anything about this tree during my school days. I mainly chose this picture for its autumnal beauty. Any landscape painting needs to be interesting to our minds even after it has been looked at several different times, wouldn't you agree? I found this one in a file while searching for something else recently. I've decided to give it a bit of a "face lift," so to speak, as well as giving it a new format to fit 8.5" by 11" sheets of paper. I think that it might be nice to use in a collage or perhaps on a greeting card (reduced in size, of course). To learn more about the city of Philadelphia, you may click on the following link HERE. At the same webpage, if you scroll down for a bit, you will see the very same tree in a different painting. Half inch margins on this one. Please check your printer's settings before printing. Happy Autumn Creativity!
What a cheerful farm scene this is! I thought that it would be fun for children to color in, although some adults do enjoy coloring too! I know I am one of those adults. :) I am allowing this one to remain in in its original copyright status, that is Public Domain. Please feel free to use it however you like. One of the best parts for me would have to be how the horses are regarding each other from their separate stalls. I've known horses to do just such a thing, so this has brought back sweet memories for me to enjoy. As for the corn and the barn, well - that would be an even sweeter memory for me. On a wet and rainy afternoon at an old family farm with a very large barn, I once helped to shuck corn as a child. This happened at a family reunion. All of the children, myself included, loved that big old barn with its lofts and its straw and hay in stacks and piles. Removing the drying kernels of corn from the cobs was something we children did then using nothing but our bare hands. We also played at sliding and daring each other to jump from one loft above into the straw pile below! What a good day that was! Happy Coloring Creativity!
This Art Nouveau style magazine cover is outlined with twining vines and late summer blooms. The woman in her hammock is reading. I can almost imagine her long, trailing skirts billowing slightly in a breeze as she sways slightly in her ladylike way. Please see all copyrights, credits and red letter Guidelines below. Thank you. I also enjoy the travel machines near the very top of this picture, don't you? I do really enjoy old trains. To travel aboard one was once a real joy for me - and in actual fact, I've had that pleasure on four separate occasions. What a delight each one was! Whether you'd prefer to be swaying in a comfortable hammock or on the high seas or else riding a speedy train to an exciting place that is new to you, this cover just might suit your August mood. Happy summertime creativity!
or sold as a intrinsic to other work that is made by you. Please do not sell this one as is or in a set of your own.
Making it look better has taken hours of my time.
Thank you for helping me to
keep free things free!
Bustles and Baseball? An old illustration from the 1880's Victorian Bustle Era. I ran across this old graphic recently while doing research on a completely different project. It was in the Public domain, and yet needed a little facelift, so to speak. I have enlarged it and cleared it of some torn areas plus one scratch using photoshop processes. There is a bit of a quality issue as far as resolution goes, but since it is intended to be either hand colored or tinted, I saw this as being a very minor issue. My recommendation would be to use colored pencils. After all, it is fairly small (not even filling the 8 1/2 by 11 inch final size) and yet it is also very full of details! Please adjust your printer margin settings to .25 inches (1/4 inch) for this one. My! - how they did used to dress up for the ball park! Americans really would do that a lot. Almost everybody wore hats, and some men would even wear suits. The women in the foreground of this picture wear hats, corsets, and long dresses with bustles underneath. Just look at all of the different hat styles the ladies are wearing to this game! Personally, I like the small top hat that another woman is wearing. In the distance, there is an obviously very busy harbor of some sort. This must be a port town somewhere. I wish that I could share the location of this old ball field with all of you. Perhaps somebody can help me out with the history and location? Meanwhile ~ Happy Coloring!
Ahoy there! A breezy July day out on the waves sounds cooling to me today. I've augmented and changed this item for best ease of use, but am choosing to leave it in the Public Domain category. Let's weigh anchor and set sail for the open sea! Happy summertime creativity!
This has had to be changed radically by me in order to make it both a little more more usable and attractive. Whenever I find something as fun to look at as this image truly is for me, I feel a genuine urge to clean it up and make it look fresher. Please respect my time, effort, and (therefore) also my copyrights. Also, please observe the red letter Guidelines below. Thank you. I really like the way that the young man is standing comfortably with his booted feet in the summertime sun. The contrast between his comfort (open collar, rolled up sleeves) on an extra warm and sunny day and the long sleeves, high collars and fuss and frill of the two ladies aboard their little two wheeled gig makes me smile. The one young woman is enjoying the flavor of the slim slice of watermelon the boy has just offered her. Perhaps there will be a sale? There are melons in the foreground and in the background of this picture as well. It's such a pretty summer scene, that I simply couldn't resist the opportunity of sharing it here at the Studio's blog. There's just one problem, however. I am fresh out of melons and yet would have enjoyed a nice, refreshing melon slice snack today! :) Happy Summertime Creativity!
The scene is from an 1859 magazine. The illustration below is of a wintry day in Victorian Boston. The ice rink is crowded, simply full of life and activity. I thought it would make either a nice framed print for someone's wall or else something fun to be colored in, although it occurs to me that this could work well for card making and other craft projects. It was found in a Public Domain venue, and then re-sized and cleaned up a little. In other words, it's for everyone and anyone for any reason. Happy Wintertime Fun!
PPS™ Graphic: A Hardworking Farmer in 2 Ways I don't know about you, but my blood runs deep within farming history here in the USA. We used to visit the old family farm when I was a child. I've shucked corn, helped care for various livestock animals, and even helped with haying at one point. This taught me to respect the farming and ranching community deeply. So here is one more salute to the time of haying and harvesting. My visitors can expect at least one more new Harvest offering here for the year very soon, hopefully. This one has had to be cleaned up a little bit. The scanned image may be in the Public Domain, yet it had lint and grit here and there which required removing. This proved to be a bit of a challenge, as anyone who's done the haying knows just how big and dusty and messy a job that is! Bits of flotsam and flakes of hay fly simply everywhere! Hay gets into everything, so sorting the real from the false was a bit of a problem for yours truly. I am offering this old photograph in 2 color ways: sepia toned and regular black and white. Happy Harvest Creativity!
Free Fire Fighter Graphics Today is September 11th here in the USA, and therefore it is a solemn and important anniversary for us all. In honor of the day's observances, the Studio is offering the following images for free. These were supplied initially by nypl.org. The first is a collage set. The second is a lower resolution item than would normally be offered here, but it appears to be the sort of item which children might color. It is a slice of history, an illustration from an old newspaper article. It looked rather untidy, and so has been softened a bit. It is by no means of fine enough quality for framing, but rather for coloring in by children. Please read our red letters below for legal guidelines. Thank you. So here's to the heroes whose lives were in danger throughout that fateful time. And here is our salute to just one gathering of people from among the many, many heroes of that time: the Fire Fighters. Quite frankly, I see them all as heroic all of the time for us. Somehow, though, during our disasters they seem to really rise to even greater heights as people with every harrowing act of heroism.
For Independence Day They say that it's a "grand old flag," and this new version offers a frame with it. I've tried to match the blue of the frame portion to the blue portion of the flag, and I do hope that this has worked out well for my guests. The image itself is small, being only 4.75 inches by 3.25 inches in size. It is hoped that it may be useful despite its smallness. Happy Independence Day creativity! :)
Women's Pro Baseball Blog Button Recently, here at the Studio, a button was offered which reads, "Art is a manly sport." (which see in our right hand column) The fact that it is, of course, is obvious to anybody with sense, as both women and men do enjoy getting creative with color or objects, etc. Women, likewise, can enjoy playing or watching sports, just like men. To even the odds, or to bring things into balance again, the new button is all about women playing pro sports. In this country, from 1943 to 1954, a few rare women played a form of supported major league baseball that has yet to be repeated. For more information on the subject, you can go HERE and HERE. (I like the second link the best) Though they got called girls, and even were sometimes jeered at from the stands for not being male players, they were women playing hard and fast ballgames. In honor of the feminine sport enthusiasts among us, the Studio is now prepared to offer you a new button. It is a sort of answer to the prior button about art being manly as well as being feminine.
The photo being used in the button offered below, is of pro player, Dorothy "Dottie" Schroeder. You can find out more about her HERE, and a little bit in the video above. Attribution for the Public Domain photo may be found beneath her photo HERE. According to her bio, she played for the full 12 seasons--and was singular in having done so. So, let's do what Dottie was saying in her photograph and "Play Ball!" with our Happy Creativity!
Dorothy "Dottie" Schroeder Baseball Blog Button
(It is best to use the "shrink to fit" portion of your blog button gadget window for this 96px PNG)
Baseball Series Part 2 Our second offering in this series will be mainly colorful rather than plain black and white like last weekend's. This time, we offer two sets two ways, and in two separate formats (Digital or Print, at 8.5 inch by 11 inch or 12 inches square).We hope that you will find these useful in the making of projects for your own fathers, husbands, boyfriends or friends (or for yourself, for that matter!). Note: all of these have half inch borders on all four sides. Happy Creativity!
PPS goes to the Ball Park for you this weekend, and with not a single moment to lose! After all, in just two weeks' time, we will be celebrating our American Father's Day.
But this is also Baseball season, so we have decided to run the bases in hopes of making a home run with free summertime sports graphics for our guests.
Our first offering features some of baseball's all time greats.
From left to right, they are as follows:
1.) Satchel Paige, one of the finest pitchers America will ever see
2.) Chick Keating, shortstop (that is one tough role to play!) for two clubs (Cubs and Phillies)
3.) Babe Ruth, a superior hitter, known for hitting 714 career home runs, and considered to be one of the all time greats of the game
4.) Jackie Robinson, who played in a total of 6 World Series, and who began in the old Negro League, eventually having a stellar career playing Major League ball
As for our silhouette, this had to be completely overhauled, and it took about a total of 7 hours to clear up all of the jagged edges and messiness in order to remanufacture it for use. All of our work on it will therefore be copyrighted. (Please see our guidelines, below, in red)
First up, we offer our classic sized printable, followed by its Digi partner. Then we will offer you a 12 by 12 Digi set, with two silhouettes instead of one.
These sets will be followed by more, next time in full color.
We hope to have hit a real "homer" with our initial set for you today.
As per usual, all of these have at least 1/2 inch margins, if not more.
We will list links here at our earliest convenience
You are welcome to:
use these images in your artwork for fun or profit provided we (for the silhouette in this case) and Wikimedia Commons (photo links will be provided shortly) are given credit
(a link to our site would be nice, thank you)
You are not welcome to:
Repackage any of these items for sale in any way.
Please respect the work we are giving the public.
Please respect the rights of the public, as well as the rights of the image providers over at Wikimedia Commons.
Vintage Fashion Graphic Aren't they chic? So spruce in their pretty new clothes! Don't you just wish that you could step back in time to dress like one of them? They are from a book which lost its copyright in the 1940's. Happy Creativity!
Click first on any image you see below for its enlarged version(s).
Vintage Fashion Models
Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives
You are free to:
use this image in artwork that is either given or shared,
