Free Victorian Sleigh Ride Graphics

"Dashing through the snow in a one two horse open sleigh!"

What a fun graphic this turned out to be for me! It is all about the month of January's deep freeze, and of driving through snowy conditions without the use of wheels.

I've chosen to offer this renewed image in two colors and in two styles. The one style includes words in the old fashioned Victorian frame, lower right. For the second one, I removed the words. I like both, so both are included.

This could be tinted using transparent color of some sort. It might make a fun embellishment for an art journal or a scrapbook, mightn't it?

Happy Wintertime Creativity!

PPS™Sleigh Ride Graphic

Download Black & White Style 1 HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Sepia Style 1 HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Black & White Style 2 HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

Download Sepia Style 2 HERE

Display version

(lower quality than the download)

You are free to:

use any or all 

of the 4 images in this post

in art or craft projects

for either fun or for profit.

They are in the Public Domain.

Thank you

for helping me to 

keep free things free!

It's Football Season

Free 1920's Football Illustration

Touch down!! This one is actually in the Public Domain, and so it shall remain that way. Which means it is free to use in any way we choose. When I resized it into a more print-worthy shape, and saw that it was in fairly good condition for use, I decided right then and there to offer it here.

Happy Sporting Creativity!

PPSPrintable™: 1920's Football Illustration

Download HERE

Display version

(slightly lower quality than the download)

Public Domain

You are free to:

use this image in any way you please.

Have fun

helping me to

keep free things free!

Thank you.

Chilly Weather Fashions of Old

I love to look at old fashion plates, don't you? Women used to have outfits for every occasion, from home life to paying every social visit, to church, and every outdoor activity. Nowadays, we seem to wear our jeans just about anywhere, and for nearly all occasions. As dress code hardly does matter anymore, it's fun to look back and see what women were wearing about a hundred years or more ago.
Our set today is all about that fun. I can't help admiring anyone whose pleasure it was to look fashionably warm when walking her charmer of a little dog. :)
Anyway, we hope this holiday weekend will warm you from head to toe with the light of all things Thanksgiving.
Happy Holiday Creativity, all!
Rose 

PPSDigiScrap™Ephemera Set: Chilly Winter Fashion Plates

Download Digi PNG Version HERE

Download For Print Version HERE

Credits: Original 1890's image (prior to our fiddling) from

the New York Public Library at nypl.org

These were free from the first.

While we jazzed them up a bit, these do not comprise our best work. Please do not repackage for sale. Otherwise, have all the fun you want!

:)

Old Fashioned Knitting Ephemera Set (for Digi or Print)

I always like to think of the handmade gifts others make the time to create for us as being evidence of their caring. When I was a young lass, I was interested almost to distraction with anything in the needlework world, so I suppose you might say I value the appeal of handmade wearables that much more as a consequence.
In honor of this gift giving season, today's post is all about the knitting tradition. We've even tucked in a crocheted "muff bag" as a salute to you knitters who also like to crochet.
We hope you'll find lots of fun ways to use our Knitting set for your holiday gift giving, including, perhaps, for decorative tags and cards to go with your stitched presents for those you love.
Happy Creative Gift-making!
Rose & Co

PPSDigiScrap™Set: Knitters & Their Gifts

Download Digi PNG Version HERE

Download For Print Version HERE

Credits: Original 1700's and 1800's image (prior to our fiddling) from

the New York Public Library at nypl.org

Free for use in artwork, whether for sale or for fun.

No repackaging of this set, please.

Thanks.

Antique Summer Advertising: 1908 Soap That Floats + "Unmentionables"

Greetings, all. It has been a rough ride here the past several days. And it's been tiring, so not much could happen toward posting till this afternoon.
Today, however, after much thought, it felt right, for the first time since  it went up, to remove our mourning drape version of the header you see above in favor of the cheerier look.
All of you who very graciously added their kind thoughts toward all involved are very much appreciated. It's your kind thoughts, along with others from her friends and family, which get us through those tough first weeks. Such thoughts were kindly given. We will not forget you nor every kindness offered.
It has been a long time since I felt moved to grieve this hard and with such deeply felt sadness over the loss of a good friend. Suffice it to say, those of us loving her and missing her for all the good reasons the last post mentioned may mourn for quite some while.
However. Life must go on.
It may be a while before smiles return, yet we are certain that to resume the usual round of activities would be better for us than holding off.


Below, you'll see we have provided a dual posting, with century old advertising from a periodical of the era.
Our Ivory Soap ad choices will include our usual golden aged paper look (we sometimes call this colorway the "Original"), along with the look probably more like an actual replica of what our ad looked like when first published, all in tones of grey.
Our second offering for this afternoon is that of a summer underwear ad, one with implications for dainty comfort in hot weather. Love the wording on this one. It, too, comes two ways for you. Hope you'll have fun using both these images!
It is delightful to begin posting again.
And Thank You again for stopping by!
Rose

Antique Summer Advertising

Ivory Soap c. 1908

Downloadable (400dpi) Version HERE

Grey Tone

Downloadable Version HERE

Summer Underwear Advertisement

Original Look

Downloadable Version HERE

Black & White 

Downloadable Version HERE

Primary Scanned Imagery 

Courtesy PPS Archives

Free for Public Domain Use

PPS Collage Freebie: Tickets & Tonic

There are bits of flotsam here at the Studio, so it was decided that another Collage Sheet was overdue. This one includes every spot, acid paper burn and messy appeal of things old and gnarly. The tickets here caught my eye more than the rest. But the homework notes portion, all rusty brown and toasty after 100 years in a drawer, is also, I think, quite usable.

It is hoped our readers may find lots of uses for any of our freebies. I plan to get some use out of this one, believe me! ;)

Happy Creativity!

Be kind--and please don't copy us. We offer our stock for free and hope you will accept that as the final say on how our sheets and separate images are put up online. 

Thanks so much

Rose

PPS Collage Sheet: "Tickets & Tonic"

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

Free for Public Domain Use

Antique French Travel: On the Back Roads of Normandy & Brittany

Today's imagery is all about our French Obsession Link Party, a first of the month tradition over at Frenchy's (Frenchy: Congratulations on publishing your sweet book!!!). We've participated in the fun with her only twice since we began our blog early this year. Upon seeing our image for today in an old magazine's pages, we knew we would have to hop aboard once more.
The article for which this bit of ephemera is the one and only illustration (more's the pity) is "Through Normandy & Brittany." But the illustration is what caught my eye. I've yet to read any part of that article! ;)
Anyway, we offer several of those color choices you so favor, among them 2 shades of brown. As both looked pretty good on screen, we could not choose between them. We hope to offer you more choices for uses of this illustration coming up shortly.
From those of us in the Studio to all of our readers--
Happy Holiday Weekend and Happy Creative Summer Fun!
Rose

Antique French Country Road Trip

"Cacao"

Downloadable Version HERE

"Cafe Au Lait"

Downloadable Version HERE

"Olive"

Downloadable Version HERE

"Sapphire"

Downloadable Version HERE

"Amethyste"

Downloadable Version HERE

"Cerise Red"

Downloadable Version HERE

"Rose"

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

You are free to:

use these motifs in artwork

that may be either given or sold.

You are not free to:

ever repackage any one or all of them for sale

in any way.

Thank you

for helping me to 

keep free things free!

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.

An Artful Adventure Is Having a Brand New Giveaway! (+ our first free blog decor)

And what a giveaway! Artist and Artful blogger, Cassandra Van Curen's blog is a light hearted, colorful display all on its own. You'll find her work in various crafting and art zines, both online and at news stands. She has a flair for the unusual, and can make vintage really sparkle!
We now feature her blog button in our right sidebar for easier access. I'm sure you'll agree with us that this giveaway really shines.
Notable in this prize package is a free copy of Creating Marie Style Magazine (as in everyone's 18th century fave craft rave for fun, Marie Antoinette). Now, this is a special issue, in a single themed publication, that may be found online HERE. But the other issues available to date look like they'd be just as wonderful, really worth reading.
Here's a preview of just one of those Creating Marie Style issue pages which you'll find may be sneak peeked at the above link.

We found our first sneak peak utterly charming, fresh and fun to look through. And I love those shoes, don't you? A girl can't have enough, is our motto. This is one of those publications worth spending time with. Can't wait to see the rest!

But that's not all Cassandra's included in her prize package. Take a look HERE for the sparkling fresh straight scoop! it's a Cassandra Van Curen Original!!!

Happy Marie Antoinette Creativity!

Rose & Studio 

****

P.S.Gentle Reader, here is our first try at creating Blog Decor for our visitors. We hope to refine our skills for you the further in this area.

Hope you'll enjoy our first try! ;)

Digital brush credit (for their Micro Pattern brush):

Obsidian Dawn

Plus, if anybody knows to whom we might give credit for the Regency lady depicted, our thanks will be theirs. The jpg gives no source, and it was accidentally separated out from its original file.

Thanks.

Plush Page Frames: Hour Glass Pattern

Can anyone have too many page ornaments and frames? We think not. Here is our latest addition to our ornamental page graphics collection for your use. And didn't the Studio outdo itself this time around? For we have ten different choices in this one pattern. And I love every color.
Those of you accustomed to how we do things around here may recall our habit of including jewel toned colors in our page frame and ornament posts. They might share with you how we'd always included a Ruby colored version in such a grouping. Unfortunately for us, this came out looking rather too gruesome, for the hour glasses appeared to have been filled with blood, and were looking a bit disgusting. Not that we mind a bit of gothic humor now and again, but this is a family oriented spot, and blood just seemed too chilling to be pretty enough.
This time, we've also included our Sepia along with a rosy Rust tone we hope you'll also enjoy. These, along with your Original Look (which we've cleaned up just a bit for your use), plus our usual Black and White version, make up the ten.
Happy Creativity everybody!
Rose & Studio Friends

Hour Glass Page Frames

Amethyst

Downloadable Version HERE

Garnet

Downloadable Version HERE

Sapphire

Downloadable Version HERE

Turquoise

Downloadable Version HERE

Emerald

Downloadable Version HERE

Peridot

Downloadable Version HERE

Sepia

Downloadable Version HERE

Rust

Downloadable Version HERE

Original Patina (with some cleanup)

Downloadable Version HERE

Black & White

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

Free for Public Domain Use

Men of the Waterways: Tugboat Captains and Crew

This post comes by way of an antique photojournalistic study of the uses of tugboats on America's waterways. And aren't these two captains dignified travelers? I just love how the first one's handkerchief is blowing from his pocket in the wind's draft, and how he must also hold his hat with one hand while steering. So quaint!
We've included both Old and New Looks for this one, as all came out well enough for us. Hope you'll find plenty of uses for this selection of photos from the very early 20th century.
Let's let these over 100 year old pictures speak for themselves, shall we?
Happy Creativity from all of us to all of you!
Rose & Studio Friends

Men of the Waterways

Bearded Captain

New Look

Downloadable Version HERE

Old Look

Downloadable Version HERE

Younger Captain

Downloadable Version HERE

Old Look

Downloadable Version HERE

Crewman

Downloadable Version HERE

Old Look

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

Free for Public Domain Use

A Woman's Work Is Never Done

Aren't these two women really beautiful? Aren't they standing strong and stately as they heft their water jars? They deserve our applause, surely. When we look back in time, are things really simpler? Is it simple to tread the roads barefoot so one's family may have its needs met as only the arrival of water can allow? It is extraordinary to me how we rate their lifetime or ways as being simpler than our own. Really, that must be one tedious job! And it probably bored the dickens out of anyone forced to do it. I'd say we're lucky, but only because I won't have to go down by the river or creek bed to do the laundry. :)
Meanwhile, let's not stand here gawking! I've got chores to do! Haven't you?
Happy Creativity!
Rose

Woman from Rivona

Downloadable Version HERE

Old Look

Downloadable Version HERE

Woman from "Old Napoli"

Downloadable Version HERE

Old Look

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

Free for Public Domain Use

Antique Shampoo Advertisement: Only Her Hairdresser Knows For Sure

Hidden in the archives here at PPS there are some really fine examples of advertising art from the Edwardian era. A Lady's Maid has her hands full with the singular task of bringing her lady's hair into its best shape. And what a job! All that bunching at the back so hats might fit correctly, along with all the daily needs to neatness in one's "toilette." A lady's maid was indispensable, being responsible for so much more refinement in her employer's life than, say, an upstairs or parlor maid. Her clothes must be kept refreshened, her high buttoned shoes just so, her gloves pristine, her mind at ease due to the constant caring ways of her principle servant.
In honor of the lady's maid, then, here's today's selected imagery.
Happy Creativity from all of us here at PPS!
Rose & Studio

Ivory Soap Shampooing Scene

Black & White

Downloadable Version HERE

Original Patina

Downloadable Version HERE

Scanned Imagery courtesy PPS Archives

You are free to:

Use these images in artwork for fun or profit, as long as you will credit this site and even offer a link back to us.

You are not free to:

repackage these for sale in any way.

Please respect our gift to the public by keeping these images free.

Thank you.