Today's Freebie: Vintage Image from the Betty Fairy Book

Today's vintage image is from The Betty Fairy Book of 1915.

It depicts a winged ship with a little fairy in green.  The original illustration was whiter and brighter than this vintage image, which was taken directly from my copy of the original book.  I chose not to try to brighten it in photoshop, because I like the vintage look.  But if you want to do so, feel free.

The poem is part of the larger story of the book.  It's such a pretty illustration, done by Margaret Evans Price, who, incidentally, was one of the later founders of Fisher-Price Toys!

The Betty Fairy Book was written by Helen E. Flint in 1915.  It tells the story of a little girl who unintentionally angers the fairies, by finding a  fairy crown and dancing on fairy land.  The fairies banish her to the boat pictured above.  I wouldn't mind a sail on that pretty thing!

Anyway, the story ends happily, both for Betty and the fairies.

We'll be offering more illustrations from this lovely vintage children's book in the near future. In the meantime, enjoy this one, and feel free to download and use for your own purposes.

Here are two free seamless tile patterns for you to download. These designs are opposite in style. The top tile is abstract and has a flowing feel to it in purple, blue and green. While the bottom vintage pattern is a daffodil floral in white, gold and green, with a very stylized look.  Both are lovely in their own way. Right click on each of these to save to your computer.

Arthur Thiele was the son of an instrument maker. Best known for his fabulous anthropomorphic art, he created an abundance of fun art with pigs, geese and other animals.  He was, however, best known for his comical depictions of cats and dachshunds. He also illustrated childrens' books.  

I love his artwork, and would like to share this adorable scruffy kitten with you.  If you've never seen his work I hope this freebie will encourage you to search it out.

First Freebie!

Today we offer our first freebie!  This gorgeous little artwork is from an antique children's primer called "Happy Go Lucky".  It depicts a young girl named "Miss Effie" having a violin lesson.  There is a poem that goes with this cute image, and I'll reproduce it below

 

Feel free to use this image for your own projects, commercial or not.  It is in the public domain, to the best of my knowledge.  Click the image to see it in its full beauty!
Here's the poem associated with Miss Effie's cute illustration:
"Miss Effie waiting to begin
To play upon her violin; --
If she with skill would learn to play,
Hard must she study every day.
    Though dry and hard are knowledge's roots
    Fragrant and sweet will be its fruits."