The Fairy Prince -Postcard Friendship Friday #281

Here is a wonderful find from my attic! Years ago, I fell in love with the rich colors and whimsical overtones of this postcard. I bought it and put it in a pretty box with a collection of old postcards--all tied together with a fragile blue ribbon.

The original painting is called "Sagoprinsen," or in English, "Fairy Prince." The artist John Bauer became best known for his pictures of fairy tales. He found inspiration for his "trolls" from the scenery around his native home.

The postcard was printed in Sweden in 1976.

Have a lovely weekend and Happy Postcard Friendship Friday!

* LINKING UP:  You can put your link in any time between now and next Thursday.  Postcard Friendship Friday is open for the entire week!     

* BADGE:  When you submit a postcard, be sure to put a link back to this page.  You can copy and paste the PFF badge, which has the link embedded.  Thank you! 

*  THEMES: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the pieces you love and tell us why you like them. 

*  REMINDER:  and links which contain advertising will be deleted. Also, any and all suspicious links which do not lead to a correct website will be reported and deleted.

All in a Tangle -Postcard Friendship Friday #121

I love bluebells--when I see them in my garden, I know Spring has arrived.  The two floating bluebells held by the fairy couple appear to have become tangled.  What a charming idea--bluebell balloons!

I am going to make this post short, as my husband is recovering from knee surgery and still requires a lot of care.  Have a lovely day, everyone, and Happy Postcard Friendship Friday!

* LINKING UP:  You can put your link in any time between now and next Thursday.  Postcard Friendship Friday is open for the entire week! 

* BADGE:  When you submit a postcard, be sure to put a link back to this page.  You can copy and paste the PFF badge, which has the link embedded.  Thank you!

*  THEMES: You don't have to stick to the theme I choose each Friday. Just put up the pieces you love and tell us why you like them.

*  REMINDER: Comments and links which contain advertising will be deleted. Also, any and all suspicious links which do not lead to a correct website will be reported and deleted.

Faery Curiosity

I found this amazing picture at Fantasy Faeries.  What a wonderful place to visit, if you love fairies!  I loved the wings and the way this piece glows.  I find myself wondering what they're so interested in watching through that faery window.

Have a lovely week everyone!

Daddy's Story Time - Sunday Scans

This picture is actually from an old fairytale book in my collection.  I can't recall what the story was, but this lovely drawing reminds me of my own Daddy's stories.  Because of Dad's stories, I married a storyteller.  I still remember the wonderful stories my husband would tell the children when they were small.

Storytelling is a wonderful, magical gifting.  How grateful I am for the storytellers in my life.

Al over at "Al's Photography Blog" is hosting  "Sunday Scans".  It is a place for all things scanned.  So pick up your old photo albums, ephemera, postcards, artwork, ANYTHING which can be scanned and join in the fun!

Faery Dance

This lovely lineart drawing came from a well-used book of children's poetry.  I adore the grace of movement this artist caught -- the sense of floating in the air on wings of gossamer.

Happily Ever After - Pink Saturday

Here is Cinderella in her golden gown and pink roses.  I've always loved that story--though I wish she would have gotten to know the Prince a little better before she headed off to marry him.  Yet, it must have been a good match since they lived Happily Ever After!

Happy Pink Saturday!  For more wonderful things in pink, visit Bev at Pink Saturday!

Rings on Her Fingers, Bells on Her Toes - Pink Saturday

Of course, she isn't a princess at all--things are not as they seem.  She is a poor girl of good character who's reward brought her to the attention of the ruler of the Kingdom.  Of course, there will be pain and tears, but in the end, they will live happily ever after!

For more wonderful things in pink, visit Bev at Pink Saturday!

Sleeping Beauty in Pink - Postcard Friendship Friday #11

I love the story of Sleeping Beauty.  Even though Valentine's Day is long past, one never gets tired of chocolates, hearts, flowers and fairy tales! 

Though my parents will be watching our home, I will be at the beach this weekend celebrating our 27th Wedding Anniversary!  I am SO sorry, but since I will be not be here, I am posting Pink Saturday and Postcard Friendship Friday together.

Romantic that I am--this postcard seemed to fit both of these lovely  events!  You can visit some wonderful blogs for Pink Saturday on Bev's page.

The Emporer's New Clothes

I love this sillhouette illustration from The Emporer's New Clothes which leaves everything to the imagination!  It is another picture from one of  the books in my fairytale book collection! 

When I was a child, I thought this was one of the funniest stories I'd ever heard.  As you can imagine--I was routing for the kid who told the truth in the end of the story--I mean, from my perspective and age, I was convinced that Grown ups were often times just TOO silly . . . 

And now that I'm all grown up?  Well, I still think they are!

Fairy Tales - Pink Saturday

A few years ago I was wandering through one of our town's marvelous antique shops.  I have a small collection of old fairytale books, so when I saw this one, I picked it up to leaf through its pages. 

To my great astonishment I knew every story.  I could trace every single illustration by heart.  As I held the book, I began to remember the beloved fairytale book I'd had as a child.  I had literally worn it's pages into nothingness. 

The wonderful thing about this book is I can see from the illustrations how my own style as an artist was forged.  I loved each and every one of those pictures and their beauty imprinted itself upon my mind, even before I could read the stories themselves.  It was as though I journeyed back in time for a moment and saw my world through a child's eyes once more.

Happy Pink Saturday!

Elven Hill

This illustration is from one of the fairytale books in my collection. When I was a little girl I often daydreamed about visiting fairyland, or entering the doorway in the hill where the Elves lived.

The style of this pen and ink drawing is wonderful. I especially love the lizards in the gnarled tree. I would pour over these drawings by the hour, dreaming, making up stories of my own.

I still have a GREAT imagination!

Sleeping Beauty

Well, I'm a little late--HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! It is one of my favorite holidays. I love the romance and thought of it all.

DADDY UPDATE: Mumsie says Dad is doing much better. He gets to take his brace off to eat and rest a little. This will strengthen his neck muscles and stimulate healing of the broken bones. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness and prayers. They mean so much to me and my family.

Meadowland

This gorgeous postcard by Sulamith Wulfing only recently became a part of my "cyber" collection. I have a weakness for fairies and all things whimsical, so this wonderful drawing with it's beautiful colors and unique style especially caught my imagination.

Thank you, sweet SissyDea!

Fairy Bread -Postcard Friendship Friday

I know this isn't a postcard. Instead I hope you will enjoy this lovely poem with accompanying illustrations from my beloved, but tattered ancient book of Children's verse.

Come up here, O dusty feet!
Here is fairy bread to eat.

Here in my retiring room,

Children you may dine

On the golden smell of broom

And the shade of pine;

And when you have eaten well,
Fairy stories hear and tell.

Happy Postcard Friendship Friday!

Grandpa's Promise

When I was a little girl, and not very well liked in school, I loved the story of the Ugly Duckling with its promise of beauty and maturity.

When I was in third or fourth grade, I had experienced a particularly rough day. I remember running over to talk to Grandpa Lester--my best buddy and the one to whom I confided all my girlish joys and hardships. Tears running down my face, I told him my woes. A few days later, Grandpa brought a picture he'd cut from the Penny's Catalogue. The model was lovely, her smile radiant.

He put the picture into my hands and said, "When you get older, this is what you will look like." Then he stooped to smile into my eyes. "But you are already beautiful inside."

I never forgot what he said that day. The odd thing is that when I was in my 20's, I actually DID resemble the picture Grandpa gave to me. I still have it--and even now that I'm getting older and more wrinkled as each day passes--I think about the gift of true beauty and future promise Grandpa gave to me.

Daddy Update: The wound specialist believes the bone still exposed in Dad's scalp will most likely heal over by itself without surgery. Dad's tests have come back looking great. Please pray for my parents outlook--it is so hard for them to be away from their home so long. We are preparing the house so they can go back sometime mid-September. We are praying we can get it done by that time--Mom must return home so she can teach her writing classes the first of October.

A Princess in Danger

This illustration comes from another of the books in my fairytale book collection. In this story of woe, the beautiful princess is in danger. Her stepmother is in actuality a witch, who casts a spell upon the princess, turning her into a wild mindless dragon who scourges the countryside in her search for food.

The prince of a neighboring kingdom is her own true love. When he hears of the spell, he travels to the kingdom to rescue the princess. What he must do to break the spell is gruesome. He must cut 0ff the head of the dragon.

The brave prince takes strength in his love for the girl, strikes the dragon's head away. This breaks the spell and the girl is restored. The wicked stepmother is punished. She is made to dance in a pair of red hot iron shoes until she falls dead.

And the prince and princess? Of course they live happily ever after.



Daddy Update: Dad's cousin Fred came to visit Dad. Dad seems so much better for the visit. He is perky and told me he's getting really bored sitting in bed all day long! A GOOD sign!

Come With Me into the Sea

This wonderful mermaid drawing comes from a book from my fairytale collection. She is indeed lovely, a true siren.

I love mermaids, but in many stories of the sea, they 're rather dastardly. These beautiful creatures have been known to lure ships onto the rocks, to pull a sailor beneath the waves to suffocate him. There are even tales of stolen lovers and missing children.

Still, I tentatively choose to believe there are those among the merfolk, who love mankind and choose to be good to them.

The Ungrateful Enchanter

Here is another illustration from the fairytale Snow White and Rose Red, found in one of the books from my collection. The dwarf pictured here is really an evil enchanter, who's beard is caught in a tree. The two lovely sisters free the ungrateful little fellow, who then stomps off into the woods.

Later in the story the girls rescue and befriend a bear who is really a prince, under a spell cast by the dwarf. To make a long story short, eventually the bear-prince eats the evil little spell-caster and the enchantment is broken.

The artist's work is beautiful, and the details are exquisite. Enjoy!

The Emperor's New Clothes

This is an illustration from one of the books in my fairytale book collection. I have yet to discover how to take a picture of an illustration without that odd warping of the photo. (sigh) However, even so--this picture is just delightful. The expressions on the faces of the adults are priceless.

I have always enjoyed the story of the Emperor's New Clothes. It not only totally hits my funny bone--thinking of that pompous fellow parading before his people in his birthday suit--but there is such a lesson to be learned from that fanciful story!

The wisdom of a child is often profound. Children see things as they truly are. I think we adults sometimes need to step back and see things through the eyes of a child.

Rip Van Winkle

I have always loved the story of Rip Van Winkle. About eight years ago I wandered into an antique shop to look around. I found this illustrated copy of Rip Van Winkle. Because it was water damaged I bought it for practically nothing. Last week I was looking through my collection of fairytale books and re-discovered this old treasure. Though the book is water damaged, the pictures were mostly spared and are breathtaking.

N. C. Wyeth, the artist, used rich complimentary colors which just fill my eyes. When I opened the book I could not stop looking at them. The artist's style and use of color is inspiring. I will be sharing more of these drawings in the days ahead.