I think she’d make a fine Easter Bunny.

Clip Art Illustration of a Newstyle Rabbit

Download this free clip art image of a pocket watch with roman numerals, just click on the picture above for the larger version.

I dislike the process of changing time. Daylight savings time, spring forward, fall back, all just a manipulation of time by “the Man”, an affirmation that the Government controls everything, even time itself. And that’s all I’ll say on the subject, I’m fully capable of launching a rant on DST of epic proportions in relation to my anger at having my personal sleep patterns shuffled around for no good cause.

But do enjoy the free clip art pocket watch. It was found in an antique German ABC book for children.

St. Patrick's Day Clip Art: Dear Irish Memories

On the reverse of the St. Patrick’s Day postcard with the hat above is this cute message:

Dear Miss,

This is the latest thing in spring hats. Hoping you will patronize me when ready to buy. I am yours truly,

The Reasler Hat Co.

What a charming and cute message to a possible sweetheart!

Vintage St. Patrick's Day Postcard Clip Art Erin Go Bragh

St. Patrick's Day Postcard Sweet Erin Go Bragh Clip Art

Some folks like the shabby distressed look in their scrapbooks and other craft projects, so perhaps you will find a use for these? As Saint Patrick’s Day is a holiday close to my heart (long story for another time), I do plan on restoring these images and will update this post to include them at a later date; in the meantime, they are yours for the taking.

Free religious clip art image. The Irish Catholic Saint Bridget, from a beautiful vintage engraving.

“The bright lamp that shone in Kildare’s holy fane,
And burned through long ages of darkness and storm.”

Although nearly every vestige of this saint is gone, she still lives as their patroness in the hearts of the Irish people. Her mother was very lovely, and the captive, taken in war, of a powerful chieftain. His wife, being jealous of her, turned her away before the birth of Bridget. But two disciples of St. Patrick took pity on them, and baptized the mother and child.

Bridget grew up with such beauty of mind and person, that she became famous, and her father desired to have her, and to marry her to a chief. But Bridget devoted herself to God’s service, especially to the instruction of women. She went to Kildare, “the cell or place of the oak,” and not only taught and preached, but performed miracles. Her fame drew about her many women who lived in huts, and from this arose the first religious community of women in Ireland. The convent and city of Kildare, were afterwards both flourishing and famous. Here was preserved unextinguished, for many centuries, the sacred lamp which burned before her altar.

Feast Day: February 1.

Adapted from A Handbook of Legendary and Mythological Art, by Clara Erskine Clement, 1871.

This antique St. Patrick's Day postcard would make a great party invitation! Click the image for the printable high resolution version.

Irish Bubble Party

Why not have something different for your St. Patrick’s social?

Make enough tissue paper hats to provide one for everybody who comes to the social. Half the hats should be green and half white. Everyone gathers at several tables, on each of which are a bowl of soapsuds and a clay pipe for each player. The soap bubble contest then begins.

• Largest Bubble.—The person blowing the largest bubble at each table has a green ribbon bow tied on his pipe. These persons then contest, and the winner gets an additional bow.
• Partner Bubbles.—Partners by putting their pipes close together may make one large bubble. The partners at each table making the largest bubble in this way get a green bow each. The winners then contest as before, and an extra green bow is allowed the winners of the final.
• Highest Bubble.—The person at each table to blow the highest bubble gets a green bow in this contest. As in the other contests, the winners contest for the additional bow.
• Through Wreath.—A wreath is hung in a convenient place, and each person able to blow a bubble through it gets a green bow.
• Bubble Tournament.—The Greens and the Whites line up against each other in this contest, about one and one-half feet on each side of a rope or line stretched across the room. The Greens are furnished with fans, the Whites with pipes and bubble solution. For five minutes the Whites blow bubbles and endeavor to have them break on the enemy’s side of the line. The Greens with their fans endeavor to prevent this. Judges award one point for every bubble that breaks in Green territory. The situation is then reversed, and for five minutes more the Greens try to blow bubbles into the White camp.

The following is a good bubble solution recipe: Fill a preserve jar two-thirds full of boiling water. Add three ounces of castile soup finely shaven, a teaspoonful of sugar, and four tablespoonfuls of glycerin. Shake thoroughly and strain through a white cloth.

Care should be taken to cove all tables used with oilcloth or heavy paper.

Suggestions for Saint Patrick’s Day Party Refreshments

Sandwiches tied with green ribbon, olives, pickles, Irish potato chips, green tea, and green mints or candy. Brick ice cream would also be appropriate.

Clip Art: Bird, Reptile, and Fish Eggs

Eggs in the illustration:

1. Epyronis
2. Ostrich
3. Cassowary
4. Wild Swan
5. Hen
6. Pigeon
7. Humming-bird
8. Eagle
9. Vulture
10. Penguin
11. Crocodile
12. Python
13. Fresh-water Turtle
14. St. Lucia Boa
15. Acnoides Turtle
16. Ophidian
17. Shark
18. Ray

Perhaps you can use this clip art image as part of an Easter project?

Clip Art: Vintage Alpine Hare Image

The Timeless Seduction of the Alpine Hare

With his casual come-hither look, our friend Lepus timidus has been known to get around. Perhaps that is why he is known by these aliases:  Blue Hare, Tundra Hare, Variable Hare, White Hare, Alpine Hare and Irish Hare.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t stop staring at him!