op shop scores aka vintage illo catch up

This morning I decided to drop into my local oppie for a bit of a look. I don't go there very often as I find it a bit overpriced and not really that many great finds. I'm so glad I did today though. So many lovely things. Firstly this great little wooden jigsaw. It was actually in two bags and I thought I had 2 jigsaws. Lucky i bought both bags! A bit difficult for the kids just yet but it's a beauty.
I also got this bedspread. I 've seen this fabric popping up all over the place and really love the print. I'm thinking of using it to make some library bags for the kids and who knows what else. There's lots of it.



These are the scores I was really excited about. I missed out on the last two days of the vintage illustration meme that Pip organised but I'm making up for it today with these gems. Firstly two gorgeous books illustrated by Marcel Marlier. Mary and her friends is a collection of various Mary stories.











And 3 Heidi books that we had as children and I absolutley adored. These have been illustrated by Marie-Jose Maury.

vintage illustrations...day 5

Today'scontribution to Pip's week long vintage illustration meme is from Brave Cowboy Bill illustrated by Richard Scarry. Asher was given this Little Golden Book at a great little opie in Clare. What a great little gift:) I didn't realise until today that it was illustrated by Richard Scarry whose illustrations I have always loved. It looks so different to his Busytown characters. I adore Busytown books. Brave Cowboy Bill was published in 1957 so it must have been at thestart of Scarry's career.

Anyway the pictures are so cute and tough. Although I dont think the message in this book is particulalry great " You could hear that cowboy laugh justbefore he pulled his trigger. BANG! BANG! BANG! He shot it dead." oh dear..... and then he skinned them :O I do laugh at how the tongues are hanging out the side of the mouth to show they're dead. So of the era.



He really is a sweet little cowboy for all his rootin tootin toughness:)

vintage illustrations ....day 4

Today I have chosen one of my very favourite illustrators, Cicely Mary Barker. I don't have an original copy (wow that would be cool) but many many reprints of her work. I love the delicacy of her images and the sweet little poses and clothing. She was greatly influenced by the Pre- Raphaelite Brotherhood and I think her pictures have the same romantic tones as Rossetti and Millais, although so much sweeter and less dramatic.



I love the relationship to the flowers and the beautiful botanical detail.





I also really love her simple linework drawings. I think they are actually my favourites.




If you want to check out some more great illustrations head over to meet me at mikes

vintage illustration .... day 3

A very battered and dog eared favourite of mine from my childhood today, Andy Pandy's new pet illustrated by Matvyn Wright. No date of publishing in the book but I got this for Christmas in 1977.

This is my favourite illustration. I love their sweet little beds.



Such bright and fresh colours but gee it's a bit of a crazy get-up Andy pandy gets around in:)

vintage illustrations ...... day 2

For the second day of the week long children's book illustration meme I have chosen another popular illustrator who will probably pop up again somewhere else this week. But how could she be resisted? Joan Walsh Anglund is just a dreamy illustrator. Such innocence and simplicity.

These pictures have been taken from A Child's Book of Old Nursery Rhymes and was published in 1974, the year I was born.



I would love to get this little illo printed up and framed in the kid's room.

vintage illustrations ....day 1

I love children's books so I couldn't pass up the latest meme that Pip has started up today. I'm going to try and post a picture from my favourite books each day, but we may just have to see how I go:)

I choose one of my books from when I was a child to start with. See my little girl writing in the window? Great placement:) A beautiful little golden book of Hansel and Gretel illustrated by Eloise Wilkin. I don't particularly like the story as the Grimm Brothers freak me out a bit, but the illustrations are just devine.



Although that witch is very scarey! Check out her fingers!!!!!



But of course everything ends happily ever after:) Gee I love those cheeks