Author Fiesta

A Time to Keep

If I give credit where credit is due my long-time Internet friend Louise is, I believe, the friend who showed me how original and endearing Tasha Tudor and her work was.

Until Louise shared her love of all-things-Tasha with me, Tudor was just an artist whose work I vaguely knew from the little book of poetry given to me by friends at my 3rd birthday party.

Louise wrote this piece years ago for my book Literature Alive!

Please take this time to read and keep Louise's lovely piece on all-things-Tasha and to remember the upcoming Tasha Tudor Birthday/Remembrance Day this Thursday, August 28th.

It's truly A Time to Keep...

“A Time To Keep” – isn’t that what we try to give our children? Memories to tuck into their hearts, memories which will hopefully comfort them in times of hardship, and bestow on them a sense of continuity, order, and purpose. Tasha Tudor’s books have been a source of inspiration for me to create a small haven for my children in a troubled world. Reading her books never fails to give me peace and serenity. It is that peace that I try to offer to my children; a peace that rests in simplicity and candor." (Read more)

Sparrow Post

"Laura and Efner sent out the invitations on doll-sized notepaper by Sparrow Post."
                                                                               - The Doll's Christmas, 1950

One of the frequently noted aspects of Tasha Tudor's doll experiences is the charming Sparrow Post by which the dolls sent and received mail. It has a quaint fascination for children who are intrigued by all things miniature. Every doll or teddy bear loving child will be charmed by the idea of tiny letters delivered to them or their little friends by special feathered messengers.

I have seen some examples of families who took advantage of this basic idea and use a variation of Sparrow Post for family communication. Meredith at Like Merchant Ships found this wall hanging file and fashioned it to be a Sparrow post for family notes.  Though not Sparrow Post, Dawn at By Sun and Candlelight has a cute squirrel post idea for sending Earlybird special nature notes.

Whether it is something you think would be fun to incorporate on a regular basis or just for a Tasha Tudor remembrance, give it a try.  What child wouldn't love to receive a teeny tiny invitation to whatever you are planning for August 28th? 

You can purchase cute little mailbox replicas or decorate a mini craft mailbox or improvise with any type of container for your own variation on the Sparrow post theme.

Here are instructions and a pattern to download for a very simple paper version of the classic roadside mailbox.
Better Homes and Gardens mailbox craft

Here is our version - I copied the pattern at 150% because it does print out really small. The BHG directions recommended copying it at 225% which would have made it much larger than I wanted. With copying it at 150% it ended up being about 5 1/2 inches along the longest side. I used white cardstock - didn't corrugate it - and if you don't have brads to fasten, glue or tape would work just fine!

You can download a Mini EnvelopeTemplate.pdf and start sending some messages by Sparrow Post.

And check back later Monday for a post of some other simple Sparrow Post craft ideas made from various containers and supplies you might find around the house.

An Offering from Tasha

This little doll (lovingly drawn and created by Tasha Tudor herself) invites you to click on this bouquet of peace lillies to find a beautifully bundled offering to print and add to your Author Fiesta notebook.

(Note: It is a PDF file to download.)

Plans for Tea Time

One way to celebrate the upcoming Tasha Tudor Remembrance Day is by having tea and storytime, complete with receipts from Tasha's own kitchen. Receipt, the old spelling of 'recipe' was used by Tasha Tudor.  The Tasha Tudor Cookbook is full of lovely receipts to make your mouth water.  If you can't get a copy of the cookbook, there are several receipts included on the Tasha Tudor and Family website.  All look like delicious additions to a Remembrance Tea. 

A Showing of Shawls

Tasha Tudor's heirloom crafts have inspired many admirers through the years.  Wooly West has a free pattern for a lovely Tasha Tudor style shawl.  My dear friend, Mary, the knitting knut, assures that this is a very easy pattern. (That's easy for her to say.) The pattern was making the rounds last winter and here are the shawls of several friends.  If you have a shawl to share for the show, please leave a comment/link and we'll add you.

Rebecca at Gypsy Caravan

Meredith at Threads of Love

Michele's daughter at On Pins and Needles (scroll to bottom of post)

Find Out About Welch Corgi

The Welsh Corgi is associated with Tasha Tudor in many people's minds. She kept many as pets through the years, they are often pictured in her illustrations, and of course are the subject of the Corgiville series of picture books.

• Corgiville Fair
• The Great Corgiville Kidnapping
• Corgiville Christmas

Corgi are a herding dog breed that originated in Wales and is the smallest of the herding group.  There are two breeds of Welsh Corgi with slight variations. Cor gi means "dwarf dog" in Welsh and is thought to be the origin of the name though some say it is from cur gi - "watch dog ." There are many stories and legends that are shared regarding the Corgi and it's origin.  Find out about the cute little Corgi at the sites listed here and fill out the research form to add to your notebook.

EDITED: And thanks to Joanne who found this Corgi coloring page for the younger ones to add to their notebooks. Check out all the great ideas she has for Tasha Tudor study.

About the Corgi, in Tasha Tudor's own words:

"There is no other dog that can compare to a corgi?  They're the epitome of beauty. Apollo can't hold a candle to my Owyn. He has royal blood, the same sire as Queen Elizabeth's corgis, that's why I named him Owyn Tudor after my ancestors. Corgis are Welsh in origin and there are two kinds: Cardigans, which are heavy-headed and have tails that go all the way down, and Pembrokes, like mine, that have no tails and are more refined.

My very first corgi was bought by my son Tom for ten guineas from a Reverend Mr. Jones, a vicar in Pembrokeshire, who shipped him over in a tea chest.  It was love at first sight and I was determined I had to have more.  I've had up to thirteen or fourteen at one time, which causes a lot of commotion underfoot, especially when people come to call.

They're such characters- a mixture of a dog and a cat, I think. They especially don't like to be scolded in public. They talk back; they growl and show their teeth and pretend they're frightfully savage. However, they never criticize. You're always beautiful to them.

I take great pains in feeding them the best. Never canned dog food, I wouldn't dream of it! They always have fresh homemade soup, or goat's meat, and lots of garlic. That's why they don't have fleas.

How could you resist a corgi? Look at their faces. I find them thoroughly adorable, particularly when they're little. And in the winter it's very cozy to sleep with a nice warm corgi in the small of your back to cut the drafts. We always had a medley of doggies when the children were growing up -- collies, wolfhounds, terriers, and then corgis above all.  I find them irresistible.  They are my trademark." 

Tasha-like Quilting

This link was offered on the Five in a Row message boards and I immediately connected this quilting artwork as a Tasha-y thing to put in our Author Fiesta binders:

Quilt Coloring Sheets (each quilt has a brief explanation at the bottom)

Tasha Tudor Remembrance Day

Take a deep breath...

School is fixing to begin for many of us.

Take a deep breath...

Even if we "un"-school, there is serious earnestness which seeps into our daily routine just like the sunlight seeping between cracks in the curtains.

So as we place our book orders, address our new planners, powder the face of the new chalk boards, and take several deep breaths, we should not forget to nurture the mother in us.

We are a mother to our children first; their teacher second.

On June 18th a famous author/artist passed away. She was the endearment of simplicity, intentional pursuits, and putting heart and soul into her daily work.

She claimed that she never suffered from a headache. Oh, that I could follow her example and Take Joy! in the life I lead.

Several of us want to remember her in a special way this month.

On August 28th (Tasha Tudor's b-day) all of blogosphere will be celebrating a Tasha Tudor Remembrance Day.  Many of us will be a week or two into our lesson plans. Some will be gearing up to start after Labor Day.

This will be a perfect day to have a personal tete-a-tete with Tasha, each other, and with our children.

Clarice over at Storybook Woods explains the simple idea and offers a Remembrance Day button here:
Come Celebrate Tasha Tudor Day  (Thank you, Clarice)

Help us to spread the word and, if you could, offer your ideas for this day in the comments section. 

Remember, it's a day to nurture yourself by remembering a woman who nurtured so many of us by her art and lifestyle.

Life in Minature

This morning my 10 yr old came into the living room where I was typing. She wrapped herself tight in her green fluffy blanket, frantic morning hairdo peeking out of its folds. As she sat down at my feet she asked: "Mommy, did you ever look inside a dollhouse and wish you could shrink down and go inside of it?"

"Oh, honey, yes. Lots of times."

"Me too." Great big yawn patted back to sleep by a blanketed hand. "I would just love to live inside mine."

I know of no other believer, supporter, and patron of dollhouses than Tasha Tudor herself. There is even a book on Tasha Tudor's Dollhouse: A Life in Minature

To take a virtual tour of a replica of Tasha Tudor's dollhouse (which was originally just a collection of shelves in Tasha's real-life house) go to:

Lisa & the Tasha Tudor Dollhouse

Tasha Tudor Videos

These two video documentaries are a peek into the life and lifestyle of Tasha Tudor:

Take Peace - A Corgi Cottage Christmas with Tasha Tudor

Take Joy - The Magical World of Tasha Tudor

If you can't get access to the videos, you can catch a short glimpse in this video clip from Take Joy.