December 22, 2009

Christmas Delights for Children and Mice!

Christmas Calendar Inspired by Tasha Tudor
Little Sarah on the antique rocking horse.
 As our dear readers can see, we have always loved old fashioned things! This is the same dress, pinafore and hat that Tasha illustrated Sarah wearing in the "Sarah" card, Sarah sitting on a bench in the garden with a cat. On the rocking horse she is wearing her high button shoes. Sarah had her own button hook and used to climb the steps by her Mum's high bed and she would hook up her high button shoes.
 
Tasha Tudor illustrated some splendid rocking horses and a horse on wheels in the 1975 version of "The Night Before Christmas". There is two page colour illustration in the book with a Christmas tree surrounded by Christmas toys, such as a rocking horse, a doll house, a doll riding in a carriage, a doll with a trunk full of clothes, a toy sheep, a jump rope, a copper kettle, a doll sofa, a tea set, a miniature wash set and drying rack, a sled, a drum, a wagon with blocks, a Jack-in-the-box, toy soldiers, a cow on wheels, a bubble pipe, a ball, and a toy dog on wheels. 
 
In the 1975 version of "The Night Before Christmas" illustrated by Tasha Tudor, Tasha wrote to Sarah:
"To Miss Sarah who wears fine boots! Love from Tasha Tudor"
 
 
Little Precious helps steady Frizzy's Baby Doll on the rocking horse.
 
 Tillie Tinkham and her mouse friends at Corgyncombe enjoy a cup of Tasha Tudor's Welsh Breakfast Tea and some crumbs in the mouse house underneath the floorboards.
 
'Tis such a delight to find on a card, illustration, or book done by Tasha Tudor, a mouse house underneath the floor boards. What wonderful, charming old fashioned lives these mice live with their bed, table, cupboards, and storerooms. In the 1975 version of "The Night Before Christmas" illustrated by Tasha Tudor, a delightful mouse house can be found under the floor boards of the parlour, beneath the parlour Christmas tree, on the page "Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse." A mouse house under the floor with mice dancing around their own Christmas tree can be seen in the Christmas Festivities Cards and Advent Calendar Festivities on the Tasha Tudor and Family web site.
 
 
 
  Tillie Tinkham in a striped stocking hung on the mantel. 
 
The Corgyncombe Courant has had an unexpected delay in the progress of the Calendar due to the naughty naughty Corgyn who helped themselves to the goat feed and now are requiring extra extra necessary outings and clean ups. The Corgyncombe Courant appreciates your patience. 
 
Tasha Tudor's Advent Calendars and delightful dolls inspired Diane and Sarah to create their own Christmas Calendar. 
 
Diane and Sarah's 4th Annual Calendar to Count "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things" can be found by clicking here:
 
"The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things" 
 
The link takes you to our web site "Our Favorite Things" where there is a special page with our Calendar with 25 round red windows covered with holly until the appointed day. Sometime during each day the window will change to the photograph of the day. The windows of the day are done alphabetically, going from A to Z and feature the dolls and their animal friends at Corgyncombe as they celebrate Christmastide joy!
 
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3 comments:

Mrs B said...

I wish you a happy Christmas :)

Marqueta (Mar-kee-ta) G. said...

Dear Diane and Sarah,

I can see why Tasha Tudor loved using Sarah as a model; she looks straight out of one of Tasha's books, indeed!

And the mice are more prepared for Christmas than I am! :)

I'm sorry about the naughty corgyn~I'm sure they keep you on your toes!

We wish you a very merry, very blessed Christmas.

Love,

Marqueta

Paula said...

Dearest Diane and Sarah,

What a charming photo of your darling Sarah! She was a perfect model for Tasha's illustrations. I love the dedication in Tasha's book to her!

The dolls and rocking horse are so sweet. It is wonderful you have always loved old-fashioned things. I believe I have always been old-fashioned in my heart, but it was not until about 12 years ago that I discovered it! :)

Tillie Tinkham and her mouse friends are so adorable! I love their tea set, wreaths and rocking chairs. I will never cease to be amazed at your delightful vignettes! Oh, thank you for sharing a photo of the whole room! Just look at that bed and stove, and all of the accessories that make a home, home! Tillie looks perfectly at home in the sweet stocking on the mantel. That puts such a smile on my face!

Oh, Diane, those naughty Corgyn. I could not help but smile at their antics and recall Tasha's account of her Corgyn eating from her fruit trees and suffering from the "trots!" I do hope they recover soon! We will all be happy to wait for the next installment in your wonderful advent calendar.

Much love to you, Sarah, and the naughty Corgyn. :)

Love and best Christmas wishes from your kindred spirits, Paula, Pearl and Poppy