Melissa, Birds, Hearts and Flowers!

Valentine's Day!

Melissa, Willy Nilly Tweet Sweet, and Chirpy Cheerful
Finch Post is busy during Valentine season, delivering lovely sentiments!
Displayed on the art stand is a dove surrounded by flowers.
The art stand and red bench were made by Seth Tudor.
The art stand is a replica in miniature of the art stand that Tasha Tudor had.


Do you see Trilly up on the cupboard?
Trilly Tweet Sweet seems to have a natural sparkle about her as she flies in with exciting news!
But, Dear Readers, you will have to wait to hear more about it!
Trilly Tweet Sweet is Willy Nilly Tweet Sweet's wife.
Above, hangs a portrait of Sarah done by Tasha Tudor.


Trilly Tweet Sweet


A Finch Post Box.
Finch Post serves the dolls at Corgyncombe with superb mail delivery service. Diane and Sarah were inspired by Tasha Tudor to have their own doll Post. Tasha Tudor's post was named Sparrow Post, where cards and goodies were delivered to her children.

Trilly, Willy Nilly, and Chirpy fly for Finch Post.


Chirpy Cheerful and Willy Nilly Tweet Sweet are both perched in chairs that Seth Tudor made.
The chair in front, that Willy Nilly is in, is a miniature replica of one that Tasha Tudor sat in do her artwork.


At Corgyncombe's Finch Post, Chirpy Cheerful holds one of the official Valentine Dolly Cards. Tasha Tudor had the children use buttons to buy goods for their dolls and animals and Sparrow Post to deliver mail. The currency for the dolls at Corgyncombe is buttons, as well. A little button box can be seen near the base of the scale.


Bleeding Heart


Melissa is wearing a heart shaped locket, much like the one that Tasha Tudor drew for the letter "L" in "A is for Annabelle".
Melissa reminds us of Tasha Tudor's doll Melissa... very much so.
Tasha Tudor wrote and illustrated books featuring her dolls, including "A is for Annabelle".
"A is for Annabelle" is about an old fashioned doll and some of her belongings from A to Z, such as her hat, earrings, hair ribbons, and her heart shaped locket.


Melissa shares a word with Trilly about the exciting news yet to come!

A delightful Valentine's Day to all our Dear Readers!

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The Old Corgyncombe Tall Clock!

An Old English Clock!

The old Corgyncombe tall clock that ticks away the hours that are rarely dull!
The clock is from the late 1700s and was made in the area that is now called Cumbria.

Beatrix Potter lived in the scenic Lake District of England, which is now part of the area called Cumbria.

The clock reminds us of the one in "The Tale of Samuel Whiskers" or "The Roly-Poly Pudding", written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. Beatrix Potter illustrated mother cat Tabitha Twitchit on the landing of the stairway with a clock behind her, whilst she is looking for her missing son Tom Kitten.

In "The Tale of Samuel Whiskers" or "The Roly-Poly Pudding", written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter, Samuel Whiskers and his wife Anna Maria steal a pat of butter, a rolling pin, and some dough. In the photograph above, Samuel Whiskers is seen running away with a pat of butter. Below the book is a pat of hand churned butter from Corgyncombe Dairy Goat Carmella Lucille.

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Buttons, Lace, and Double Pink!

Our Favorite Things at Corgyncombe Cottage!

Old double pink fabric, buttons, old bobbin lace, an old velvet pincushion stuck round with old pins, and Bridget's likeness in an old tintype frame. Delightful Bridget was made by Margaret Flavin.

Diane has these fond remembrances of visiting a favorite elderly relative: My great grandmum's cousin Lena excelled at domestic skills such as pickling, breadmaking, sewing, and many others. She always won prizes for her domestic abilities at the county fair. My family used to visit them often and I would usually take a doll with me. One time she surprised me with a handmade dolly wardrobe in an old basket.
When I began to quilt, Lena gave me this fine piece of double pink fabric and I have never made anything from it, saving it for something special. Maybe some things for dollies...

Lena was such a wonderful lady! And to think that she weighed only a few pounds when she was born and wasn't expected to live. To keep her warm after she was born they put her in a basket in the warming oven atop the old wood cookstove. It was just warm enough to keep the premature baby comfortably warm. Lena lived to a ripe old age and she passed many of her skills on to me! She taught me how to do piecing and quilting. I inherited some of her quilting patterns and equipment. Lena was so thrilled that I wanted to learn from her!
She always reiterated small, tiny stitches and she was very pleased with my efforts... but then we are from a long line of kindred who love to sew. In the old days tiny quilting stitches were prized and well so because they made items that would last. The same goes for spinning excellence as they wanted good yarns to make into items that would last. These heirloom pieces last because of their fine workmanship. Children were taught at an early age such skills as spinning, knitting, and quilting.

The old, two-drawer box full of buttons was a recent delightful find.

Tasha Tudor enjoyed making doll clothing and did an exquisite job of fashioning and sewing! Tasha Tudor drew and painted little catalogs such as "Mouse Mills Catalogue", for her children, illustrating clothing and fashions that she would make and could be ordered for their dolls and animals. Tasha Tudor had the children use buttons to buy these goods. The currency for the dolls at Corgyncombe is buttons, as well!


Elizabeth, who works with Tillie Tinkham the seamstress mouse at Corgyncombe, especially likes Tasha Tudor's Mouse Mills' motto:
"Good, Better, Best, Never rest, 'Til Good be Better, And Better, Best."


On the book stand, is an old copy of "The Well-Bred Doll".
The book is open to sisters Florence and Laura dressing their doll Lottie.
In another chapter, Lottie had, in many attempts to fashion the prettiest nosegay, picked and discarded many of the flowers in her friends' Emma and Fanny's flower garden. When Lottie was asked why she had ruined Emma and Fanny's garden, she said "Because, mamma, I was so dull." Obviously, Lottie was bored and tried to entertain herself by making a pretty tussie mussie over and over again. Florence then told Lottie that if she she knew how to sew, she could always find pleasure in sewing and not be dull. Florence began to teach Lottie how to sew. From the book "The Well-Bred Doll": "The mamma began a hem, and Lottie began to work too. She made very long stitches, and the hem was all on one side. Then Florence took it again very kindly and showed her how it ought to be done; and very soon Lottie began to work quite nicely."
Thanks to Dixie Redmond, a dollmaker of delightful Izannah Walker dolls, for turning our attention to and highlighting the book "The Well-Bred Doll" on her blog.


Izzibeth is a reproduction Izannah Walker doll made by Paula Walton.
Her sunbonnet and frock are made of antique double pink fabric.


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A Sweet Brother and Sister Portrait!

Our Favorite Things at Corgyncombe Cottage!

On the back in old handwriting are their names, Sandy and Mary. The little boy on the left is Sandy, his full name was Alexander. Mary was born about 1851 and Alexander about 1853. Both of the children are holding flowers and on the right in the picture, the reflection of the pink hyacinth that was on our table can be seen.

The Days of Valentines at Corgyncombe Cottage, delightfully filled with afternoon teas, flowers, making Valentines, fun with the doll families, and being inspired by Tasha Tudor Valentine books, calendars, and cards!

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The Days of Valentines...

Our Favorite Things at Corgyncombe Cottage!

The Days of Valentines at Corgyncombe Cottage, delightfully filled with afternoon teas, flowers, making Valentines, fun with the doll families, and being inspired by Tasha Tudor Valentine books, calendars, and cards!
The mirror above was another delightful find that had belonged to Martha, the same lady who had also owned the baskets, quilt, and the peach and green striped linen towel that were mentioned in our "Delightful Kindred Spirit Finds" post and our "Shepherding the Flock" post.

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