Tasha Tudor Birthday Tea and Giveaway!!!

In From the Rain and Cozy at Tea Time!

Tea and cake at the Corgyncombe Tasha Tudor Birthday Celebration.
The cake was made using "Becky's Birthday Cake" receipt from "The Tasha Tudor Cookbook". August 28th, would have been Tasha Tudor's 96th birthday.

Melissa, with her basket, looks so fetching after her trip along Corgi Creek to gather flowers!

Corgyncombe's Trilly Tweet Sweet likes to gather flowers, too.
Here she has some lavender tucked under her wing!

Melissa has also made a cake to celebrate Tasha Tudor's Birthday with tea!

Debbie Dibble Dabble hops up on the chair to look at the tea party! Her hat was made by Corgyncombe's seamstress mouse Tillie Tinkham of Tillie Tinkham's Frocks and Fashions.

Melissa reminds us of Tasha Tudor's doll Melissa... very much so. Tasha Tudor's doll Melissa was her model for the illustrations in Tasha's book "A is for Annabelle". "A is for Annabelle", illustrated and written by Tasha Tudor, is about an old fashioned doll and some of her belongings from A to Z, such as her hat, earrings, hair ribbons, her heart shaped locket, and quilt. "A is for Annabelle" is one of Diane and her daughter Sarah's favorite Tasha Tudor books! Diane has placed real rose geraniums and forget-me-nots, some of the illustrated flowers in the border, on Tasha Tudor's illustration of Annabelle's skirt. If you love pretty things you will love this book as much as the Corgyncombe Courant does!

The inscription that Tasha wrote to Diane in the "A is for Annabelle" book: "To clever Diane, how I envy your spinning abilities! Tasha Tudor"

Melissa in the kitchen at Corgyncombe Cottage!
Seth Tudor made the chair, a miniature replica of one that Tasha Tudor sat in do her artwork.

Debbie Dibble Dabble the Duck
The Dibble Dabbles actually don't care if it rains, in fact they rather delight in it!

Wildflowers from along Corgi Creek.

Lily Dibble Dabble is excited to announce:
A Corgyncombe Tasha Tudor Birthday Giveaway!!!

In honor of Tasha Tudor's Birthday, the Corgyncombe Courant is having a Giveaway of the book
"Drawn From New England, Tasha Tudor; A Portrait in Words and Pictures by Bethany Tudor".
Bethany Tudor is Tasha's older daughter.
This is a beautiful copy of "Drawn From New England", the inside pages look like new!

Diane received a copy of "Drawn From New England" one memorable Christmas when the snow on the trees was Christmas card perfect and there was a light sparkly snow coming down.
"Drawn From New England" has photographs of Tasha as a child, her parents, her children, her dolls, some of Tasha's illustrations, and some photography by Nell Dorr. Bethany wrote about the family finding an old house in New Hampshire when she was a child and later Tasha's move to Vermont where her son Seth built her a wonderful old looking house! In the book, Bethany speaks of "Pumpkin Moonshine" Tasha's first published book, Tasha acquiring her first Corgi, seasonal celebrations, and many more interesting things in Tasha's life. The cover has a delightful photograph of Tasha and her Corgi lovingly smiling at each other! It is surrounded by Tasha Tudor's illustration of lovely wildflowers.

If you enjoy hearing about Tasha Tudor and the old fashioned things she pursued, then you will love this book!
(Lily Dibble Dabble is not included in the giveaway.)

To Enter the Corgyncombe Courant Tasha Tudor Birthday Celebration Giveaway of "Drawn From New England", leave a comment on this post "Tasha Tudor Birthday Tea and Giveaway!" or on the previous posts "Tasha Tudor Birthday 2011 Celebration and Giveaway!" or "A Corgyncombe Tasha Tudor Birthday Giveaway!".

This Giveaway is open to the Corgyncombe Courant's Dear Readers in the United States and Canada.

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"A is for Annabelle" by Tasha Tudor, The Story of a Lovely Doll!

Annabelle's Favorite Things!

Annabelle M'liss, Amelia's sister, who lives at Corgyncombe.
She is wearing a cloak and a feather in her hat and holds a nosegay with a pink surrounded by forget-me-nots. Corgyncombe's Annabelle M'liss was named after Tasha Tudor's doll Annabelle because she reminds us so of her.

Valentine Tea through the looking glass at the Corgyncombe Tea Room.

"A is for Annabelle", illustrated and written by Tasha Tudor, is about an old fashioned doll and some of her belongings from A to Z, such as her quilt, her hat with a feather, and her nosegay. "A is for Annabelle" is one of Diane and Sarah's favorite Tasha Tudor books! Diane has placed real rose geraniums and forget-me-nots, some of the illustrated flowers in the border, on Tasha Tudor's illustration of Annabelle's skirt. If you love pretty things you will love this book as much as the Corgyncombe Courant does!

In the "The Golden Key", filmed by Nell Dorr, there are several music boxes featured playing. The film follows Tasha Tudor's dolls through different seasonal celebrations and the courtship and wedding of Tasha's lovely doll Melissa and Thaddeus Crane. Tasha's Melissa was also the model for the doll Annabelle in "A is for Annabelle" written and illustrated by Tasha Tudor.


The inscription that Tasha wrote to Diane in the "A is for Annabelle" book:
"To clever Diane, how I envy your spinning abilities! Tasha Tudor"


Tasha Tudor's dolls... A portrait of old friends amongst the roses.


Annabelle M'liss of Corgyncombe in her antique fur trimmed frock, hat, and muff. On her travels she takes along her valise. She reminds us of Tasha Tudor's illustration of Annabelle with her muff in the book "A is for Annabelle". She is collecting the things from Tasha Tudor's "A is for Annabelle" book from A to Z.


Annabelle M'liss of Corgyncombe at a special Valentine Tea.

Annabelle M'liss took a trip to acquire furniture and various other favorite things. She had a most enjoyable time! The chairs above were made by the talented woodworker, Seth Tudor, son of Tasha Tudor.

Here is a link to: Tasha Tudor and Family
where you can purchase the book "A is for Annabelle", the new "A is for Annabelle" fabric for quilting, and Seth Tudor doll furniture.
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The Sheryl Williams kit for making an Annabelle inspired doll clothing and accessory collection.
The doll is not included in the kit. The kit contains material and patterns for making silk dresses, a bonnet, slippers, and accessories. Included with the kit are photographs of Sheryl's lovely completed doll.
Corgyncombe's Annabelle M'liss looks forward to new dresses and things made from the Sheryl Williams kit!

Diane and Sarah have always loved Tasha Tudor's "A is for Annabelle"! It was Tasha Tudor's "A is for Annabelle" and Tasha's dolls, and Sheryl Williams' doll and patterns that inspired Diane and Sarah to assist Corgyncombe's Annabelle M'liss on her journey to acquire all the wonderful things from A to Z! Diane was so excited, in her head she could see all the different photographs she could take!

We bought our Annabelle material and pattern kit, to make dresses and accessories, right from Sheryl Williams. If you would like contact information to get in touch with Sheryl Williams, email us at atthecottagegate@yahoo.com


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Tasha Tudor Giveaway Cup Makes Debut at Valentine Tea!

Valentine Tea ~ Listening to the Kalliope!

Valentine Tea through the looking glass at the Corgyncombe Tea Room.

Diane was surprised and thrilled when she won this lovely pink lustre tea cup in the Tasha Tudor and Family Giveaway! 'Tis so dainty and lovely, 'twas the one that Diane liked the best!

Flowers for Valentine's Day!

Music for Valentine's Day!
Old music boxes were a cheerful old fashioned children's entertainment.

Viola came to tea in her best party frock. She brought Charlotte's goat kid Lucy.

The Christmas tree remains up in the parlour at Corgyncombe. Diane likes to keep it up at least until Valentine's Day as it is so lovely to have it lit at Valentine's Tea.

The music box in motion.

The music box has stopped and needs another crank up.

Gingerbread cookies with a pretty lacy edge were served for Valentine's Tea. The small heart cookie was made just for Viola. Some of Diane's favorite antique Valentines are on the table. The one with the kitten has written "To Mama" on the back. The smells in the parlour of the flowers, the gingerbread, and the Christmas tree are delightful!
The Tasha Tudor tea cup is exquisite!

Happy children dancing!

Winding up the old music box brings fond remembrances that we have of Tasha Tudor winding up her old music box after evening meals in her candle lit parlour. Very magical and delightful!

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.

The Kalliope music box has many discs with different tunes.
In the "The Golden Key", filmed by Nell Dorr, there are several music boxes featured playing. The film follows Tasha Tudor's dolls through different seasonal celebrations and the courtship and wedding of the lovely doll Melissa and Thaddeus Crane. Melissa was also the model for the doll Annabelle in "A is for Annabelle" written and illustrated by Tasha Tudor.

Sarah has loved the "pretty usic" of music boxes ever since she was a little girl and she would love to go the the shop that had music box music playing at Christmastide.

Postmistress Phidelia Finch's husband Bates Finch.
Diane made the rose wreath that encircles him.

An old glass slide from The Corgyncombe Magic Lantern Theatre.
The girls have gathered flowers, one lad is collecting butterflies, and if you look closely at the other lad you can see that he is collecting specimens in his vasculum.
Magic Lantern shows are presented at The Corgyncombe Theatre on Saturday night after baked beans and brown bread. Magic lantern shows are another old fashioned entertainment.

Purple violets, wild strawberries, pink violet, forget-met-nots, and sweet woodruff.
In the old days children would go out and about in the woods, fields, hills, and dales and gather plant specimens for studying botany. A tin vessel with a tight fitting lid would keep the flower specimens fresh. This tin vessel is called a vasculum and has a strap for carrying over your shoulder.
The pretty flowers in the parlour remind us that despite the huge snowbanks, spring might eventually come!

Corgyncombe Violas

A great big Thank you to Tasha Tudor and Family for such a delightful and generous giveaway!

Here is the link to: Tasha Tudor and Family
Here is the link to: Sweet Natalie at Rookery Ramblings

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Tasha Tudor Called Saturday "Three B's Night"

Boston Brown Bread, Baked Beans, and Bath in a Wash Tub!

In "The Tasha Tasha Tudor Cookbook", Tasha mentioned that Saturday was called "Three B's Night" for "baked beans, Boston brown bread, and the weekly bath." In the photograph above Diane has gathered the dry ingredients for making the receipt for Boston brown bread from"The Tasha Tudor Cookbook". When Diane started this receipt the sun was coming in the window creating a lovely design on the cutting board.


After mixing all of the ingredients together, it is put in, as Tasha would say, "a well-buttered mold." The cover to the mold is buttered, also. The cover of the mold is tightly secured and the mold is steamed in boiling water. Careful attention should be paid whilst taking the mold in and out of the water, as it is very hot!

The brown bread has been turned out of the mold and makes the kitchen smell delicious!

In between the brown bread and continuing on with the baked beans I have to show my latest delightful find! Aren't these tiles just lovely! They remind us of a beautiful summer's day during the reality of a week of lots of blustery snow and sub-zero temperatures.

Continuing on with the beans, Tasha has in her cookbook a receipt for "Baked Beans" that she got from Nell Dorr. Nell Dorr is a renowned photographer who took delightful, old fashioned looking photographs of Tasha Tudor and her children. In the above photograph, the beans are sorted.

The beans have been soaked and cooked and the other ingredients have been gathered.

Everything has been added to the bean pot and it is ready for baking. How wonderful the baking beans scent your kitchen, especially when you are coming in from outside on a cold winter's day. The beans bake about 8 hours.

Boston brown bread, baked beans, and macaroni and cheese for the Saturday's evening meal.

Oh, so delicious!!!

Now on to Saturday night bath...

At her Grandmum's house, Diane took her Saturday night bath in the old wash tub, and from the looks of the wall and the paper on the floor it appears that she had a splashing, jolly good time of it!

Diane's cousin took a bath, too.
Two little cousins taking a Saturday night bath at Grandmum's house!

Dear Shan of Honey Hill Farm has taken the most delightful photograph of the yellowware bowl that she won in the Corgyncombe Courant Yellowware Bowl Giveaway! In her pantry she has the cutest mice exploring the eggs in the yellowware bowl! What a great photograph, Shan!!!

Tillie Tinkham, the seamstress mouse of Corgyncombe, squeaks a hello to the Tottinghams of Honey Hill!

Here is the link to Shan's delightful blog: Honey Hill Farm

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