Tillie Tinkham's Sewing Circle with Sewing Bird!

A New Pinny for Hitty!

Hitty tries on Tillie Tinkham's latest creation so that Tillie can pin the hem. Tillie has made Hitty a pinafore using a Gail Wilson pattern. Hitty was carved by Judy Brown, also a wonderful seamstress who made her lovely brown frock.

Click Here for Music

Fit for a Lively Sewing Mouse and Sewing Bird.

 The book "Hitty, Her First Hundred Years" written by Rachel Field and illustrated by Dorothy P. Lathrop. The story follows the wooden doll Hitty's many exciting adventures throughout the years.

On the walls in "Tillie Tinkham's Frocks and Fashions" shoppe with Millinery and Tea Room at 863 Park Avenue are blue and silver scenes that are like diamond shaped windows looking out to fashionable folk walking about on cobbled streets. In one of the windows is a lady wearing a bonnet who reminds us of Hitty on the cover of the book "Hitty, Her First Hundred Years".

In her shoppe at 863 Park Avenue, Tillie steps back to see how the hem looks after pinning.

 "The Mary Frances Sewing Book, or Adventures Among the Thimble People" published in 1913, written by Jane Eayre Fryer and illustrated by Jane Allen Boyer.

In the book Sewing Bird tells the little girl Mary Frances about the sewing lessons and all the things that she can make for her doll:

"Why, certainly, dear little Miss,
You can learn to make all this:
A pin-a-fore, some under-clothes,
A little 'kerchief for her nose;
Kimono, bloomers, little cap,
a nightie for her little nap;
A dress for morn, for afternoon,
A dress for parties, not too soon;
A little cape, a little bonnet --
perhaps with roses fastened on it; --
A nice warm coat to keep from chill,
A dainty sack, in case she's ill:
All this and more we'll gladly teach,
If you will do and follow each--
will you?"

The book has patterns for all these things
for a bigger doll than Hitty.

863 Park Avenue, the smaller apartment dollhouse that we found after reading about it on Susan Branch's blog. The dollhouse, with its two large opening doors, reminds us of Beatrix Potter's doll's house at Hill Top.

A lovely sewing bird holds Tillie's pins.

Sewing birds were used for hand sewing.

In "The Mary Frances Sewing Book" sewing bird's beak held your work whilst hemming and sewing. Mary Frances' Grandmother says about sewing bird: "The first time she ever helped me was with my wedding dress. Yes, I love her, too, dear." Working with the sewing bird allowed you to sit up straighter whilst sewing.

I have fond remembrances of visiting a favorite elderly relative. My great grandmum's cousin Lena (who was more the age of my Grandmum) 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.

Lena had a sewing bird. I remember her sewing bird clamped on a table near her sewing machine. She was a professional seamstress and had her sewing shop in her house. Her sewing machine was in her bright cheerful yellow kitchen near an old fashioned bay window. In the window she had all kinds of plants and a canary that sang.

In "The Mary Frances Sewing Book" there is also a canary who lives in the sewing room.

Lena also quilted and made hooked and braided rugs and always had many projects ongoing.

The Sewing Bird in
"The Mary Frances Sewing Book" sings:

"I love to sit
And sing and sing --
But lesson time
Is on the wing:
Miss Never-Try
Never can-do;
Miss Never-Begin

Never gets thru."

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."

Tillie Tinkham helps Elizabeth turn the wheel to make the sewing machine sew.

The photograph above was featured in our calendar "The Days Until Christmas: Amelia's Favorite Things" on our web site "Our Favorite Things" in 2008 and on our blog the Corgyncombe Courant in 2011.

My Grandmum's treadle sewing machine.

The Sewing Bird holds a tiny woven heart that Sarah made. The little heart can be used as a pocket purse to carry things, perhaps buttons or little notes!

In "Drawn from New England" written by Bethany Tudor, she speaks of how her mother Tasha Tudor made woven hearts at Christmas.

A Hitty friend gifted our "Pumpkin House" Hittys with a sewing basket of tiny buttons, hooks and eyes, scissors, and spools of thread.

Looking out one of the "windows" in Tillie's shoppe at 863 Park Avenue.

A view from the mirror of the back of Hitty's pinafore.

Whilst Sewing Bird and one of the Tweet Sweet Birdies hold the pinafore Tillie makes tiny stitches to hem the pinafore. Tillie is daintily perched atop the rose tuffet to reach her work.

The Sewing Bird in
"The Mary Frances Sewing Book".

A certificate in our old "Mary Frances Sewing Book" showing the emblem of "The Mary Frances Sewing Circle".

Tillie Tinkham's Sewing Circle

http://corgyncombecourant.blogspot.com/2014/02/tillie-tinkhams-sewing-circle-with.html
copyright © 2014 Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson
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A Carriage Ride Along Corgi Creek!

May Day Delights!

Emma was overjoyed to have her Cousin Lucy come join her to live at Corgyncombe! The girls get along splendidly and share many of the same interests!
Lucy and Emma are Izannah Walker inspired dolls and were made by talented dollmaker Margaret Flavin, who also made their charming clothes and bonnets!

The chosen music to accompany this post is from
"Friendly Persuasion":
Click Here for Specially Chosen Delightful Music
Return Here to Read the Corgyncombe Courant.

As they take a leisurely carriage ride amongst the daffodils on the banks of Corgi Creek, Emma tells Lucy the story of Diane's grandparents courtship, that Diane had shared with the Izannah Girls.

Charming, Quaint, and Romantic!
Grandfather Goes Courtin'!

Diane's Grandfather Goin' Courtin' with horse and buggy.
Grandfather had brown eyes and red hair, which Grandmum loved!

Some of the photographs and some of the writings on this post are from previous Corgyncombe Courant posts that can be found here on the Corgyncombe Courant.

Diane's Grandmum in her wedding frock.
Grandmum had lovely light blue eyes and long dark brown hair which she put up, which Grandfather loved!

An old photograph of Diane's Grandmum in her wedding frock along with an antique camera. Diane aspires to do portrait photography with old cameras such as this using the Corgyncombe Antique Clothing Collection.

Diane's Grandmum and Grandfather were both of early Quaker descent. Both of their families started out in Massachusetts, north of Boston in the Newbury area and south of Boston in the Dartmouth area. Their Quaker families, known as the Society of Friends, then settled in an area known as the Oblong.

The Oblong was a long, narrow strip of land whose ownership was disputed between Connecticut and New York. In this long, narrow strip, Diane's Quaker families settled and lived.

"The History of Dutchess County, New York" edited by Frank Hasbrouck, published 1909, says the following: "The Oblong Patent, covering a narrow strip along the east borders of Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester counties, was ceded to the State of New York by Connecticut, May 14, 1731."

The Valley in Spring.
Imagine riding in a horse and buggy along the lovely rolling hills, with the only sounds being the horses hooves and the lovely sound of the Baltimore Oriole flying from apple tree to apple tree, along with the other songbirds, and livestock to pasture, the sound of the creek, and ahhhh, the fragrance of the May apple tree...

May apple blossoms at sunrise down near Corgi Creek.
Later in May the apples trees will burst forth with lovely, fragrant blooms.

In "Tasha Tudor, The Direction of Her Dreams" by Wm John Hare and Priscilla T. Hare, Tasha Tudor's daughter Bethany Tudor speaks of how Tasha Tudor was inspired by the movie "Friendly Persuasion" to illustrate the endpapers of "Around the Year". The endpapers of "Around the Year" show a couple riding in a horse and buggy, crossing a creek, with lovely countryside round with sheep and cows to pasture.

The movie "Friendly Persuasion" was about a Quaker family amidst the Civil War. The movie's introduction song is so lovely accompanying this post.

As they continue their journey along Corgi Creek,
Emma and Lucy discuss all the fun things to do at Corgyncombe. Emma says "There will be tea parties, lots of fun playing with dollies, watching the birds and little critters, working in the herb, flower and vegetable gardens, making candles, making sweet soothing goat's milk soap and writing stories!"

"We also like reading and have a fine library with many little books! We all enjoy making tussie mussies and pressing flowers, carriage rides about the acreage, and perhaps there will be another sighting of 'Corie Combie, The Curious Carnivorous Creature of Corgyncombe's Corgi Creek'. There are other surprises that you will love, Lucy! I have seen them and I am so excited!"
Lucy says she is excited, too!

When Lucy came to Corgyncombe she brought little Pansy with her in a charming little box! Upon arrival Pansy flitted off to explore the wilderness of Corgyncombe.
Pansy nestles amongst the violas and has found her favorite flower that has pretty colours just like her!

You can see the hollow mossy log behind the carriage.

Whilst riding Lucy and Emma spied Pansy by the mossy hollow log where Miss Elsie Pricklish the Hedgehog makes her summer home.

I (Diane) learned to make May baskets like the May basket above in kindergarten from my teacher. My dear kindergarten teacher Mrs. Platt had also been my Mum's grade school teacher. We make our May baskets out of wallpaper from wallpaper sample books, lined with stiffer paper, in the shape of a cone with a handle. The wallpaper for our baskets is so much fun to pick out from all the samples! Sometimes we also make paper flowers to add to the May baskets, too! Making May baskets is a May Day family tradition at Corgyncombe!

Our dolls and animal friends also make small May baskets of their own!

The May basket above is hung on "A Time to Keep" illustrated by Tasha Tudor! Tasha Tudor has done delightful illustrations of children leaving their May baskets at the door and children dancing around the Maypole with a joyful Corgi herding the children in a circle. In the borders round, there are beautiful spring flowers, robins, barns swallows, and a bluebird.

Twinkle Toes and Pansy on an antique vasculum.
Twinkle Toes and Pansy were made by Margaret Flavin.
In the old days children would go out and about in the woods, fields, hills, and dales and gather plant specimens for studying botany and pressing. 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.

"Song on May Morning"

"Now the bright morning-star, day's harbinger,
Comes dancing from the east, and leads with her
The flowery May, who from her green lap throws
The yellow cowslip and the pale primrose.
Hail, bounteous May, that dost inspire
Mirth, and youth, and warm desire;
Woods and groves are of thy dressing,
Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing.
Thus we salute thee with our early song,
And welcome thee, and wish thee long."
- John Milton

We hope all our dear readers have a lovely May Day!

Here is a link to:
Tasha Tudor and Family
There you can find "Around the Year" and "A Time to Keep", two of the Corgyncombe Library's favorite Tasha Tudor books!

http://corgyncombecourant.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-carriage-ride-along-corgi-creek.html
copyright © 2013 Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson

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Valentine Hearts, Flowers, and Birds!

A Celebration of All Things Lovely!

 At the Corgyncombe Library, displayed on the art stand, along with some antique Valentines, is "Drawn From New England, Tasha Tudor; A Portrait in Words and Pictures by Bethany Tudor".
Bethany Tudor is Tasha's older daughter.

Inside is a lovely original colour drawing by Bethany Tudor of two doves with roses and forget-me-nots!

The dove perched on the art stand carries a bunch of Rose geranium leaves tied with a ribbon. Rose geranium leaves smell so fragrant, like roses! I picked the leaves one morn from the rose geranium that I have wintering over in the cool upstairs.

In the book "Drawn From New England", Bethany talks about how her mother would make Valentine's Day a lovely and delightful day with handmade Valentines, an abundance of flowers, and delicious treats at tea! The dolls would receive and give small Valentines, too!

The chosen music to accompany this post is "Simple Gifts":

Click Here for Specially Chosen Delightful Music

Return Here to Read the Corgyncombe Courant.

Some of the photographs and some of the writings on this post are from previous Corgyncombe Courant posts that can be found here on the Corgyncombe Courant.

Finch Post serves the dolls at Corgyncombe with superb mail delivery service. My daughter Sarah and I were inspired by Tasha Tudor to have our own doll Post. Tasha Tudor's post was named Sparrow Post, where cards and goodies were delivered to her children. Tasha Tudor featured Sparrow Post in her books "All for Love" and "A Time to Keep".

Violet's mittens keep her hands warm as she goes out and about in the cold and snowy outdoors. Violet's antique mittens have pretty pom-poms attached. Carrying a basket of Finch Post mail, Violet has stopped at the Finch Post box.

At 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.

 The currency for the dolls at Corgyncombe is buttons, as well.

A little button box can be seen near the base of the scale.

The writing slope at Corgyncombe is very similar to the writing slope that Jane Austen used to write on. Her father gave it to her in December of 1794, near her 19th birthday.
On the writing slope, some beautiful Valentine Ephemera from the Corgyncombe Collection.

The quill feather is from Corgyncombe's Peacock Reuben. Peacocks naturally shed their feathers. On one of the warmer, sunny days recently he had his tail feathers fanned.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

2013 marks the 200th year since its publication.

Bleeding Heart in a late May snow.

I made a special Valentine cake using "The Tudor Family's Valentine Cake" receipt in Tasha Tudor's book "All for Love".

It is so delicious at Valentines tea!

An antique peg wooden doll who has a fondness for birds. 

Her old frock, petticoats, and pantalettes are exquisite!

The very small woven Swedish heart was made by my daughter Sarah.

 

 An old doll head alongside a pincushion, atop an old tin box that someone years ago labeled "Receipts" for saving away old recipes. Receipt is an old word for recipe.

 

The sundial in the Corgyncombe Garden of Herbs

with wind blowing glistening, sparkly snow.

On the art stand made by Seth Tudor, son of Tasha Tudor, is the "New Cyclopaedia of Botany and Complete Book of Herbs", an advertising card with a lovely dove delivering a letter and a rose, and a trade card with forget-me-nots from an Apothecary in Bellows Falls, Vermont.

On the art stand, "Queen Victoria's Dolls" by Frances H. Low and illustrated by Alan Wright. When she was a girl, Queen Victoria collected small peg wooden dolls and the book has drawings illustrating their many fashions. In the illustration of two dolls in the book above, the doll on the right wears a dainty ballerina frock sewn by Princess Victoria, with a pink rose head wreath.

At Finch Post, the Tweet Sweets are holding a

Valentine Banner of Love!

Lucy has a fondness for hanging things on the line and she thinks her hearts look very pretty.

The prickly laundress, Mrs. Tiggywinkle the hedgehog looks on.

Mrs. Tiggywinkle was named in honor of the hedgehog in Beatrix Potter's "The Tale of Mrs. Tiggywinkle".

Early in the morn, 'tis so sweet to find dear little bird feet lead right up to my door. They are awaiting my coming forth with a bucket of bird seed, nourishment against the wind and cold.

The other morn 'twas 29 degrees below zero wind chill!

We hope our Dear Readers had a

lovely Valentine's Day!

http://corgyncombecourant.blogspot.com/2013/02/valentine-hearts-flowers-and-birds.html

copyright © 2013 Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson

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