Tukiyeem: Tasha Tudor

I have a fondness for children's books. Especially certain illustrators of children's books. No one ever captured my heart quite as much as Tasha Tudor. Tasha Tudor illustrated and authored almost 100 children's books. Although born in 1915 her favorite time period was about 1830. She lived much of her life as if she were in that time. Victoria magazine did several features on Tasha. I have some of those features here. Photography by Toshi Otsuki in both features.

Photographed at her Vermont home. Tasha Tudor presides over a peaceable kingdom that no storybook can surpass.

Tasha's son Seth built her house by hand with hand tools in the 1970's. Tasha grew all of the gardens on the property including fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

In this feature Victoria visited Tasha at Advent. Tasha dressed in clothes from her favorite time period.

Her home also furnished from the 1830's, a true testament that your home should surround you with things you love.

Tasha working on one of her beloved illustrations.

Tasha was well know for afternoon tea. Often having the children and their dolls attend.

I have a few of Tasha's book. My favorites are the ones she wrote describing the family traditions she grew up with and shared with her children.

This is my absolute favorite book she wrote.

She starts with a little grandchild at her feet wanting to know what it was like when her mother was a little girl.

Tasha describes and illustrates the story by each month. This was New Year's and they made a big bonfire and danced around it. Tasha did her illustrations in watercolor and was well know for the elaborate little seasonal borders she drew around each picture.

In February they had Sparrow Post. I loved having "post office" in class as a child around Valentine's Day.

At Easter Tasha's family made an Easter egg tree.

In August they floated their Mother's birthday cake down the river.

In October Tasha's family always carved pumpkins.

In November they roasted the turkey by the fire. Tasha continued to cook this way or on a wood stove all of her life.

In the winter months they made a year's supply of candles.

And, on Christmas Eve her family would travel into the woods of their home and visit a creche that had been set up to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

This book was always my favorite because of the traditions Tasha and her family so lovingly celebrated that made all their times together so special. Do you or your family have any seasonal traditions? Do you still celebrate them?

I have had a few teas with my children, so in Tasha style today I set up a little one's tea with my Royal Doulton Bunnykins and Royal Albert's The World of Beatrix Potter china. I'm serving iced animal cookies with a little more milk than tea in the smallest cup.

August 28th is Tasha Tudor's birthday. So, in celebration of all she accomplished I wanted to feature her this week. Storybook Woods is featuring a Tasha Tudor day on August 28th. Go and visit there to see more post honoring Tasha.

Just learned that Tasha's family has a blog here is the site:
http://rookeryramblings.blogspot.com/