Tasha Tudor Day~2020

Today was Tasha Tudor's birthday. She would have been 105 years old. Our Tasha groups enjoy honoring her in some way on this day. Of course, 2020 has changed the way we celebrate everything. Our Pacific NW Tasha Tudor Chapter can't gather together due to this continuing virus. My friend Ann invited me to do a Zoom virtual tea party to celebrate and I agreed. We had a great time. It was a bit different but we managed to talk for 1 1/2 hours.

I used my Pink Luster Ware dishes for the tea. This is the first time I have used this tea pot. You have to be a bit careful with this china as it is very old. I make the tea in another pot and when it's a bit cooler, I pour it into this teapot.

I have several cup and saucers to use. It's always hard to pick one.

I had out out a few of my Tasha books. A Time to Keep was one of the first books I got and I still love it.

My assortment for tea time. I used almond flour and found ways to cut the carbs. Its hard but I'm learning. Of course I did treat myself to a little chocolate.

Chicken curry on apple slices and cheese bites.

Almond flour blackberry scone drops and almond flour brownies. The brownies were a big gooey.

Little tomatoes from our garden. I stuffed some with herb cream cheese.  The cucumbers are filled with an egg salad mixture. These were all very yummy.

Watermelon hearts...yummy.

This is a silly photo I snapped of Ann while she was saying "Tasha"! She lives in Mississippi and woke up to a tornado warning this morning! Thankfully, she didn't loose her power so we had our Zoom meeting.

I made this little banner last night for my wonderful dollhouse. I will have to do a post on this as I haven't been posting much. My Tasha doll and Lilly are having a little party and tea time too.

I love the little shawl she knitted for Lilly! Looks like fall is coming. Ann picks wonderful books for me.Isn't the little fabric teacup darling?

These are the gifts I sent to Ann and her Tasha doll. It was fun to make things too. I loved making the little apron out of a vintage little girl's slip. I made the tea wallet, the card and covered the little box with ephemera.

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July! So much to be thankful for and so much to ponder about the freedom we have taken for granted.
I have fallen behind with my blogging and hope to catch up a bit.
Be safe and enjoy today. 

Full moon tonight!

An Online Lecture on Mary Todd

Those of you who know me, know that I enjoy studying Mary Todd Lincoln. She is a fascinating person and I have read many books written about her. My husband Jim was born in Springfield, Illinois and grew up there. Most of his family still lives there. When we visit, I love to go to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and the Presidential Library across the street. It's a fantastic place to visit.

I receive the online newsletters from the museum. I was just looking at it on Thursday and saw a notice about an online lecture about Mary Todd. How exciting. I signed up for it. It was called " Much like an April Day". It was out on through a group called Road Scholars. The state historian of Illinois  Samuel Wheeler gave the presentation.

These are some of the books Mr Wheeler mentioned at the beginning of the talk. He said Mary has been put into two groups....those who think she was insane and those who defend her actions. He wanted us to really look at who Mary Todd as a person and then try to understand her and her time through knowing her. It was a fresh look and I appreciated that very much.

This is her father and her step mother. Her father had 16 children between his two wives. Mary did not get along with her step mother. She was sent off to boarding school very close to home to get her out of the way! As a result, she was very educated, more so than most young women at the time.

This is the quote from her sister Elizabeth. It is now thought that Mary may have been bipolar most of her life. Read the quote and think about it.

Mr and Mrs Abraham Lincoln and their four boys. Mary raised them like little gentlemen and made their clothes. But, they were boys and acted like boys!

I so enjoyed this online lecture and I learned so much. Online offerings have been a plus from this virus.

Wade Creek House is OPEN!

Jimmy and I went for a drive and found that a favorite little shop was open! We wore our masks, they provided lots of hand sanitizer and we stayed away from people. It was soooo fun to go into a store.

The day was very wet and stormy but stayed dry while we were at the store.

Jimmy sitting on the porch!

This sweet little building used to be a chicken coop. I missed the chickens, but it's really a cute little booth with garden goodies!

There 's a large building out in the back. There were some cute displays this time. I think there is a new owner who had made some nice changes.

I really liked the little red hutch! Good thing I didn't have any place to put it...lol.

We found some cute things for flower containers. I loved the tea kettle.

I chose some bright yellow and orange flowers as those are the colors I use in the backyard. The front is done in pinks and purples.

The finished projects! I will share more about the in another blog post.
Stay safe during these crazy times.

Thursday Dolly Day

So here it is Thursday already! We have been spending so much time working in the yard. I was sick so many summers and had surgeries and then last summer we were gone for 2 weeks. Our yard has been neglected for 5 years. With sheltering in so much, we have been working on the yard and gardening. Jimmy has taken an interest in it again, so it's been something we can do together. I just forgot how much time it takes and how little time you spend inside when you work outside!

My doll came.  I got another one of the Tudor china heads that were once sold at the Enchanted Dollhouse in Vermont. I used the rest of my Etsy Mother's Day gift card for her. She was put together and is a bit larger. She came with her dress and pantaloons.

Her name is Emma. She is about 15".

I did make her a little slip using a larger item vintage item. It already had the pin tucks and I added the tiny lace.

I didn't like the collar, so I tacked it down inside. I also turned down the belt and added a little button to change the look. I added some lace along the bottom for a bit more length.

I do love the under sleeves. I need to add these to some of my doll dresses.

So here is her dress with the changes. I think it's much better around her neckline as you can see her face.

Here's the family!

Emma

Sally

Meg

Nell

My Tasha friend told me there was one more...Molly. I found her on a Tasha Tudor book site...the Cellar Door in CT. I know the owners and they are sending her to Portland tomorrow. I will have to make the doll's body and her clothes. I think she is larger too. It will be fun.

I hope you are all well. The doll world is a bit of a pause from all the sad things happening in our world. I am still trying to be safe. 

Blog Catch Up!

It's been busy at my home! I haven't been blogging due to other projects that have been waiting. I decided to catch up with a post to show some of my fun projects.
Jimmy and I have both been trying to finish up our gardening. My friend gave me this little rose from her rose from Tasha Tudor's garden in Vermont. My first one died and she graciously gave me a second one to try again. It's doing well this year. Can you see the little rose blooming? So exciting.

After some gardening, I decided to finish up a doll and make her an outfit. There was a doll shoppe in Vermont called the Enchanted Dollhouse. They used to sell these little china head dolls. You would make the body and her dress. There were 5 doll kits made. They are dated and named on the back of their breast plate. They are cute, nothing real special, but fun. Several Tasha fans have a collection of these. So this is Nell and it was time to finish her. My friend Carla has Sally and she made her undies out of the same fabric as the dress fabric. I thought it would be fun, even if it isn't traditional.

I love the tiny lace on her pantaloons and slip!

Working on the puffy sleeves and bodice with some antique lace.

Her's Nell in her new dress. I think she is quite happy with it.

This is my Meg doll. I made this dress for her last November. I love the fabric. I am waiting for Emma to arrive from Etsy. I'm not sure if I will like the fabric of her outfit, so I may be working on another one SOON!

For Mother's Day, my daughter Gina gave me a gift card from Etsy. It was so fun looking and thinking about what I wanted to spend my money on! I was wanting a cradle for the little baby doll I posted a few weeks ago. I love the little scenes painted on the bed. Thank you Gina!

It also has little design and wooden knobs on the sides.

Baby Phyllis loves here new bed! She can sit up in it or take a nap. She just fits perfectly in it.

Isn't is just the cutest?!

 A lovely lady in Florida found my blog and sent me an email. She wanted to know if I would like this book. It's a classic and I was happy to get it! I wanted to pay for postage and she wouldn't let me. So sweet from a lady I have never met! Blogger friends are just so wonderful and do such unexpected things.

She also sent some goodies that she had made and a couple other dolly booklets.

She does such beautiful work. Thank you so much Maria.
So, that's what has been keeping me busy this week. I hope you are doing well and taking baby steps to return to a few things as we reopen. Stay safe.