The Mini Doll Fair at the Mull Home

You get to meet the most wonderful people via the internet! I was so pleased to meet two of my Tasha Tudor blogger friends....Heather and Patricia....on the Tasha Tudor Garden Tour. Since then, these two talented young women have started "THE STILLWATER SOCIETY". If you go to my sidebar and hit this button, it will take you to the blog. Of course, there is a connection to Tasha Tudor and you will need to join, but it is a great place to share OLD TIMEY/OLD FASHIONED posts and thoughts. They also have a Facebook Page under the same name and that is a very active and fun site now. Pop on over!

This coming Thursday, Tasha would have been 100 years old, so there will be lots of celebrating on all our groups! Heather has started up her Tasha Tuesdays again on her lovely blog. Another great place to visit...use the button on my sidebar. Heather is a wonderful artist, so check our her blog.

My friends and their daughters didn't get to participate in the big doll fair at the Gathering, so my Tasha friend Melinda, invited them to her home in Manchester, VT for a mini doll fair. Jim and I were going to be in that area to do some sight seeing, so Melinda invited us to join the fun.
Patricia is on the left with her daughter Alice and Heather is on the right with her daughter Audrey. Such cute mamas and darling daughters.

These two girls became the best of friends on the trip and were just having such a grand time together. It was just fun to watch them. Don't you just want to hug them?

They had fun at the fair. They are into the American Girl Dolls, so Melinda had prepared special goodies, just for them!

LaVonne sent little cards and aprons all the way from Montana to be opened at the fair.  So kind.

The grown ups enjoyed it too! Melinda and Pete are wonderful hosts. After the fair, we had a nice BBQ on the porch. Sadly, I didn't get any photos.

This is Robbie...Audrey's little brother...isn't he just too cute!

Here's my big boy....isn't he cute! Ha ha ha.....

I wanted Melinda to show the girls her fabulous doll house, so she took us inside for a tour.

This is a photo from last year when I was at her home. She had it in a different room but I wanted to show the whole house.

Enjoy a little look inside. It is wonderful!

The girls and I were playing house with another dollhouse! They are everywhere and it is just magical.

This is also a photo from last year, but it shows you how sweet and dear Melinda is. I just love her.

Who is the sweet little girl in the framed photograph? One guess...Melinda!

This is Melinda's little Annabelle...just enjoying it all.

Thanks so much Melinda and Pete for opening up your wonderful home to all of us Tasha travelers. 

Tea Time Thursday #83~A Look Back at the July Doll Fair in Vermont

Today I am remembering the Tasha Tudor doll fair we had in Vermont in July. You might be wondering what that has to do with Tea Time Thursday? You might also be wondering what a doll fair actually is? So, let me step back and explain a few things for those who may not be familiar with Tasha Tudor. Most of you know I am a great fan of Tasha Tudor's. She would have a doll's fair in September for her children, their dolls and teddy bears and their friends. It was great fun. They would build little booths and have miniature and child sized items at the fair. This is an illustration from one of her books~ALL FOR LOVE. In the book, she explains the fair and has these directions for making a booth from a cardboard box.

This is the book which has the directions and information.

Last spring when our group decided we would be having another Gathering to celebrate Tasha's 100th birthday, we decided to have a doll fair. We got to pick a theme for our both and I chose to do a TEA SHOPPE!

You can also find some delightful illustrations in one of my favorite Tasha Tudor books....A TIME TO KEEP.

Our member Julia Marsh was the person in charge of the doll fair. She did a great deal of work and planning and did a great job. Thanks Julia for all the work.

This is my booth at the Gathering...all set up and ready to go! I had so much fun finding items to offer in my booth. Oh yes,  the currency used at doll fairs is BUTTONS, so everything was purchased with buttons.

I tried to think what a real tea shoppe would have for sale and then went looking for miniature items. I found things at estate sales, Ebay and Etsy. I did make a few items too.  Most of these goodies are 1:12 scales as that works well for Hitty dolls and our smaller Annabelle dolls.

I found mini linens, tea sets, tidbit trays, candles, boxes of tea, jars of tea, candy boxes, candles, flowers, trays, toast racks, serving pieces, tea time napkins with napkin rings, tea cups and even made little tea cards and envelopes. I had so much fun!!!

I did have this annex for some larger pieces for larger dolls. The larger dolls were happy with the offerings.

Here I am putting the finishing touches on the booth.

Of course a doll fair has to have other offerings! This is the bakery run by Suzanne's sweet daughter Lydia. She did a great job.

Linnie added some whimsy to the fair with the bogarts selling ice! The bogarts are funny little characters in Tasha's work that love to cause mischief.

This is Julia's booth...The Potting Shed that was filled with all kinds of wonderful things for the garden. She did a great job decorating and providing lovely items for the dolls.

Everyone loved the little hoses. Lots of fun flowers too....LOTS!

Meadow was the sweetest little daughter of our member Betsy. She was 5 years old and adorable. Her booth was a variety store filled with all kinds of goodies and treasures.

Most of the members in our group have Hitty dolls. If your haven't read the book HITTY, it's a must for you! I just love that book. Hitty's Hatties was just awesome. Martha is a big Hilly fan!

Wilhelmina made lovely flower wreaths for your dolly's hair for many different sized dolls....just darling with lots of colors to choose from.

Belinda brought fun items for all the dolls. She traveled from Florida, and still brought goodies for all!

Kristen had wonderful comb and brush sets for large and small dolls. I didn't get a good picture but they were packaged so sweetly.

Melinda is quite the miniaturist. I loved her 4th of July booth...bright and cheerful and full of treasures.

Julia made all these amazing nibbles for the dolls at the cafe. I couldn't believe it...

Some of the dolls at the cafe...

Miss Annabelle of Oregon had a new bonnet for her trip. She was quite proud of it.

Julia had beetle races for the children too. Tasha had them at her doll fair. This is Alicia and sweet little Meadow checking it out.

Of course, Jimmy had to join in the fun. You can always find him where the kids are enjoying some fun.

I won the blue ribbon and the Golden Key for the best booth! What fun, heh? This is Julia with me.

My BEST IN SHOW RIBBON that I will always cherish. It was a very fun and magical event that I will always remember. I hope you enjoyed my post.