In this magical sequel to TASHA TUDOR'S GARDEN, author Tovah Martin and photographer Richard W. Brown revisit Corgi Cottage, this time taking us inside to watch Tasha create the handmade items that are an integral part of her legendary nineteenth-century lifestyle. Surrounded by authentic American antiques and collectibles and using original tools and almost forgotten techniques, Tasha spins flax, dyes wool, and weaves on one of her seven looms. With the help of friends, she dips candles, makes soap, and concocts herbal creams and lotions. She harvests wood for making baskets and fruit for canning, presses cider, and dries herbs and flowers. Her Nubian goats supply her with milk for cheese and butter. Her bantam hens offer eggs for cooking and decorating. Stray feathers from her guinea hens end up as part of her toy owls. Her rambling cottage has its own marionette theatre and a built-in dollhouse, and all of the puppets and the dollhouse inhabitants were made by Tasha. Whether Tasha is crocheting a piece of lace to edge her petticoat, sewing a dress copied from an 1830s pattern, knitting intricately designed mittens and socks, or working on a quilt, her hands are never idle. For this book, she has created a series of new paintings in the style that has made her one of America's best-loved children's book illustrators.
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: A Period Piece... Comment: Tasha Tudor just passed away in the last month or so, and this is one tribute to her way of life. Wait until you read the chapter on how she dyes her own wool for her crafts- done the old fashioned way, but it's sort of gross how she gets the shade of blue. I really recommend it. We shall not see her like again. Customer Rating: Summary: Beautiful Comment: As a Tasha Tudor fan.... all I can say is that I loved the book. The photos are beautiful, and it takes us back to where we all should go... back to nature. Customer Rating: Summary: A Peaceful Read Comment: If you want a peaceful interlude at the end of a hectic day...if you want to step back into a simpler time (just for a while)....this is the book for you.
Tasha Tudor lives in the world she wants to live in, the world she has created & kept. This book lets you get to know her & all about the arts & crafts that she loves & wants to keep alive. As a crafter of some of the dying arts, I love this book. Not only does the reading hold your interest, the photography is excellent. A very good read! Customer Rating: Summary: The real life of Tasha Tudor Comment: When I was very young, my first book was "The Tasha Tudor Book of Fairy Tales". I loved the sweet watercolor illustrations of the classic fairy tale stories. It was obvious that Mrs. Tudor loved dogs and foxes and Puss in Boots, and the flower illustrations that surround the text are so perfect and true-to-life! As an older child, I was surprised to find that Tasha Tudor had also illustrated my editions of "The Secret Garden" and "A Little Princess". When, as an adult, I received the book "Tasha Tudor's Garden" as a gift from my mother, I realized that the illustrator lives just as wonderful a life as what she portrays in her illustrations. Now, in "Tasha Tudor's Heirloom Crafts" the reader can find out more about Mrs. Tudor's unique life, a re-creation of the simple and beautiful way of life of the 1800s. There are beautiful photos of Mrs. Tudor carding and weaving and making her own cosmecuticals from the products of her own plants and animals. This is not a how-to book, but a book of inspiration for those of us who love the idea of doing for ourselves and living closer to the land. Customer Rating: Summary: A beautiful book Comment: As with all of the books about Tasha Tudor this one is beautiful. The scenery and written text are enriching in their content. Once again I was inspired by her life and her creative abilities. The only flaw I could see was the fact that there was little explanation of HOW she did any of the things she mentioned. I'm not suggesting she give detailed instructions on spinning and weaving, woodworking and all the other things she is so wonderfully gifted with. But a few more details on how some of the simpler projects would have been fun.
