Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Tasha Tudor Day


Today Clarice at Storybook Woods and some of her friends have implemented Tasha Tudor Day in commemoration of Miss Tudor's birthday. Each year for the past four, Clarice has shared memories of how this special woman touched her life and those of her friends.

Be sure to stop by Clarice's blog so you can participate in this special event! Here she shares pictures of garments that remind her of Tasha. And here is her post today which celebrates Tasha's legacy.

Happy Birthday to the memory of Tasha Tudor!


Tea & Tasha


Beloved Tasha Tudor, author and illustrator of many books and gardener extraordinaire, passed away at her home in Marlboro, Vermont on July 18, 2008. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts on August 28, 1915 and was named after her father, Starling Burgess. But her father, who enjoyed Tolstoy's War and Peacepreferred to call her Natasha after a character in the book. Her mother's friends would sometimes refer to her as Rosamund Tudor's daughter. Tasha liked the sound of the name Tasha Tudor, and eventually had her name legally changed to reflect this preference. 

Ms. Tudor received many awards and honors for her exceptional contribution to literature. A Caldecott Honor was given for her work for Mother Goose in 1945 and again in 1957 for the book 1 is One. She also received the Regina Medal in 1971 for her contributions to children's literature. Her prose was always simple and captivating, frequently including rhyming text. Enchanting illustrations were detailed and realistic in soft colors that seemed to fade away onto the page. She was known for her love of nature and flowers, birds, and other charming animals were frequently featured in her art. 

Some of the books she wrote and illustrated are:

Pumpkin Moonshine
A Tale for Easter
Snow before Christmas
Thistly B
The Dolls' Christmas
Edgar Allan Crow
Amanda and the Bear
A is for Annebelle
1 is One
A Time to Keep
Corgiville Fair
Tasha Tudor's Seasons of Delight
The Great Corgiville Kidnapping


Tasha Tudor was one of the great artists of the 20th century. Her love for illustrating New England nostalgia and sentimental illustrations that made one think of a bygone era. She lived her life as she dreamed, simply and sustainably, preferring the old-fashioned in both lifestyle and dress. For 92 years the world has been blessed by her presence and contribution to American culture, literature, and art. Although she is gone from us now, her legacy and spirit will live on through the work she so fluently contributed to all. 




The photographs today are taken from one of my favorite books: Tasha Tudor's Garden by Tovah Martin and Richard W. Brown.

10 comments:

  1. Lovely images...an intriguing lifestyle... Thank you for the information about her name. I had always wondered.

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  2. I love Tasha Tudor and was so privileged to meet her when she was almost 90. Forgot to post for her day today, but your post is lovely. I have several of her books signed by Tasha Tudor. I treasure them and the memory of walking up her country lane.

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  3. Ohhhhh, what a lovely post. I thought Tasha Tudor was a very unique woman. She was certainly her own person.

    One of her books, "Becky's Christmas," forever changed the way we celebrate that holiday. For years now, I've looked for that book at used booksales. No luck.

    Thanks for all the lovely photos, too. Susan

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  4. I totally forgot that today was Tasha's birthday-thank you for the reminder. I only learned about her, through her books over the last five years but what an incredible lady she was. I would have loved to visit her cottage and maybe will in the future. Thanks for sharing.
    Hugs, Noreen

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  5. Lovely post, LaDonna. I attended one of Sweet Shalom's teas that honored Tasha Tudor a few years back. Today's my daughter's birthday too. I'll have to tell her that she shares it with Tasha - as well as her paternal great-grandfather.

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  6. This is a wonderful tribute you have done!

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  7. Her legacy and spirit will live on. Lovey tribute to honor her.

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  8. I missed it, but I love her work!

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  9. A sweet post about our dear Tasha.
    Linda

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  10. It sounds like Tasha Tudor lived a wonderful life doing what she loved. Living simply and sustainably and giving more to the world with her art and literature than she ever took for herself. Have a great weekend. Tammy

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