Tasha Tudor, Children's Author and Artist

Today we remember Tasha Tudor on her birthday. She was an extraordinary woman. A talented artist, she enjoyed nature themes and shunned modern conveniences. She is probably best known for her contribution to children's literature. She illustrated each of her books with her beautiful watercolor and drew people to her wherever she went.

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 Peace preferred 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 was 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.

Encouragement for Homeschool Mothers

Encouragement for homeschool moms comes from many sources.  Knowing of other mother's who cherished this role is encouraging, especially when they are from years past.  Moses had a mother who homeschooled him until he was twelve years old.  What precious years those must have been for her, as she knew that her time with him was short and so all that she taught to him was of great importance. 

The book, Patriarchs and Prophets, shares stories and illustrations of Old Testament individuals and how God touched their lives.  This quote on page 244 shares about Moses and his mother:

"She kept the boy as long as she could, but was obligated to give him up when he was about twelve years old.  From his humble cabin home he was taken to the royal palace, to the daughter of the Pharaoh, and he became her son.  Yet even here he did not lose the impressions received in childhood.  The lessons learned at his mother's side could not be forgotten.  They were a shield from the pride, the infidelity, and the vice that flourished amid the splendor of the court...."

"The whole future life of Moses, the great mission which he fulfilled as the leader of Israel, testifies to the importance of the work of a Christian mother.  There is no other work that can equal this.  Parents should direct the instruction and training of their children while very young, to the end that they may be Christians.  They are placed in our care to be trained, not as heirs to the throne of an earthly empire, but as kings unto God, to reign through unending ages."

True Homeschooling is Tutorial

“True home schooling is tutorial, hand-made, customized to each child. Such parents respond to their children in a loving, informal way, a balance between systematic structure where needed and a great deal of freedom for youngsters to explore.”
  
~ Raymond S. Moore

Read God Directly

"Man's thinking must not be subdued by his instruments. Books are for the scholar's idle times. When he can read God directly, the hour is too precious to be wasted in other men's transcripts of their readings." 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Helping Children Live Aesthetically

"Children growing up in an atmosphere where beauty is considered an important part of daily life cannot help being inspired to develop their own original ideas in these areas, nor can they help being prepared to live aesthetically themselves. There is a 'togetherness' in sharing a prepared table that even very small children feel, although they cannot express it verbally." 

Edith Schaeffer

These are words that guided me on my homemaking journey at the beginning of my child rearing years. Mrs. Schaeffer speaks so eloquently when she writes; she creates word pictures of simple things that speak so profoundly to our souls. In another place she shares that every dinner table should have a centerpiece that is vibrant, interesting, and transitions with the seasons and experiences of life. Such a focal point provides family members with objects of nature and beauty to enjoy. Flowers, moss, rocks, shells, seed pods, and more can be gathered outdoors and be brought inside to make creative points of interest without added expense or fuss. Including children and grandchildren in the process might mean adding points of color found in small toys like Lego's, plastic figures, or miniature tea sets. An atmosphere where creativity is encouraged can inspire a child and set the stage for original ideas as they grow through life.

Nature Educates

 

"All Nature seems at work.  Slugs leave their lair
The bees are stirring, birds are on the wing,
And Winter slumbering in the open air,
Wears on his smiling face a dream of spring."

   Samuel Taylor Coleridge 

Nature provides so many wonderful opportunities for educating children. They relate so willingly to planting gardens, searching for birds on their nests, raising bunnies and chicks, or picking flowers to press. The first appearance of spring creates many positive object lessons for learning!

Homemade Clay

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1 tablespoon powdered alum
• 1 cup cold water
• Few drops oil of wintergreen or oil of cloves
• Food coloring (optional)

Mix flour, salt and alum.  Gradually stir in water.  Then add oil and food coloring.  Knead until mixture is well mixed.  Store in a tightly covered container.  Keep in refrigerator until ready to use.

Homemade Paste

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon powdered alum
• 1 quart water
• 3 drops of wintergreen or oil of cloves

Mix flour, sugar and alum.  Add water gradually.  Cook until thickened.  Remove from heat and stir in oil.  Cool.  Store in a covered jar until ready to use.

Not to eat!