Image: sxc.hu

As a teacher, writer, and historical researcher, I’ve done this on a small scale with my programs in schools.  However, I’ve wanted to reach more teachers and children, as well as home schooling parents and help with creating activities, lessons, and programs that make history “come alive.”

Yesterday, a friend called to interview me about the writing I’ve done about our local area history.  She needed this information for a research paper on developing school programs.  In the course of our conversation, she encouraged me to work on my blog, New Hampshire of Yesteryear, and continue developing the picture book, Sarah Jane’s Daring Deed, about a pioneer girl.  She saw possibilities for these incorporated into school programs.

So now I’m back to the drawing board and working on my programs and activities to expand children’s knowledge and interest New Hampshire and U S history and how it affects their lives.

Sometimes it simply takes someone’s comment and encouragement to get us back on track with our dreams.

Post from: Blisstree

Encouragement to Pursue Creative Ideas

 The recent announcement of Tasha Tudor’s death, at age 92, brought back memories of my meeting with her years ago.  Perhaps some of you have her enchantingly illustrated books, have read them yourself or to your children.

Apparently Tasha didn’t make many quilts, yet her lifestyle was condusive to it.  She was involved constantly in the crafts of days ago and lived her life midst them.  The cover of the book jacket on Tasha Tudor’s Heirloom Crafts, (at least the edition I have) consists of a photo of Tasha working on  a quilt in her rocking chair before the fireplace.

Within the book, there are more photos of Tasha with this quilt she called Yankee Pride.  It’s one she worked on for years and intended to finish “before I leave this earth.”  The photo reminds me of my grandmother sitting before the kitchen woodstove piecing quilts by hand.

Tea Party Memories

My memory consists, not of quilts, but of a tea party with Tasha, when I was an aspiring children’s author just out of college.  I studied her art and writing in a children’s literature class and was fascinated by her work.  When I had an opportunity to visit at her farmhouse in New Hampshire (the state where I’d moved after college graduation and marriage), I was thrilled.

We spent a quiet afternoon before her fireplace, where she made tea and toast and talked with me about writing.  I’d had nothing published yet, and she warned me it wasn’t easy, getting started as a children’s writer and illustrator. 

Over the years, I often thought of her and followed her career and move to Vermont.  She inspired me to continue as a children’s writer, although my career has branched in many directions.  I was pleased when a librarian remarked, upon seeing my illustrations in Tales of Adventure and Discovery, that their delicacy reminded her of Tasha Tudor. (I’d had my doubts that my drawing was very good.)

 I like to think that even though we hadn’t met in person again, Tasha Tudor continued inspiring me.  Now I see that she also was involved in quiltmaking midst her other crafts of yesteryear.

Tasha Tudor’s Heirloom Crafts was written by Tovah Martin with photographs by Richard W. Brown.

Additional information about Tasha Tudor:

http://www.tashatudorandfamily.com/news.html

(Amazon image; click on cover for details)

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Tasha Tudor & the Yankee Pride Quilt

A big THANK YOU to all my readers for being patient and sticking around during the technical difficulties we’ve encountered at b5media the past couple of weeks.  The Internet and blogosphere, like amost anything you’re involved with, can be affected by situations beyond one’s control.

For instance, where I live in New Hampshire (USA), we’ve encountered blizzards and ice storms more frequently this winter than in recent years.  So businesses here have experienced electricity outages, customers who stayed home, and late deliveries…even collapsing roofs.  With school closings due to storms, the substitute teaching work I do has been curtailed.

However, here at Quilting and Patchwork, I’ve continued to write posts for you about quilting and fabric arts topics and news events I hope will interest and inspire you.  If you didn’t get a chance to check them out because a page might have been down when you visited, try again and see what’s happening in Mary Emma’s Quilting and Patchwork World.

What would you like to learn more about here at Quilting and Patchwork?  How can I help, inform and encourage you? 

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

A “Thank You” to Quilting & Patchwork Readers