A favorite book at Christmastide,
especially enjoyed by Tillie Tinkham of Corgyncombe, is The
Tailor of Gloucester, by Beatrix Potter. The Tailor
of Gloucester was employed to make a coat and waistcoat for the
Mayor of Gloucester's wedding, which was to take place on
Christmas Day in the morning. After he had cut them out, he went
home and sent his cat out to get several things, including one
penn'orth of cherry-coloured silk twist, to be used for
one-and-twenty button-holes. Whilst the cat was away, the curious
Tailor, upon hearing tip, tap, tip, tap, sets free the mice that
the cat had captured under tea-cups. The Tailor became ill and
Christmas was fast approaching. If you have never read The
Tailor of Gloucester before, we are sure you will
enjoy discovering who completes the coat and waistcoat, except
for one button-hole with a little note attached stating "No
More Twist". In Diane's photograph above, there is a charkha
spindle of Diane's handspun silk. In the small bowl is cochineal
for dyeing the silk a pleasant shade of cherry. Do you hear a
tip, tap, tip, tap, tip?
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
by Beatrix Potter.
Photographs by Diane Shepard Johnson
Photographs copyright © 2000, 2001, 2002,
2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009: Diane Shepard Johnson
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2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009: Diane Shepard Johnson
& Sarah E. Johnson
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Johnson & Sarah E. Johnson.