The Doll's Fair :Tasha Tudor Day - 2013

THE DOLL'S FAIR: ( A note to you all. This is a super duper picture edition post. I do this to record for our own memories so click away if you don't want to over indulge in our family memories)

Just saying this phrase: The Doll's Fair, in our family brings back warm memories of the times we had planned and participated in  this event before.
Interestingly enough we had 'played this game' way before the now 'Tasha Tudor Day we celebrate with other interested people.
So today we had our first Doll's Fair in a long time and I thin it went very well indeed.
One thing I need to be aware of with our lifestyle of eating  is that we seriously CANNOT consume purchased food.
So I need to plan ahead and make everything from scratch, no more quick lets just buy something quickly to do a feast day or tea party anymore.

I knew this day would be full on as we had not done much preparation prior,
We had a houseful of very excited little people though as some of them were not even born last time we did this or too little to really remember.
Of course Moran and Myffwyn brought down their special dolls first hing after dressing them ready for an outing.
Amazingly enough Myffwyn's Josefina Doll that she had waited so long for arrived the day before.

After seeing the girls bring down their dolls Arwen had to race back up and get her Caroline Doll too.

So first things first we needed to have cash for the Fair and so in the spirit of the traditional Doll's Fair in A Time to Keep we found the button jar and divided up all the available 'cash'

I made quick little paper bag purses by cutting a brown paper lunch bag in half and then half the other way, sticky taping up the cut side

Arwen was the helper to put the buttons in each bag

She filled them while I drew on them so we new who had what  bag. This avoids disagreements later on.

When all were finished we piled them till later

However someone needed to show me how clever she was.

Next up: We always have a sign as entry to the fair and Myffy and I worked on it together.

All ready to be put up......

Then Myffwyn and Vellvin started working on  the individual stall signs.

In the past we have made booths for all the fair items to go into (I really need to find those old pictures to share) but in our quick version of the Doll's Fair we just had tables out side.

I did make a paper banner to go up (not long enough as it turned out though) and we put up streamers and balloons to create a party atmosphere so all we need now is some food and then some Doll's and their owners.

It really was a beautiful afternoon.Yes  it took that long to get all organised and to pick up Anna-Lisa and bring her over for her first Doll Fair.

This table still had more food coming to it after I took the photo

We definitely needed some flowers for those Dolls to buy

What is a fair with out a book stall and of course we had to have the Tasha Tudor books as the main attraction.

Don't all little Dolls and girls need some bits and bobs to brighten their day?

A glass (well plastic cup in this case) of 'vino?' No it's cranberry juice and home made sourdough bread pizza's

The sweet table:  Yes this was the huge sugar hit for everyone.
But how can you resist those little tea cups. We had them at our first Doll Fair and we  made them for Arwen's birthday earlier in the year and they are just so adorable.

Our outdoor seating arrangement for everyone to relax and enjoy the day on.

Get ready the fair has been opened.
Come on in and get your money bag to begin the fun!!

The first lot of dolls being escorted to the fair

These girls are waiting anxiously

And these girls are a bit impatient

Arwen tells them it will be very soon now

So what can a boy bring to the Doll Fair? Well Woody of course

On your marks, get set.......GO

Corbyn is the first of the mark

But Arwen is close behind......

Yes you had to pay entry!

Come on Moran you are holding up the line

Yes Rogan we will accept horses and teddies as a Doll substitute

Trahaearn just loved paying the entry. I think he used almost all his money before he even started on the food.

Some of the dolls were given a tree house advantage

Kinda cute I think

Yes there was great rejoicing over the food.

I really did not get a chance to spend my money as I was the roving stall holder.

A  few  no actually a lot of photos of the general eating and fun of the day

Vellvin giving her dolls  an edible tea cup each

Mildred with her tea cup

and Violet has hers

Lets just say the eating was BIG

Corbyn paying again

and playing with the hooters

See me eat!!!

Hi Anna-Lisa

Myffwyn bought me some flowers. How sweet!

Everyone enjoying themselves

Flowers and stuffed toys

The money was pretty much gone at the end of the afternoon

Arwen had to have a book. Good girl sweetie

These were the flowers Vellvin bought for me. I am so blessed  to have such thoughtful children.

And then there was a buying war. Where everyone started buying me things

Yes she loves her book

Using up the last of their money

I forgot to get a plate full of food until the end and then the children kept giving me food.

A saved plate of goodies for Daddy

Trahaearn started carrying Woody around

Some of the sweet posies made by the children the day before

This was so cute- Arwen started to pour drinks for Trahaearn

He waited patiently each time and paid his money too

Moran reading her book she purchased

I came across this little scene as I was packing up later on

Just too sweet

And of course Corbyn had to have an accident and hurt the leg he broke.

And so it came to pack up and I pretty much did this with Arwen and Moran.

I did love my banner

Well Mummy are we done now?

And we are done!!
By this time the other children were back inside not feeling too well from all the 'sugar full, wheat full' as it is now in our family. Like I said at the start I really need to be better prepared and avoid this pit fall.

I did have grand schemes of after the children were in bed sitting down with a lovely warm drink in one of my teacups and flick through some of my favourite Tasha Tudor books and watch her DVD's.
Sadly this did not happen  as I fell asleep putting little ones to sleep too.

When Arwen was asked "Do you want to do the Doll's Fair next year?"
She emphatically said "YES!"

If you made it to the end of this post :) I thank you for sharing in the memories we had today.

Blessings to you and your homes,