An early 19th-century French doll's chair with its original needlepoint seat found at a Paris antiques shop. The wide band beneath the needlepoint was added in the 20th-century, perhaps to cover the exposed brass nailheads that attach the needlepoint to the chair. The vintage lace doll's hat was found last year at a brocante at Bastille. All that's missing is a doll!
Do any of you remember the book Hitty: Her First Hundred Years? Rachel Field's tale of a wooden doll and her far-flung adventures was one of my favourite books from childhood. The book apparently was inspired by a real doll, which is displayed in a museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. I am looking for a vintage hardback copy of the book. If you come across one, please email me.
Another childhood book I adored was Betty MacDonald's Nancy and Plum. I read it to my own daughter, along with Hitty: Her First Hundred Years, which was checked out from the school library. But it was Louisa May Alcott's Little Women that really affected me and made me want to be a writer. What were your favourite childhood books?
The Long Winter by Laura Ingles Wilder. I have no idea why, it was so simplistic and romantic and appealed to my curious senses.
Posted by: Wanderlusting | 25 January 2008 at 00:46
Lovely dolls chair!
Fave's as a child included Charlotte's Web, a collection of Hans Christian Andersen, and the Little House on the Prairie books.
I was also a fan of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
xo
Gillian
Posted by: Gillian @ Indigo Blue | 25 January 2008 at 00:38
The Secret Garden, Heidi, Pippi Longstocking, also the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Anderson fairy tales, along with Little Women (Jo -- my fave too) and many more. Books were very big in our house, no TV because my mother was against it.
Posted by: fleur | 24 January 2008 at 23:33
I don't know Hitty, but the chair and hat are adorable. xoxo
Posted by: Colette | 24 January 2008 at 18:53
Oh I love that. A chair on a chair. LOL
Posted by: annieelf | 24 January 2008 at 18:31
Sigh. It's gorgeous!
Posted by: Rosa | 24 January 2008 at 06:14
Nancy and Plum! I loved that book.
Posted by: Moanna | 24 January 2008 at 03:37
Hi Tara!
I had many favourites as a child. 'Anne of Green Gables'; the 'Nancy Drew' series; 'Rascal' by Sterling North; all of Farley Mowat's animal books; 'Little Women'; 'Old Yeller'.
I just checked my favourite book seller's website "www.abebooks.com" and found 299 copies of 'Hitty: Her First Hundred Years' by Rachel Field. The most expensive is a first edition hard cover copy signed by Ms. Field and is going for a mere $950.00. The least expensive goes for a buck in soft cover published in 1990.
The books are from sellers all over the world but most of them are in the US. Good luck! I hope this information is useful to you and your readers.
Posted by: Nancy Sotham | 24 January 2008 at 02:08
I came back to say, that Jo was my favorite character. Even though I wanted to write like Jo, and paint like Amy - Amy had seemed much too self-centered, early on in the book - and I actually remember feeling quite incensed that she should end up with Laurie, rather than Jo! How funny to remember that, now...
Posted by: tinker | 24 January 2008 at 00:10
I LOVED 'Little Women' - it was one of my all-time favorites. I could never decide though, whether I wanted to be Jo or Amy, lol - I wanted to write AND paint. I read 'Little Men,' when I found it at the library, too. I think that was the first 'sequel' I had read, at that point - and I loved that the story could continue on - overflow from one book to another, so I could follow the character's lives.
There are so many books that I loved as a child (and still do!) - animal books like 'Black Beauty,' but I also loved fairytales, too: the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson, the Red, Green and Blue fairytale books...Mostly, I think I loved books that would take me away to another time and place - 'Wizard of Oz,' 'The Borrowers,' 'The Secret Garden,' 'Heidi,' and Laura Ingalls Wilder's 'Little House' books, too. Oh - and 'A Wrinkle In Time' - that was a pivotal one for me - though not strictly 'sci fi,' it led me to take an interest in science fiction, as well as fantasy.
I'm still looking for 'A Diamond In the Window,' if you should ever see it - I don't know the author, and I don't think it's been in print for many years. I hope you find your books - I'll try to keep an eye out for them. Thanks for bringing back such fun memories!~xOx
Posted by: tinker | 23 January 2008 at 23:59
Well first was Black Beauty and then all the William Farley Horse books and the Nancy Drew books, and then...well, shucks, I don't remember any more off the top of my head, but I really liked mystery and animal books.
Posted by: Mary T. | 23 January 2008 at 23:29
I been reading up on your last few posts. The snow has stolen my computer time so I'm backed up. Your poem did Frost proud! I wish I could wave a wand and make people see the bigger picture in all countries. Very sad but hope is still there.
XXOO
Posted by: Tammy | 23 January 2008 at 23:13
The chair is so cute, Tara- I love what you've been writing lately. : )
Posted by: robyn | 23 January 2008 at 22:48
Harriett the Spy, Magic for Marigold (written by LM Montgomery of Anne of Green Gables fame), A Childs Garden of Verses, King of the Wind, Radish Rosie, anything by Albert Paysun Terhune. Elsie's Holidays. I, Juan de Pareja (sp?). Lots of books regarding animals. Some of these books were childhood books of my mother and grandmother and they enjoyed them too. Anybody remember Classics Illustrated comic books?
Posted by: martina | 23 January 2008 at 22:47
Yes, I read 'Hitty' to K and C, together, and we all three have such wonderfully fond memories of the experience. Like Becca, I loved the Betsy and Tacy books and I read them to the girls, too. I loved the '100 Dresses' and 'Peter Pan' and the Little Women books. I read, though could never love, Laura Ingalls Wilder. Found her boring. 'The Borrowers' were great.I read and read as a child. I'm sure I'll remember more titles. Oh, the Enid Blyton books were among my faves, too.
If you want me to try to find Hitty for you, I will!
Xoxo,
Louise
Posted by: Laura | 23 January 2008 at 21:08
I loved "Alice in Wonderland" and "Wind in the Willows". My dad would read them to us, a chapter at a time when we were little. Later, I loved reading the Nancy Drew books, and always got them at the library.
Posted by: Judy in KY | 23 January 2008 at 21:02
Stunning chair and chapeaux to match. Unfortunately I do not know of the books you speak, but now will defiantly be on the lookout. It's kind of sad, but I didn't like reading because I just couldn't get it. Always LOVED pictures and drawings though!! BUT it makes me SO grateful today, to read each day and night.
Hope all is well Tara!
xo
Constance
Posted by: rochambeau | 23 January 2008 at 20:48
How could I have forgotten "The Borrowers"?
Posted by: Cherie | 23 January 2008 at 19:28
What a gorgeous little chair!!
I don't know either of the books you were talking about, but I do remember "Little Women", one of the first books that made me realize about "life". I also loved "Anne of Green Gables", the Nancy Drew series, The Bobbsey Twins, Trixie Belden and "Island of the Blue Dolphins".
Posted by: Cherie | 23 January 2008 at 19:26
Becca posted her comment while I was writing mine! Nice to find there are other Betsy-Tacy fans. I had it spelled right the first time, but changed it. Go figure.
Tara responds:
I've never heard of Betsy-Tacy! Although the Bobbsey Twins, The Five Little Peppers and The Happy Hollisters series were faves.
Posted by: Pepektheassassin | 23 January 2008 at 18:52
Oh to be a doll and sit on this wonderful chair.
Little Women was my fav as a child (and an adult) Jo was my fav I dreamed of sitting up late into the night with a candle burning and the black stains marking my fingers from the wonderful ink.
Of course you know I adore anthing Jane Austen not just for its romantic content but for the witty sense of humor contained within the pages as well as Ms. Austen's amazing ability to comment on society in a noble and honest manner.
How lucky we all are that Ms. Alcott inspired you with her words and you share your gift with us.
XOX
Kristen
Posted by: Kristen R | 23 January 2008 at 18:51
Ah! I remember Hitty! My favorites were "The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew," "Mr. Popper's Penguins," "The Byrd's Christmas Carol," and the Betsy-Tacey books. My grandmother bought me the Bobsey Twins series, and I liked those as well!
Posted by: Pepektheassassin | 23 January 2008 at 18:49
I do remember Hitty! Hadn't thought of her in years ;)
Little Women was one of my earliest favorites, as were The Little House series. I also loved the Betsy-Tacy books, by Maud Hart Lovelace, and I believe there's a blog devoted to Betsy-Tacy groupies. (no, I'm not a member!)
The book that made me want to be a writer..."Girl With a Pen," a biogrpahy of Charlotte Bronte. I finally bought myself a second hand copy, but then gave it as a gift to a young girl I know who wants to be a writer.
Posted by: Becca | 23 January 2008 at 18:47