New additions to the Carl Tait collection

These are two new adds to Mrs. Cassetti’s Carl Tait collection. I just love the Thank You hankie with the French courtiers. The colors are sublime, the red line work, and the corner doodly-doos are worthy of saving for something Mrs. Cassetti fun! And the many ways to say love….? I love love!!

This fall, I plan on scanning all of my Carl Taits and sharing with you. Too much joy. Too much midcentury modernity. Another window on this cool period that illustration popped up in…in interesting places like hankies!

Looking at July.

Can you believe it? It's almost July!

It was a weekend of religion, people, happiness and sadness. It started with a spontaneous party thrown by friends to toast the Supreme Court's ruling on Marriage Equality. Here is to marriage for everyone. Or as our President so rationally stated, "Love is Love". Right? So, now we can get on to other things and let people live, love and be with those that wish to live with and love. This is the right thing to do, and I rejoice that we had some sense around this as so much that is surfacing and exploding around us is so senseless and "Foxified" by the media.

On Saturday, we attended a funeral of a friend's mother (aged 92) and was touched by the simple, sweet ceremony with mentions of the trout in her kitchen sink, and the pies and muffins that were symbols of a blueberry harvest. We heard about Strawberry Shortcake at the church as well as her reknowned clam chowder, also  a staple at church. She was much beloved, and very determined until the end. It was good to go. We jumped in the car after a short reception and drove to Tburg for a wedding at the Conservatory of Fine Arts. It was a joyous, very Burg event...with the Notorious String Busters  and delicious catering by Serendipity. The bride beamed, the groom beamed, and the children were adorable. Lots of fun seeing the tribe...and was thrilled to have some really terrific new shoes that kept me standing for 3 hours. There were gorgeous local flowers, champagne flowing, and every shape and size celebrating at our indoor picnic which had to be moved due to the downpour we were having all day.

Sunday was a little bit of cooking and a big meeting with my pals at Finger Lakes Cider House. Lots to do, lots to square away quickly.  Rob and I were lakeside, which is always amazing as I find we are surrounded by the environment there...floating among the clouds or as with yesterday, fading into the haze that came with the rain. It was cold and damp, but pleasant sitting  at our big oak table with 270˚ of vista and window, just being...and watching the birds flutter across the porch and yard.

I made up a big jar of dilly beans (quick pickles) inspired by a jar of pickled radishes/onions (with coriander, tumeric, salt/peppercorns,) that  came out very well. Similar deal with the beans only I blanched them and cold shocked them prior to packing in the jar. The radishes were paper thin, so I did not blanch/cold shock them as they didn't need more cooking. I am using my homemade vinegar for these pickles--which yields a slightly softer, less biting taste. Need to make more vinegar. Will run out quickly at this rate. And the beets haven't even happened yet. Time to squeeze some apples for my big mother that makes the vinegar!

This week includes meeting with my ankle doctor and the beginning of V2 for Physical Therapy. My doctor wants me to work on range of motion and learning to use the foot/ build muscles that need to be built, so gain my confidence and improve stride. And so, I will. And, there is lots of work for the big client and for my farmers. So, busy enough to keep me out of trouble.

More later.

New sources for inspiration: Carl Tait

I have been seeking. Searching for inspiration, for a place to settle and drive my work. I think I have been too wiped out physically to not be charged up as I normally have been...but it hasn't prevented me for questing for that spark, that moment. Interestingly, I have been chasing mid-century modern in a big way as it is part of my life, and something that I can embrace almost as a curator. I have found that the decorative work is either in children's books, or in textiles...but editorial work and graphic design (only in a few cases) were very painterly and descriptive. However, I stumbled over printed hankies and haven't looked back.  I will share these discoveries with you to share my excitement.

First Off, Mr. Carl Charles Tait ( November 2, 1917- May 11, 2011) is my absolute love today. I am fickle. but he ranks high love. Here is what the  Times Herald had to say about him in this obituary: 

"Mr. Carl Charles Tait, age 93, of LaGrange, GA, died on Wednesday, May 11, 2011, at Doctor’s Hospice in Fayetteville, GA. He was born November 2, 1917, in Old Town, ME, to the late Harry Tremain Tait & Mary Belle Madore Tait....After high school, he served in the United States Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1946. He graduated from New Hampshire School of Arts & Sciences. He was a creative and wonderful artist, with claims to fame such as a large mural that is still proudly displayed in the Greenville/Spartanburg, SC, airport, and Christmas cards distributed by American Artist’s Group. He even designed a line of handkerchiefs that was available exclusively through B. Altman & Company department stores. He also used his artistic talent and innovative spirit while working as an independent contractor for Milliken Corporation, where he traveled around the United States designing showrooms for product displays. "

In the context of the time, Tait's exuberant designs, particularly focused on love and Valentines, these hankies explode (I cannot even imagine pulling one of these out of my pocket) with right color, vigorous line and active lettering. In the context of the lead children's book illustrators such as the Provensens, or Mary Blair's wonderful illustration and vision for Disney-- Carl Tait's hankies are in the front row of fabulous. His work centers on valentines, birthday wishes, Christmas, parables calorie counting and souvenir city hankies (Chicago, Seattle, NYC etc.) as hankies or also formatted as a 1x2 screen printed cocktail napkin/ napkin sets.. I have gleaned a collection from the web for your amusement and my delight.