Stories for the Season: The Tailor of Gloucester

"The Tailor of Gloucester" became one of the Christmas stories read to children each year and because Beatrix Potter's work is so closely linked to fairy tales (in fact, that was often her aim: to write new ones) I feel I can highlight it here. The story was initially self-published by the author and not available in her collections but it's now included in the big box sets. (You can read the story online HERE.)

It also seems Ms. Potter wrote this story specifically for someone, as the inscription indicates (below):

MY DEAR FREDA,

Because you are fond of fairy-tales, and have been ill, I have made you a story all for yourself—a new one that nobody has read before. And the queerest thing about it is—that I heard it in Gloucestershire, and that it is true—at least about the tailor, the waistcoat, and the "No more twist!"

Christmas, 1901

The plot is as follows (from Wikipedia):

A tailor in Gloucester sends his cat Simpkin to buy food and a twist of cherry-coloured silk to complete a waistcoat the mayor has commissioned for his wedding on Christmas morning. While Simpkin is gone, the tailor finds mice the cat has imprisoned under teacups. The mice are released and scamper away. When Simpkin returns and finds his mice gone, he hides the twist in anger.

The tailor falls ill and is unable to complete the waistcoat, but, upon returning to his shop, he is surprised to find the waistcoat finished. The work has been done by the grateful mice. However, one buttonhole remains unfinished because there was "no more twist!" Simpkin gives the tailor the twist to complete the work and the success of the waistcoat makes the tailor's fortune.

On Christmas Day this year, some lovely person uploaded the wonderfully done live action film adaptation from 1989 onto YouTube for us all to enjoy.

All five parts should play in order. Enjoy!

Grand Ole Bestiary - Classically Photographed 'Anthropomorphs'

Perhaps Beatrix Potter wasn't seeing things!

These anthropomorphic animals are so prim and proper, they could have stepped out of a classic tale. Or perhaps they'll inspire some new tails, I mean, tales.

From the Grand Ole Bestiary Etsy shop:

The Grand Ole Bestiary is a collection of faux-antique, anthropomorphic, mythological curios that were recovered from an ancient archival vault found buried deep inside the core of a metaphysical holy mountain.

These are actual, bona-fide, photographs exposed with light on a digital enlarger and developed on archival quality, Kodak archival photographic paper.

A brief description of the character/s is included (if such details were 'unearthed' along with the photographs discovered).

Adelaide Gazelling

The genteel and worried wife of Rufus Gazelling, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

Hortence J Pacadorf

Founder and proprietor of Pacadorf Industries, introduced many useful household products including a sticky-paper mouse trap made from peanut butter.

Madame Bella Van Lioness
Proprietor of Madame Lioness' Den of Debauchery and Spirits, was under an ongoing investigation for the disappearance of Rufus Gazelling, a frequent customer of hers.

Brotherhood of the Ram
Founded by The Three Grand Elder Rams, was an exclusive gentleman's club for the co-mingling of ideas, general merriment and occasional butting of heads.You can see many more 'Manimal' characters here.