Dear Beatrix Potter Admirers, the Beatrix Potter Society

Fawe Park, Keswick Photo: David Pepper

Dear Beatrix Potter Admirers, The Beatrix Potter A rare sight to open with - the above photo was snapped in Fawe Park on a day when it was open to Society the public. The view was used by Beatrix for a scene in The Tale of Benjamin Bunny. Peter and Benjamin Interested in learning appear on the same stone wall in the illustration on more about Beatrix page 21 or 23, depending on the edition you have. A Potter? treat for all of us, and fuel for anticipation for those Consider joining the making their way to the Lakes for the Society's Study Society. Meet others who are passionate about Conference. Beatrix Potter, her life and To continue with anticipation - or to give a peek to works. You will also receive those who can't be there this summer - we open with the quarterly Journal and a short (2 minute) video of "A day out at Hill Top". Newsletter, full of Maybe you'll spot someone you know! interesting articles about Miss Potter and the Society's efforts and events.

Find the Membership form for download, and more information about the Society here.

Save the Date:

2016:

September 10, 2016: Society News: Autumn Meeting, 12:00 noon, Sloane Club, London. Meeting dates for 2017 have been added to "Save Connie Neumann will speak the Date" in the side bar, so you can mark your on "Peter Rabbit Tales and calendars. More details will follow in the future, here Pioneer Trails: the parallel and in the Journal and Newsletter. lives of Beatrix Potter and Laura Ingalls Wilder". In Other News: December 3, 2016:

Festive Gathering, Sloane The news that Dame Helen Mirren will narrate the Club, London. audiobook of The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots has been broadcast far and wide, and happy news it is. Some may be reluctant about the choice of illustrator for the book, but surely there can't be many who would 2017: have trouble with this. In case anyone missed the news, a link to the BBC article about it. Thanks to all March 4, 2017: who sent this from a variety of sources. AGM and Linder Memorial Lecture, Sloane Club, If anyone was lucky enough to spot one of the London. miniature Beatrix Potter figures in London, we would love to see your photos. Peter Rabbit, Mr. Jeremy May 20, 2017: Fisher, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, Jemima Puddle-Duck and Spring Meeting, Sloane Mrs. Tittlemouse were modelled with great care by Club, London. artist Marcus Crocker, who spent over 140 hours on each one. They were placed in locations across June 9-11, 2017: London for a morning at the beginning of June, as US Symposium, "Beatrix part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of Beatrix's Potter in the Natural World birth, and their photos were a hit on social media - no - in New London on the wonder, they are almost as enchanting as Beatrix's Thames River", at the Linda illustrations. Aol. reports they will be in the Lear Center for Special Waterstones Piccadilly shop in July. Collections and Archives, at Connecticut College, New London, CT. Details to come....

September 9-10, 2017: Autumn Meeting, Lake District, UK.

December 2, 2017: Festive Gathering, Sloane Club, London.

*More details on the 2017 Society events will be in the July J&N, on its way to you soon. Beatrix Potter miniature figures

Quick Links Email us at: [email protected] m

Read the previous issue of Recently: "Pottering About" here.

Rosemary King, greeter at Hill Top, models the new Website jackets the staff will be wearing this year. Visit the Society's web page: The Beatrix Potter Society

Stay Connected

Pottering About Editors: Janet Sullivan Carolyn Schaeffer

At the end of April, a celebration of the 150th anniversary of Beatrix's birth took place in Croatia, at the Rijeka City Library Children's Department, as part of The Good Children's Book Week program. Society Member Maja Verdonik, a professor of Children's literature at the University of Rijeka, gave a presentation about Beatrix Potter's life and work. (More about this in the July J&N.)

Maja Verdonik overseeing the Beatrix Potter display Photo: Verena Tibljas

Marta McDowell had an unusual request for information from a group that checks facts in political statements. They were following up a post written by President Obama about New England Cottontails (at one time on the endangered list) and a claim that the rabbit had inspired the popular Peter Rabbit stories. The journalist, Lou Jacobson, was puzzled that this could not be possible, given that Beatrix Potter's Peter came from the Lake District in the UK, not the US. The Peter Rabbit in question was actually Peter Cottontail, of the stories written by Thornton W. Burgess, a New England author from Cape Cod. Read the PolitiFact statement here.

It may well be Thornton W. Burgess' Peter who appears on this bag of carrots:

Photo: Carol Saldeen

Coming Up:

In the US:

This is the final mention for the event on Cape Cod, July 28 - 29. The tickets for Susan Branch's reading at the Brewster Ladies' Library were quickly snapped up - check with Betsy Bray (email below) in case there are one or two left. Kathy Cole will host a wine and cheese reception at her residence (for BPS Members only) after the Brewster Library event.

July 29, Kathy will give an account of presentations from the Society's Study Conference, and a Lake District slide show. July 29, 12:00 noon, Afternoon Tea at the Captain's House Inn, Chatham, MA. ($30 charge, prepaid) If you are interested in attending, please email Betsy at [email protected].

Also the last mention of "Another Twist: Embroidering on Beatrix Potter", the event at the Sherman Library and Gardens, Corona del Mar, CA, July 30. Lucy Barter will speak about the fashion and embroidery of the garments in The Tailor of Gloucester, and Judy Taylor will talk about Beatrix's inspiration for the writing of the book. Dale Schafer's first editions and two original illustrations from The Tailor of Gloucester will be on display. After tea, Readings will be held in the gardens. If you are interested in attending this event, please contact Dale Schafer by July 15, at [email protected] for registration information.

Saturday, July 30, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. "Beatrix Potter in Iowa", Reiman Gardens, Ames, IA Celebrate Beatrix Potter's 150th birthday. Reiman Gardens will feature readings of several Beatrix Potter books with related crafts and activities. See the website for more information, and to register.

Friday, September 16, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, September 17 and Sunday, September 18 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Dale Schafer will read Beatrix Potter's tales at the Los Angeles County Fair's "America's Kids" Pavilion. The theme is Adventures in Literature.

Saturday, September 17, 12:00 noon. BPS Members in the Washington, D.C. region are invited to attend a luncheon to celebrate Beatrix Potter's 150th anniversary at the Irish Inn in Glen Echo, Maryland. Special guest Linda Lear, noted Potter biographer, will say a few words about the new printing of her book Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature. Anyone interested in attending should contact Denise Benton, [email protected].

In the UK:

July 2 and 9 - Yew Tree Farm, Coniston, will celebrate the 150th anniversary with tours of the house and farm, demonstrations, and displays by local crafters. An article in the Westmorland Gazette gives more detail, as does the Yew Tree Farm website.

July 9 to September 4, Bricks in Time: Hands on History in Lego exhibition will be at the Rheged Centre in Penrith. Among the creations on display will be models of Beatrix Potter and her characters. *If anyone visits, please send photos and a paragraph about the exhibit for the J&N.

Sunday, August 28, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. "Beatrix Potter on the Back Lawn", Hylands House, Chelmsford. Bring a picnic and enjoy Michael Whitemore's delightful retelling of Beatrix Potter's best loved tales. Tickets can be booked online.

October 16 to 18, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival will be held in Kendal, Cumbria. This is a celebration of great comic art from across the world. It is the only one of its kind in the UK, taking over the whole town of Kendal, on the edge of the Lake District, for a weekend.

The Festival is encouraging students of the arts to reimagine the characters, tales or artwork of Beatrix Potter by giving it a modern or unusual twist in a comic art style. The project is for students of the arts, aged 16 and over, and is supported by the University of Cumbria. Instructions for submissions can be downloaded from the complete article, found here. Deadline is September 1.

Auctions:

There are several auctions of Potter items this summer which may be of interest:

July 12, Sotheby's includes Beatrix's name in their list of original illustrations to be sold - no other details at time of writing, but watch the website.

July 22 and 23, Tennant's Auctioneers' Summer Fine Art Sale will include BPS Member Margaret Boston's collection of early Beatrix Potter figurines. The catalogue for this sale should be available on their website shortly.

July 28, Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions will be selling many items from John Cawood's collection. The catalogue for this is not yet listed, but is promised soon on the website. There are articles, with a few photos, in the Westmorland Gazette, and the North-West Evening Mail.

For a smile, a pair of this season's new arrivals in Sawrey:

Photo: K. Cole

At the Theatre:

Hookhitch Theatre's entertaining production of "My Friend Peter" is almost at the end of its run at the Arts Theatre in Leicester Square, London. There may still be tickets for: June 18, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. June 21, 7:30 p.m. June 23, 7:30 p.m. Check the Arts Theatre website for tickets. If the production appears elsewhere, we will be sure to let you know in the next "Pottering About". A review of the show can be read in "A Younger Theatre".

Quantum Theatre's production, "Once upon a time, there were four little rabbits", has many dates this summer. Links to tickets for each venue can be found here . July 23, time to be announced, Shenley, Herts July 26, 11 a.m., Helston, Cornwall July 28, 3:00 p.m., Bridgend, Mid Glamorgann July 29, 5:30 p.m., Harrogate July 31, 3:00 p.m., Chesham, Bucks August 2, 4:30 p.m., Sevenoaks, Kent August 3, 6:15 p.m., Holkham Hall, Norfolk August shows can be found on the website.

Enchantment Theatre's production of "Peter Rabbit Tales" (in the US) will be taking a summer break and returning in October. Watch for dates in the September "Pottering About".

Books:

The 2016 reprint of Linda Lear's Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature has been released in the US (St. Martin's Press) with a new foreword by James Rebanks of A Shepherd's Life fame. In the UK, Penguin has also republished and has reverted to the original subtitle, "A Life in Nature". It should be noted that the UK edition does NOT have the foreword by Rebanks - what a shame! US ISBN 978 1 250 09419 3, UK ISBN 978 0 141 03318

Tidbits: The top ten fictional shops in children's books (according to The Guardian, UK). Was No. 9 the one you expected?

Connie Neumann enjoyed an essay, "The Simple Key to Unlocking Your Creativity" (Huffington Post) by Nicola Arnold. The piece was written after the author's stay in Yew Tree Cottage and reflects on creativity and inspiration. Connie is quite creative herself, going by the photos of the display of collectibles and antique books she set up at Longmont (CO) Public Library in May. The library had all their Potter biographies and related materials handy for people to check-out throughout the month.

Photo: C. Neumann

The Boston Globe reported on an initiative to promote mental health and well-being. Stephanie Ku, a student in MIT's joint health sciences and technology program with Harvard University, has opened a Puppy Lab. Located in a lounge space on the MIT campus, students and staff can play with the dogs to relieve tension and stress. A golden retriever named Pythagoras, a Boston terrier named Beatrix Potter, and an Australian shepherd named Wingnut will be working at the lab.

Thank you to Mandy Marshall for this photo of roses basking in the sunshine in the garden at Castle Cottage:

Among the myriad offerings of Potter-related merchandise: "Beatrix", a perfume that is part of the "Dead Writers" line from the Sweet Tea Apothecary; "Beatrix Potter's Herbal Tisane Blend" tea from Simpson & Vail; and a line of baby clothing from Marks &Spencer.

In Closing: Thank you for all the contributions - we wait in anticipation of what the next month will bring. Safe travels to all on their way to the UK for the Study Conference, and please think of us when you return, full of stories and photos. Forward us your news of upcoming events, stories, photos and items of interest on all things Potter-related (in 100 to 150 words). The next issue of "Pottering About" is scheduled for the end of July. Please send submissions by July 22.

The Beatrix Potter Society, C/O PO Box 202, South Harwich, MA 02661

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