Tartans

My favorite tartan is Royal Stewart.  I have a lot of ones I love but this is by far my favorite.

What is a Tartan? Tartan is a woven material, generally of wool, having stripes of different colours and varying in breadth. The arrangement of colours is alike in warp and weft - that is, in length and width - and when woven, has the appearance of being a number of squares intersected by stripes which cross each other; this is called a 'sett’.

By changing the colours; varying the width; depth; number of stripes, differencing is evolved. Tartan patterns are called "setts"; the sett being the complete pattern and a length of tartan is made by repeating the pattern or sett over and over again. The above information is from The History of Scottish Tartan & Clan Tartans.

I hope to share with you lots of tartans and a little history of them in the future.  Also any item I find for sale that has a tartan design.  Just to name a few quick ones........ Lands End has a tote bag with tartan handles and a women's plaid down vest both available now.  Williams-Sonoma has Dress Stewart tablecloths, place mats and napkins.  I'm sure there are dozens more but I happen to know of these off the top of my head. 

Just to note........this blog is not going to be just about tartans.  It will be about me, a favorite subject of mine, and all the things that interest me and hopefully also interest any followers I may have.  I will be posting about projects, family, pickin with Cass, and anything else that catches my eye.

Thanks for following.
Off to play..........

NEW NAME!

I have a new name as you can see.  Thanks Cass!  She is responsible for the name.  I love it.  I had to get tartan in there somehow.  I LOVE tartans (plaid).   So the new name is official........now if I could only change the background......lol.  I will keep trying. 

Meanwhile my new book is almost done.  The holidays have put a real crimp in my finishing it.  Really only a few small things left to do.  Hopefully everyone will love it.  Or at least tell me they do.  HINT HINT HINT!

We have our family Christmas party the Saturday before Christmas so tomorrow is the day and our family is hosting this year.  Lots of details to attend to and stuff to buy.  My daughter is in charge and has done a great job.  I am off to finish up my jobs so tomorrow will be  calmer at least until Santa arrives.

Off to work and play.......

Helen

Time to get serious!

Wow.....I have been so busy "picking" with Cass and  have lost all concept of time.  Well I thought that sounded good.  We do have a grand time every week.  Some weeks are great and others not so but we keep at it.  Remember to check out Cass's Etsy site......  http://www.etsy.com/shop/papertales.  Also Laura's.....   http://www.etsy.com/shop/laurasvintagegarden.  Two great places to feed our hunger for vintage items and other treasures. 

I do have a new book in the works and hopefully will have pictures very soon.   It is all about vintage board and card games.  Many of them from my childhood.  Fun, fun stuff.  I have lots of game pieces, dice and money that are going in the book.  I hope to teach this class, it will be a small class so please let me know if your interested.

Now that I have started "playing" again........more things keep popping into my head.  I have already started on a date book.  The paper I chose to use is so much fun.......

Off to play.......and cook dinner.

March 2010???????

Wow so much has happened since I last blogged.  I probably should win a prize for going so long since I last posted anything.  First there were the holidays...........then I went on the cruise, stayed in Barcelona a few days before and after.  I have posted some pictures online and will be adding more soon.  http://www.europecruise2010.shutterfly.com.  The cruise was great, the food was great and I would do it all again. 
When I returned Paper Tales was in full swing getting ready to close.  It was a long couple of weeks for me.......much longer for Cass, Laura, Kate and Mike.   I still can't believe its gone.  My second home.  Now I have nowhere to hide..........lol.  Cass and Laura are still busy with the Etsy store and will be adding new items all the time. 
Neil has had a  steriod injection in his back and is improving daily.  He goes for his second one tomorrow.  Hopefully things will return to normal soon.  It has been a very long winter for him. 
I will be working in my basement......creating, but first I must get it organized.  OH HELP ME! 
It could take a while but I am anxious to get started.  I have ideas swimming around in my head and soon they must come out.
Looking forward to spring.....
Off to play........