#102 of 365 - Wee Dancer and her Seamstress

Today was the Kirkin o' the Tartan at Saint John's Cathedral in Denver, CO. Herewith is a picture of our little Bella, who debuted both as a dancer and wearing a Dress Blair kilt, no less!

The fabric arrived last week and I put my head down and whipped through the sewing to ensure that she was able to wear her dance kilt for the Kirkin' today. I must say, it's a challenge to get 180 inches of fabric down to 22 inches with the aprons.

#100 of 365 - Big Weekend and a Big Kilt

You all, dear readers will just have to forgive me for not posting since last week.

It all started on Friday afternoon with finding the shoes for both the bride-to-be and the MotBtb for the wedding in October. Whoo-hoo, another task off the wedding to-do list (a really big one, as shoes are difficult for the both of us).



Then the last regular season Avs game at the Can (the Pepsi Center, thus the nick-name). This was the last opportunity for Erin to see an NHL hockey game in an arena before she leaves for the UK this summer. After the game, we went and spent the night at Castle Judd and heard some really hopeful news on the home front.

From there, I segued to the Colorado Tartan Day celebration in Arvada all the long day on Saturday. Curtis, Boo and I were dressed in our garb as Ren Scots and out the door by 7:00 am. The village was up and operational by 9:00 am. Sadly, as my camera is now officially dead and not replaced as yet and I am the only one that is remotely regular about taking photos, there are no photos of the event for me to share with you.

Then it was back home to the Springs and the item referenced in the title of this blog. I made a big kilt and I made it all by myself without Judy's help and I think I did a pretty great job on it, all in all. I just came up for air today as the kilt is FINISHED and going into the mail overnight tomorrow to the Carolinas.



This is a picture of the kilt I made for my Da, but you get the idea...

#62 0f 365 - and Another One Done Redux

This post is about a number of things.

Among them are Deborah's finished Skully Blanky for
one of her grandsons. Kewl blanky and
very kewl granny that made it. If you look closely you will see the illusion skull and crossbones she borrowed from Ysolda Teague.





I also found the heavier weight yarn to make the kilt hose for my Da to wear with his kilt. He plans to wear the kilt and hose for the DD's wedding next fall. They will likely look something similar to these. I will do the foot part in a fingering weight and the cabled part in a sport weight to make them really comfy and so the cables stand out. I was ecstatic to find two blacks that matched in two different weights and that are both washable. Woot!

This shawl is done! but for the blocking that is. With all the yarns (5 different ones), including a cotton chenille, the drying process for this will take at least two days, so you'll have to wait for the finished picture. Again, this is a 198 Yards of Heaven. This one done on big needles and I made some changes to the last lace section, because I could, LOL.

How to Make an American Kilt

Here is the wool tartan in the Old Blair.

For more years than I care to think about I have been trying to get my Da, Allan to get and wear a kilt. I finally convinced him last summer to go ahead and purchase the Old Blair Tartan and let me make his kilt for him. This process, was of course, speeded up by my girlfriends admiring him in my Stewart Kilt.

I have a great friend, Judy Wisehart, who makes kilts professionally and she agreed to show me how to make a proper kilt from beginning to end. So with fabric in hand, I spent a couple days at her house, cutting the fabric, stitching the pleats, pressing the pleats, pressing the pleats some more and then more steaming and more stitching of the pleats. When all was said and done, and the buckles and tabs were added after I returned to my house (finally as I had been gone from home for 3 weeks) it was finished. I then went in search of a sturdy hanger to keep it on (whilst also avoiding the malls in the search) and made a hanging bag to protect it whilst Da traveled it to home in Arizona.

Here are some pictures of some of the many steps it takes to make an American kilt.








The finished product and when I can find it, I will post the picture of him wearing it. Now on to stockings to go with..

2009 Long's Peak Scot/Irish Festival

It was a typical second weekend of September. There was sun, wind, rain and snow on the higher elevations when we woke on Sunday morning.

The weekend in spite of the weather was a great time had by all. Quite of few new Blair faces came to visit with us over the course of the weekend. Jim and Adoree brought their usual contingent and even Erin came up on Saturday.

It was wonderful to see my friend Lysa and her family from Nederland. Lysa and I went to the same HS in NJ. It was also a treat to see, from Colorado Springs, Father John Pahls, the designer of the Colorado State Tartan and Kirk and Rebecca and Lynn and Sharon with their soft-coated Wheaten Terriers. As always, it was a treat to see the various current and former members of the Ren Scots, Bill and Michelle, Robin, Cliff and Virg, and Bob who all came by to say hello and share a wee dram or two. Along with Yvonne, Scott and Julie, Kirsten, Ross and Hannah and their auntie, Erin, most of my favorite peeps made an appearance. I totally forgot to mention Friday night at Lonigan's with the Indulgers. John Barb, Nancy and Ted and I went together, where we also encountered the Coffeys, Larry and a few other band fan regulars.


I didn't get too many pictures taken this weekend as my camera decided to act up at key moments. However, if you are on Facebook there will be many pictures showing up there I am sure.

One Hundred Things for the 100th Post

Today's post is the 100th post of this blog. I thought it would be an interesting exercise to see if I could come up with 100 favourite or at least, interesting things to me.

I have really enjoyed keeping this blog. It helps to get my thoughts in order on a regular basis. I also have a commitment to something on going, that answers to no one. It leads me to explore other blogs and check out who, what, where, why and when. I find laughter, thought provocation, sadness and just life in general. I have discovered more about the quirks and foibles of my friends and their families. I have witness the children growing. I have also come to understand that my friends really are somewhat interested in what I might have to say on any given topic or occasion.

1. My family (Dad, Erin and my sister's kids, Merlin, Etienne and Lelani, Auntie Mags and all of her family)
2. Our cat, Pan

3. Ravelry and the really awesome people I have come to know through it.
3. Knitting (got 3 pair of sock, the Shawl from Hell and a ribbon tee shirt on the needles)
4. Quilting (just finish two new pieces and working on a 10 YO UFO)
5. Reading (Diana Gabaldon, Joshilyn Jackson and Dorothy L. Sayers are on the night stand)
6. Working in my garden (LOL, okay, so everything is in pots, but I still have to tend it)
7. This blog and the people I have come to know through it.


8. Moleskines Notebooks Moleskine
9. My new spinning wheel (now, if I could just learn to use it) Louet North America
10. Coming up with new recipes to use for the supper.
11. Our Library aka East Branch and all the folks that work there. They are amazing and they always want to see my socks. Pike Peak Library District East Branch Library

12. Garden of the Gods

13. Having a awesome new grocery store nearby. Sunflower Farmer's Market
14. Going to the camp in Michigan

Art Gallery on Main Street in Michigamme, MI

15. Revisiting crafts I haven't done for a while.
16. The El Paso County Crafters group from Ravelry
17. Columbines, Colorado State Flower

18. Highland Games and my Scottish heritage
19. Trader Joe's Markets
20. Philadelphia Soft Pretzels (Miss them more than Tastykakes)








21. Great Yarns and Great Fabrics
22. Being Creative
23. Ravens, Pine Martens and Owls
24. Historical Re-Enactment
25. My 1981 Toyota Pick Up Truck
26. Dancing
27. Listening to the music of Great Big Sea, The Young Dubliners, The Indulgers, Il Divo, Sarah Brightman, Andre Bocelli, Seven Nations, Albannach, The Elders, Van Morrison, Orff's Carmina Burana, Gob's O'Phun, Hadrian's Wall, Isla St, Clair, Natalie Masters, Ashley McIsaacs and Alex Beaton
28. The art of Milton Avery, Anne Huskey-Lockard, Vincent Van Gogh, Pamela Allen, Vimala McClure, Leonardo DaVinci, Caravaggio, Mary Stephenson Cassatt, Paul Klee, John Singer Sargent, Amy Brown, Tristan Blakeman, Ces, Leah Piken Kolidas, Kay Koeper Sorensen,






29. The poems of Veronica Franco, Robert Frost, e.e. cummings
30. Dr. Who and Torchwood
31. Thunderstorms
32. Bond, James Bond, the Movies
33. Carnations, Thistles, Roses and Peonies
34. Fabric as gifts
35. My Country, right or wrong
36. A new Sketchbook or Journal
37. The way the mountains change from hour to hour
38. Cloth, Paper, Scissors, Interweave Knits and Quilting Arts Magazines
39. Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds and Candied Ginger, well anything dark chocolate
40. London Broil with a baked potato and green beans
41. Border Terriers
42. Tartan
43.Gourmet Camping
44. The Ocean (I miss it I do)
45. Sailing
46. Fire in the Fireplace
47. My Quilt Maverick Lovey
48. Having a Ball Winder and Swift from Knitpicks


49. Being the Block of the Month coordinator for Piecing Partners Quilt Guild
50. Amber Jewelry and a good strand of pearls
51. Finding a new use for something old
52. My Blazing Saddles Chair
53. Cooking and Baking
54. Finishing Something!
56. The Closer and Saving Grace on TNT
57. History
58. Bodice Rippers
59. Using the words "Event Horizon" in a sentence
60. Learning something new every day
61. Rescue Me and Sons of Anarchy on F/X
62. First Responders
63. Learning the difference between American English and British English
64. Celtic Knot Work

65. Crossword Puzzles
67. A Game of Nasty (Canasta)
68.Playing at the Renaissance Faire
69. Researching period clothing and reproducing it to wear
70. Creating Wearable Art
72. My New Wellies
73. Discovering a new to me art technique
74. A new box of Crayons
75. Odwalla Strawberry Banana Smoothies
76. Trombones
77. Being Cack-handed (Left Handed)
78. Old church buildings
79. Found Objects
80. Seashells
81. Rocks and Stones
82. Burn Notice on USA
83. Men in Kilts
84. Bagpipe Music
85. Starry nights with clouds moving across the Moon
86. Dogwood Trees
87. Ginkgo Leaves
89. Silk and Wool yarn
90. Samhain (All Hallow's Eve)
91. Little White Dogs
92. Making my own greeting cards
93. Making the morning biscuts with theme cookie cutters
94. How much my friends love my shortbread cookies
95. You, my friends
96. My daughter's quirky sense of humour
97. Needle felting
98. Woolly Shawls on Chilly Nights
99. Sleeping through an entire night
100. The Old 100th

The AFA Football Game or How I Spent my Saturday

Yesterday, I volunteered to carry a flag for the half time program at the AFA vs BYU football game. We spent nearly 8 hours on site. The volunteers included enough people to carry all the flags of the 50 states and Puerto Rico, we carried our flags in order of statehood, so I was second in the line. It was fun getting shout outs from the cadets, if you were carrying the flag of their home state. I got to carry the flag of Pennsylvania, which is my home state.

We rehearsed carrying in the flags in the morning. We were then tailgated by the cadets before the game. We sat next to the band in a section reserved for us, so we watched the game amongst our kilted friends. The half time show combined the brass band from the Academy with Pipers and Drummers from the various pipe bands (El Jebel Shriners Pipe and Drum Band, Colorado Irish , Isle of Mull, Michael Collins, Pikes Peak Highlanders and two others whose names I cannot recall at the moment) from up and down the Front Range of the Rockies along with Scottish and Irish dancers (who were from the Rocky Mountain Highland Dancers and the Bennett School of Irish Dance.) If and when the pix come my way, I will post some. I know a lot were taken. By the way, if you have never heard a pipe band playing with a brass band, do find the opportunity. It's awesome! In Colorado, Denver Brass and a Pipe and Drum Group do a joint concert around Christmas. I have also seen the Marine Band from 29 Palms playing with the Pipes and Drums and it's amazing, especially with the mountains as a backdrop up in Estes Park.

It was brutally cold in the morning, but it got much better by lunch and game time. We were lucky in that the weather had changed, as we had snow and brutal wind the day before. I was glad of my and my mum's knitting prowess as I accessorized my kilt with a sweater my mum knit for me more than 40 years ago and with cabled stockings and mitts that matched, that I knit for myself. My daughter, Erin accompanied me to the game and was wearing the gaiter (neck warmer) that I knit for her last winter. Our friends, Katte and Curtis Judd were there as well. Katte, too, was wearing the mitts that I had knit for her last winter. We were also very glad to have our cloaks with us. Curtis, Katte and Erin own and were wearing their Half Moon cloaks and the AFA mascot, The Bird, was quite enamoured of them. I was wearing a full length cloak I made for myself about 10 years ago. I find Half Moons to be too heavy for me to wear for any length of time and so I made myself a Melton wool cloak from stock leftover from my mum's store as a cover-up for my period clothing, it also works for covering up when wearing a kilt on a cold day.

The game happened to be my daughter's first football game. It was part of her birthday celebration as she turned 25 on Friday. She enjoyed watching the fans and seeing the traditional bits that the AFA does during their games, like the parachuters, the fly over, the falcon flight, the cute cadets doing the pushups after a touch down, etc., the game of football, not so much. We were all highly amused by a group of cadets in the seats in front of us who stood through nearly the whole game and danced to the music. It turned out that they were the Swim and Dive Team, who there to show their support and it was a privilege not a punishment, even though they did look kinda silly. We did find out that attendence at the football games is mandatory for all cadets. They don't necessarily have to sit in the ranks during the game as they can sit with family and friends if they are attending, but they must attend.

For the DD's birthday, I made her French toast for breakfast in morning from a french batard, took her to see the new James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace (We loves, loves, loves James Bond, we do!). Then we had her favorite dinner consisting of London B, fresh green beans and instead of the usual smashed taters, we had smashed yams.

In all, it was a lovely weekend.