Day 9 ~ Faceless Self-Portrait

Hmmm, how to convey me in a self portrait that's faceless? Valiant effort on my behalf, if I do say so...

#97 of 365 - National and State Tartan Day

For as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom — for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.

From The Declaration of Arbroath 1320.


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April 6th is the national and state designated celebration of the contributions of persons of Scottish descent to the founding and settling of America. This date was chosen, as it was the date the Declaration of Arbroath was signed in 1320. Some of the wording of this document was used in creating our own Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Arbroath was sent to the Pope in Avignon to tell him that the Scots were tired of being oppressed by the English. Obviously, that is a problem that still hasn't been fully resolved, even today.

I have been involved with the Colorado State Tartan Council for many years and this morning I attended the State House of Representative's reading of the State Proclamation. Lovely to see John Wallin, the Sargeant at Arms of the House of Representatives decked out in a Colorado kilt and carrying a two-handed Scottish Claymore. Most of the attending Representatives also were wearing either a Colorado State Tartan tie or sash. Even if you have no Scottish or Celtic heritage, as a citizen of the United States you are entitled to wear the Saint Andrew's or American Bicentennial Tartan as your national tartan. If your state also has one, you are entitled to wear it as a resident of your state.

Here I am helping out visitors to one of the State's celebrations, decked out in my Scottish attire which includes and arasaig (shawl) of Old Blair tartan.

As an aside: Scotland has co-opted our National Tartan Day and as of 2003 has started to celebrate Tartan Day.

#26 of 365 - Olio

This Moleskine spread says a lot about me. I haven't had a round robin Moleskine to work on in QUITE some time. I miss the incentive to make art when I don't have a deadline to create to.
Now for a completely different subject, this is the yarn that Erin dyed for me to knit my Bellatrix from. These stockings when finished will be a welcome addition to the "Kewl Sox" collection.

Putting on Another Hat - #13 of 365

Here is another of my hats. and one I truly love. It is from Swan Lace Clothier, a vendor at the Colorado Renaissance Festival. It has an Irish lace crown, so it vents my hot head very well. The other great thing about this hat is that it is SO packable, as it lies flat and I don't have to worry about crushing it. The big brim keeps me from sun poisoning as I am photo sensitive (for the rest of my life) due to chemotherapy. This hat does create a challenge, however, as trying get a photograph of my face by reason of the big brimmage is difficult.

With me in this photo, is my Dear Daughter Erin, in her favorite Faire hat from New Terradyctal Leatherworks (no web presence that we can find, sorry for that). Her's is leather and weighs a ton. However, it looks awesome on her and has a host of wonderful embellishments which change frequently.

In this picture, I am also wearing my silk and wool Clan Blair plaid, custom woven by Mark Riehm and Darla Landfair of Boulder. Erin is wearing her silk and wool handwoven Colorado State Tartan, which was woven by herself.

And yes, Diana, that is even MORE amber that I am wearing. Wait'll you see the suite of amber set in gold...

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..

Colorado Clan Blair Society Burn's Supper

On Saturday Night, the Colorado Clan Blair Society celebrated the Birthday of Robert Burns the great Scottish poet. We used the occasion as a planning meeting for our CBS annual general meeting being held here in Colorado in August at the Colorado Scottish Games in Highlands Ranch, CO.

Torin Blair did a bang up job of reciting the Ode to the Haggis, that master of the Pudding Race, by Robert Burns. It was a lovely evening, enjoyed by all.

Attendees included myself and The Blair Family of Littleton, CO

We had a lovely meal, consisting of haggis and bacon tidbits, salad with dried cranberries and toasted oatmeal with whisky viniagrette, pork loins done on the grill and tatties and neeps (Smashed potatoes and turnips) followed by shortbread with pecans and chocolate chips and whisky soaked cake for dessert. Yummy! We do have some great cooks in our Clan.

We are well on the way with our planning for the AGM, we have our venue for the Clan Dinner and plans for events surrounding the visit of Blairs from all over the US and Canada.