I just got home from spending the day in Balboa Park and celebrating the 10th annual Tartan Day Celebration. I was good music, good food and great to see some friends! Here are some pictures to prove it!!!
It was a very beautiful day and they always have some great entertainment. They also had a demonstration called "walking" where several people would sit around a table and sing or chant as they would work the tartan material by hand and this would cause it to tighten up and shrink the material. It was pretty interesting to watch. The main presenter noted that this was how the material was worked all the way up into the 1940's and 1950's before many of the large linen manufacturers took most of the weaving away from a lot of the locals. Very interesting to learn about this.
It was a very beautiful day and they always have some great entertainment. They also had a demonstration called "walking" where several people would sit around a table and sing or chant as they would work the tartan material by hand and this would cause it to tighten up and shrink the material. It was pretty interesting to watch. The main presenter noted that this was how the material was worked all the way up into the 1940's and 1950's before many of the large linen manufacturers took most of the weaving away from a lot of the locals. Very interesting to learn about this.
Sharkman, looks like you had a fun time. Wish the temperatures here in Michigan were as warm as you seem to be having!
I believe the term for the process you spoke of for working the cloth is called "Waulking" I've had the privilage of participating in demonstrations of this at a couple of Scottish Highland Games. It is quite a challenge to keep up with the more experienced people. There is also a whole body of songs that the workers would sing while moving the cloth around. If you get a chance to try it, go for it!
Thank you for correcting me. I wasn't sure if I heard her correctly or not. It was very interesting to watch. Though I'm not sure exactly how it shrinks the material. I have some questions about how it works. Nevertheless it was interesting to learn about.
I checked out you pictures and I must say if that's your cat I have his or hers sister here at home. I did I double take when I saw it. If you don't mind me asking, 'Are you a traveling man?' You have a couple of pictures of a interesting sporran that makes me think you are.
Last edited by Sharkman; 7th April 13 at 03:04 PM.
I checked out you pictures and I must say if that's your cat I have his or hers sister here at home. I did I double take when I saw it. If you don't mind me asking, 'Are you a traveling man?' You have a couple of pictures of a interesting sporran that makes me think you are.
Sharkman, Our Toni is a German "Barncat" that adopted us while we were living in Germany. She has been with us about 13 years and is a very sweet cat.
I'm not sure what you mean by "traveling man"?? I've heard the term, but can't place the context here. I make sporrans and other leather goods as a hobby. What sporran are you referring to?
Our child was adopted from a shelter here in San Diego about 3 years ago and she could be a sister to yours by the looks of her.
The sporran I was referring to is a Masonic sporran that you have on page 7 of your photos. Hence the question I posed. I haven't seen one like that before and I have to say that I like it. It's a great pattern and different from many of the others that I see Mason's wear.
Last edited by Sharkman; 7th April 13 at 03:44 PM.
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