Baker Tartan - Advice from Xmarks

[jbaker42j]

Its been quite a while since I've posted....but don't worry, I've been kilted often. I'm posting with a heavy heart and I need to reach out to some old friends and kilt lovers. I've typed and erased for over a week now and am hesitant but I figure I can count on you guys, so here goes it.

Two weeks ago my grandfather passed away. His passing has been very difficult for me and I've not really been myself so please forgive me if I'm a bit scatterbrained in this post.

He was a strong man and a man of integrity. Despite his barrel chested appearance he sang and danced and was full of love and laughter. He was a WWII SeaBee and fought hard like many other men of his generation. He came from a very large family made strong by previous generations of Maxwells, Shaws, and Bakers that hailed from Scotland and Ireland. Many of the forefathers were men of military, police or firefighting service and this is a source of great family pride that has been handed down along with our Scottish and Irish heritage that we embrace dearly. In the same tradition my father became a Police Officer and I served in the military and became a Firefighter. It really goes hand in hand with our heritage. I am very proud to be his grandson and honored to have his name.

All this being said, I am currently being burdened with a regret. Back in 2003 and then again in 2008 I was set to register a tartan for the Baker family. There is a Baker Fashion Tartan, but West Coast Woolen Mills had been contacted a while back and this design was produced strictly as a fashion tartan and our family has never accepted the design and never will. We did however have an early design that was to be the basis of our Baker tartan. Later my father had visited the Scottish Tartans Museum and after listening to the curator and director emeritus, Matthew Newsome, the idea was to commission him to tweak our design then register it for the entire Baker family......then, life happened. Times get tough, money gets tight, then tighter yet. Fast forward to present time and my grandfather has passed and I never presented him with our tartan. I wanted so badly to do so but now I'm at a loss. I feel like a the threads of a tartan can bind a family together, the pride of family tradition and heritage are woven into fabric that keeps the spirit alive. Our family motto is "You'll Never Walk Alone", a song by the same name was played at Grandpa's service. From this motto I know that you carry your loved ones in your heart but I also think they live on in the tartan.

With my thoughts a bit murky, and times still being financially tough, I'm not sure which way to follow through with tweaking and registering the Baker tartan but it has to be done. I'm open to all constructive ideas. Thanks for reading.




And warp well the long threads,
The bright threads, the strong threads;
Woof well the cross threads,
To make the colours shine."
She wove in red for every deed,
Of valour done for Scotia's need:
She wove in green, the laurel's sheen,
In memory of her glorious dead.

[Braemar Kiltmaker]

As another Baker (although from Ontario) may I say I am so sorry for your loss. From your photo, it looks like you had your grandfather in your life for a good long time, and I know those years of memories will carry you through.

I hope you are able to carry on with registering ... I have always worn my Mum's tartan (Farquharson) since there wasn't a Baker option. All the best to you & take the time to take care of yourself.

Ron.

[jbaker42j]

Ron,

Thank you for your kind words. Yes, I was very fortunate to have my Grandpa Baker in my life for 28 years! He taught me many great things. I hope that one day I can register a Baker tartan that all bakers can wear and be proud of! Above is the basis for the Baker tartan. Hope I can get it just right.

Johnny

[Father Bill]

What a handsome, fine-looking old gentleman! Cares and prayers for you and yours. The tartan is a brave one, and will be a comfort. I wonder if perhaps you'll for a while at least, drape a good piece on his headstone. I honestly believe that he will know and be grateful.

Yours at heart,

Father Bill+

[jbaker42j]

Father Bill,

Thank you Sir. Yes, I am very fond of the tartan and when we get it finished and woven the first thing I will do is just that, place it proudly on his headstone. He will like that!

Johnny

[RAF]

Johnny, It's nice to see a young man who appreciates, respects and honors his elders and their memories. I'm sorry for your loss. I've been there, as I'm sure many others here have - know that you are not alone. As you say, you were lucky to have him in your life for 28 years - cherish the memories. Is the tartan pictured above the one you want to register? I think it's a fine looking one! A wonderful way to honor your family and your grandfather. Good luck.

[figheadair]

Hummmm. I'm not a fan of the seemingly endless profusion of personal commemorative tartans many of which will probably never be woven.

Why not use the Baxter tartan. It would be appropriate and has an history as old as many clan tartans.