Taste of Scotland, Franklin NC

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 14th June 08, 06:33 PM

Well the 12th annual Taste of Scotland festival was today, and it was a mighty success. The weather forcast was for an 80% chance of scattered showers. Of course, they have been forcasting that all month and we've gotten exactly nothing. However, today was the one day they were right, and we did get some rains in the mid-afternoon, which kept the crowd low. However, it also kept tempteratures down, and the weather was overall quite pleasant.

I was holed up in the museum & gift shop most of the day, so I didn't get out to see the vendors, hear the music, etc. I did get a chance to bit a fond farewell to Barb and Steve as they departed Franklin to head back to their respective homes. Thanks to both of them again for a very successful Kilt Kamp. Many Kilt Kampers stuck around for the festivities during the day.

Here are a few pics that I did manage to shoot. There were several other X Markers on hand during the day, many of which I know had cameras, so maybe they will be adding their pics to this thread soon...

A local fibre artist came and set up a wonderful display on spinning and dying by our "weaver's croft" exhibit in the museum.

Our "weaver-in-residence" Tilly Bohannon was on hand all day to give weaving demonstrations on the museum's mid-nineteenth century Appalachian farm loom.

She also gave spinning demonstrations. The wheel she is spinning on was made originally in 1847. Still works great.

Here I am with Daniel Williamson (can't remember your screen name... SirDaniel? I'm horrible, I know). Daniel lives in FL now but used to live in Franklin and worked with us at the museum for a little while. I was too busy with the crowd today to get much chance to catch up with him, but it was great seeing him. (Daniel is wearing a Gunn box pleated kilt I made for him. I'm in the Armstrong tartan).

Jack Thomas and his lovely daughter. Jack was one of the Kilt Kampers. No, that's not the kilt he made this week. That's one I made for him (MacThomas tartan, box pleat). He made a kilt in the same tartan for his son.

I made this Black tartan kilt (as in for the family named Black, not the color black) for this gentleman, and it was good to see it getting good use. He got many compliments on his tartan today!

My wife and children also came out for the festivities, and enjoyed the dancing, the sheepdogs, and the sword fighting demos. My eldest son (age 4) tried out some of the children's highland games, including the caber, the hammer throw, and the sheaf toss. Sadly, I was in the museum working at the time, and I had the camera on me, so we didn't get any pics. A friend of mine got some, though, and when he sends them to me I'll be sure to post them.

I had a lovely dinner with Splash4 and his wife after the festival (no pics there, either, but a nice pleasant wrap up for the day).

My wife tells me when the kids got home they all danced around the house till they wore themselves out, and my daughter now wants a dance outfit. They all wanted to listen to Scottish music tonight as they fell asleep. :-) Makes a dad proud....!

**bchunter** · 14th June 08, 07:22 PM

Great photos and I know everyone had a grand time. It's nice to see the multiple displays of your handiwork, and I hope to add to the list of customers sometime this summer. Couldn't make it to Franklin this weekend, but hope to see you at Grandfather.

**CelticRanger66** · 14th June 08, 08:26 PM

Great Pictures!! Hey can you put me in touch with that fellow MacThomas!!! there isn't that many of us around!!!

**SteveB** · 14th June 08, 08:31 PM

Thanks for the pictures. It is nice to see your handiwork, as well as some of the other facets of the museum.

**SFCRick** · 14th June 08, 10:29 PM

nice pics, looks like a grand time

**David Dalglish** · 14th June 08, 10:47 PM

Nice picture's Matt.

**sirdaniel1975** · 15th June 08, 04:24 AM

Thanks Matt for posting the photos! Here's some of mine...

The Black Tartan Kilt again.

Cameron Tartan

Nice Outfit.

**sirdaniel1975** · 15th June 08, 04:29 AM

John Moor MacIntosh Pipes & Drums

This lass & I had nice conversation about all the natural ways she dyes wool.

I love watching all these traditional crafting methods of preparing wool an such...

**Atlanta Kiltie** · 15th June 08, 05:37 AM

Great photos thank for sharing them.

**sirdaniel1975** · 15th June 08, 06:11 AM

Not to hijack Matt's thread, but I'm going to share several more photos to advertise this event for the future. It is free and the only thing missing are adult athletic events.