April 2, 2012

Tartan Parade

No, that's not me.  That's my friend Julie.  (Isn't she cute?)  We've known each other since the fifth grade.  Julie played the bagpipes when we were in high school because she was one of the Lassies and that's what they did.  During half time at the football games, they marched around the field and played our school song.  We were the Scotties and we had that whole Scottish vibe going on.  

Maybe this is when my lifelong obsession with tartan began.   Maybe or maybe not.  I went to Baylor and never became obsessed with bears, so who knows?

Anyway, this post is all about my affliction affection for tartan. I'm joining Alison over at The Polohouse HERE for a Tartan Parade linky party.  I think that her party was arranged JUST FOR ME! 


This is my laundry room.  I have a thing for old Victorian bamboo furniture, so what could be better for displaying some lunch and tin boxes, dog leashes, hats, caps, bags, umbrellas, etc.?


That fez was my grandfather's and I found it up in my grandmother's attic.  Oh, the treasures that were in that attic!


This vignette began as one thing and morphed into something quite different.  It all began when I asked my husband if it was okay if I used the back of his car to take some photos.  (I would've done it anyway; I was just trying to be nice….)  He said it was fine, and that's when the trouble began.


I had been planning to do a sweet little vignette with my ice chest, picnic accoutrements, my dog Bitsy and maybe a pitcherful of daisies.  But because I was using his car, my husband decided that he should "help" me with a few suggestions.  


See that shotgun?  The hunting vest?  The cowboy hat?  The shotgun shells? The black boots?  Yep, those are all his.  He thought it would enhance my vignette by adding a twist to the picnic…a little hunting twist, to be exact.  (By the way, he only hunts birds and probably hasn't done that in twenty years.  He's all bark and no shoot.) 


But actually I think that the vignette turned out well, although I had to leave Bitsy out of it.  I certainly couldn't put her in there next to that shotgun!  


Back in the 50s and 60s, several companies sold all sorts of nifty little camping, sporting and exercise equipment.  The best thing was that they were all designed with a plaid motif.  Thermoses, ice chests, picnic hampers, wool blankets, golfing and swimming equipment….all in plaid.  A virtual paradise for the plaid/tartan connoisseur.  Fortunately, thousands of these products have survived over the years and have become highly-prized collectors' items.  


See the yellow coffee pot above with the two little coffee cups (artistically arranged by my husband, I might add)?  This came in a little plaid carrying case and, as long as there was an electrical source, made a great cuppa on the camping trip.  See the little tin can-like cylinders in the ice chest above?  Those were used to keep food cold.  Just pop them in the Kelvinator for a few hours, and voila! - icy cold cans.  These products were way ahead of their time. 




More thermoses, hampers and an old chalkware Scottie thrown in for good measure.


It's a sickness, I tell ya!


Tartan books and a Staffordshire cottage on my mantel.



Thomas is checking out the lemons and limes in the lunchbox.  Immediately after taking this photo, I noticed that he and Bitsy were chasing them all over the kitchen floor.  Just couldn't resist them, I guess.

By the way, please notice the green plaid lunchbox.  As Alison of The Polohouse has already told you, a green plaid lunchbox is VERY RARE and HARD TO FIND.  Once I found that out, I was on a quest to find one.  After several months of searching, I finally found one on eBay.  Yeah for eBay!

So that's my tartan story for today.  Since I've only barely scratched the tip of the iceberg (sorry for that mixed metaphor) of all of my tartan junk treasures, I'm sure that there will be many more. Please come back, and remember….


24 comments:

  1. Lovin' all of your tartan goodies! The rain boots are great and the vignette in the back of the car is fun:@)

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    1. Thanks! It was fun to have my husband help me, although I was laughing at him the whole time. He actually made a good photographer's assistant.

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  2. You have an awesome collection of tartan! Love the lunchbox with the thermoses. Happy Tartan Day! Diane

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    1. Thanks, Diane. I just visited your blog and will immediately subscribe. I love your header with those beautiful old houses. And your tartan pictures are wonderful. Happy Tartan Day to you, too.

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  3. There you are friend!!! Kept looking for the Tartan Terrace post! LOVE it all. I love your laundry room grouping on the bamboo hall stand.... now I see there are some more "things" i need to collect!!
    I did not even remember to take a pic of my red plaid shoes.... I think I have four pairs, my fave being the Top Siders with black patent on the edges!

    Your car vignette is fantastic! Total Tartan Texas style -- you two nailed it! I love it that your hubbie is getting into it too now!

    So excited you found a green lunch box too! You "needed" that for your collection too!

    So thrilled you joined the parade, Kathy!
    xoxoxox

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    1. Such a fun linky party. I really didn't know where to begin since my whole house is full of tartan. I'm always on the prowl for new things and will definitely have to see if I can find a pair of tartan Top Siders. Thanks for hosting this party along with Babs, Sarah and Delores!

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  4. Katharine, you should be leading this parade! I' thrilled to know about Tartan Terrace. Love the name, and everything I've seen here. You bamboo hat rack full of vintage tartan is beyond fabulous. Laughed when I read about your hubs getting into the action. You two did a great job. Now that's one tailgate party! Love the photo of you friend. Bet not many have such a classic photo. But what really did it for me was the shoes in you closel. OMG - I never can find any to fit my narrow foot. I do have some gray plaid ones, but I long for some of those red charmers.
    Thanks for linking and joining the Tartan Parade. I'moff to see more of your blog and join as a follower. I ca tell I' m going to be camping on your doorstep. Don't worrry, I brings own tartan throw and thermos.
    Happy Tartan Day! - Sarah

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    1. Sarah - Thanks so much for the compliments! I love all of your tartan plates on your post, and I had never heard of the Texas Bluebonnet Tartan. Your little dog Sadie is precious! I had a good time at your party; thanks for the invitation!

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  5. Oh, I agree with Sarah! You win! Yes, you should be the Grand Marshall of the Tartan Parade! I love all your vignettes. The faux bamboo hall tree with all your tartan took my breath away. But wait, your shoes! They're fantastic! I have about 3 pairs of tartan shoes, but yours are just beautiful. Thanks for joining the Tartan Parade. It's going to be a fun week! ~Delores

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    1. Delores - I really do wear those shoes and have a few more I didn't show. I love your "Home for Lunch" tartan vignette with the placemat, napkin and china. So cute! Thanks for stopping by and also for hosting the party.

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  6. Oh mercy!! I've died and gone to heaven!! Oh, those tartan shoes, and I'm so loving your bamboo hall tree.Your post is making me want to get out my MacGregor tartan which I put away till Fall. I agree with Sarah and Delores.. you take the prize!...if we had a prize. :)
    Babs

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    1. Babs - I loved your Frugal Tartan post, especially the cute tartan flowers and the lemon cake. I visited the post you did for Tartan Day last year, and it was also amazing. Your mother's bamboo stool, your beautiful china, the silver…all absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for stopping by.

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  7. I love this post! What an interesting collection of tartan things you have. Your hubby did a great job staging the back of the car too. I remember those plaid freezer cans as we had them. I really enjoyed my visit here today! Pamela

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    1. Pamela - My husband has gotten more compliments on this post than I have. I seriously need to have him start helping me "stage" these shots! Thanks!

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  8. Aww love it! I was a Scot and I have to say it is one of the coolest mascots I've seen. I will always have a special soft spot for the bagpipes. I married a Robertson so the fact that they have a tartan has made me even more obsessed with it.

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    1. Jennifer - I know that you and I went to the same high school. I've heard that the bagpipes have been retired to the basement; I hope that's not true. What a great tradition it was. Thanks for stopping by.

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  9. I love your love of tartan! Your vignette helped by your husband is fabulous-- shotgun and all. (My husband has been trying to convince me to go shotgunning with him. Hmm.. we'll see.) All your photos are great, but I especially love your tartan shoe collection. Perfect!

    Keri
    P.S. I added you to my blogroll in my sidebar. :D

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    1. Keri - Thanks for adding me to your blogroll. I think it's my first! Btw, I love your post on your own ivy clad house this week. So pretty!

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