Sunday, April 5, 2015

Hopping Down the Tartan Trail





Used with permission ~ The Ribboned Crown

Donna @ The Ribboned Crown

 has the most charming Tartan Hare,

so last year I asked if perhaps

he had some tartan eggs to spare.




Used with permission ~ The Ribboned Crown

A-Tisket, A-Tasket

Yes, please ~

Tartan eggs in my basket!





A fruitful year of

hopping down the Tartan Trail,

and now I, too, have a basket of beautiful tartan eggs.





Victorian ladies skilled with needle and thread

spent many an hour engaged in the art of needlework,

so it's no surprise that many items were marketed

with the art of needlework in mind.

Both a collector and a stitcher since childhood,

one can only imagine my delight with a few tartan eggs,

little sewing treasures from the Victorian era.





They open to hold a spool of thread,

a thimble, and a needle.




One of the eggs also has a little surprise ~

a coin tucked up in the point of the egg.

It's definitely nestled in as if

it were original to the egg.





I polished the coin to see if I could make out

the inscription, but it remains a mystery.

I hope a reader will have some information to share.

Is this a real coin or perhaps a commemorative piece?





One of the eggs is 

in the Mc Donald tartan.





The other two eggs look very similar.

One is marked Mc Lean, but the other has no mark.





The gold zigzag lines that segment

each egg, are hand painted.

          


A-Tisket, A-Tasket

Yes, I'm very pleased with Tartan eggs in my basket!

Wishing all a spring fresh 

with good health and happiness!




National Tartan Day ~ April 6, 2015

Click the links below to visit previous Tartan Day posts.

Tartan Day 2011 ~ Tartan Day 2012 ~ Tartan Day 2013


Joining
Blue Monday @ Smiling Sally

58 comments:

  1. How fun that you have those special eggs Sarah! I know they found a great home-enjoy:@)

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  2. Those are so cool! Love the tartan. Happy Easter!

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  3. What a clever blending of Easter bunnies and tartan for Easter and National Tartan Day! I liked seeing the McDonald tartan - so close to the MacDonald of the Isles plaidies that my attendants wore on my wedding day. That must be Queen Victoria's profile on the coin - it will be interesting to see if someone has some ideas. This was such a sweet post, Sarah. I love the tartan eggs!

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  4. Be Still My Tartan Lovin' Heart Sarah, and what a fun surprise to find tucked in your egg! I hope someone can shed some light on the mystery. Happy Easter. ♥

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  5. What a special treat to have the tartan eggs in your basket! I would be constantly peeking inside just like a child would do. Happy Easter Sarah!

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  6. Beautiful tartan eggs, Sarah, and what a surprise inside! I think I found the coin, and it is, indeed, Queen Victoria, and the edge reads, "Victoria D: G: Brittaniar: Regina F:D: perhaps a threepence from 1880 (it's a little hard to tell because of the wear of yours). Google threepence Queen Victoria 1880 and see if you don't see the same likeness. I found it on the museumvictoria website. :)
    Rita

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  7. Sarah, OH, MY! I'm in love with your tartanware eggs. What a fabulous collection...Of course, your bunny is my favorite style, too. He must be a cousin of my rabbit. Thanks so much for a great post.

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  8. Very cute! I love eggs and have quite a few but have never heard of Tartan eggs. Wow, they are wonderful. I have a little bitty coin, dime sized, with Queen Victoria on the front and is dated 1889, is yours Queen Victoria?

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  9. Wonderful treasures!! I always look for tartan ware, but never find any in my meager price range! Sally

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  10. I just love your tartan eggs! I've never seen them before...how fun and quite unexpected. So pretty in your vignettes! Hope you had a wonderful and blessed Easter.

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  11. Sarah, the eggs are amazing and have held up for over a hundred years...at least I am guessing they are antiques.
    Hope your Easter was as wonderful as mine!

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  12. Sarah, you always find the most interesting pieces. I love the eggs. I also love the bunny with the basket on his back. Just adorable. Happy Easter! Dianne

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  13. love the tartan eggs ... love the bits of history too - once a teacher always a teacher!

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  14. Dear Sarah, the tartan eggs are a wonderful addition to your collection. I think the coin could be an English silver threepenny bit, if you look on eBay.co.uk you will see some examples. As a child I was given a bracelet made from them but sadly it is no more!

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  15. Happy National Tartan day, the beauty of those eggs you can get them out for all occasions, christmas, halloween I'm sure you can find a way to weave them into any celebration. I love their hidden charms and delights!
    Wren x

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  16. I have never seen tartan eggs before. They are exquisite and so beautifully presented in the basket.

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  17. Hi Sarah,

    I didn't know that today was Tartan Day! My mother's maiden name was Crawford, and she traveled to Scotland and brought home some Crawford plaid. Thanks for sharing.

    Happy Blue Monday!

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  18. Sarah,
    I do love this post, as I love all things Tartan (Clan Cameron!). Are the eggs part of the Mauchline Ware "Tartan" line? They are wonderful - thanks for sharing!!

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  19. I completely forgot about Tartan Day--what a beautiful reminder. Love your tartan eggs! I hope you had a blessed Easter. xxoo

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  20. Love these eggs! With a name like 'MacKean' you know I've been intrigued by Tartans for awhile now. Via the internet I've seen some lovely Tartan's associated with Clan MacKean.
    Hugs,
    Linda

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  21. New to me about these eggs. They are definitely very nice and someone most creative.

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  22. I've never seen Tartan eggs before...very beautiful....

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  23. Same here...never seen nor ever heard of "tartan eggs". Can't imagine the detailed work that went into making them.
    I hope you had a nice Easter, Sarah. I was thinking of you & many other blogging friends that I've failed to catch up with lately. Trying to do better about visiting.

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  24. How very special, Tartain eggs. I have never seen any like that before. Such a treasure for you . I am from the Macleod clan. xo

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  25. How wonderful that you received some spare Tartan eggs, Sarah. That was very good fortune indeed! They are perfect for you in celebrating Tartan Day, and I know you appreciate and value them.

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  26. They are certainly keepsakes, Sarah! I'm going to pull my tartan scarf out to wear today!

    Jane xx

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  27. Dearest Sarah,
    You always present us with the most interesting pieces but sorry, I cannot help you out with that mystery coin but I guess you already got a very good lead.
    I've never seen Tartan eggs but they sure are very pretty.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  28. As the pointed end of the egg is so small I believe that might be a half farthing coin. The head is the young Queen Victoria - the date on the back would probably be 1844 or around then. All the eggs are just gorgeous Sarah - I know you must be thrilled with them. I'll e-mail a pic of the half farthing later Sarah.

    I've linked to you today on my post about travel bags - of course re-told the story of my perfect gift from you when I went on safari - and gave some info on my packing for the upcoming trip. I love that little bag and use it so much, even here when I don't want to lug around a heavy bag - shoulders, like legs, are feeling their age lately!!!

    Happy week -
    Love Mary

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  29. What a treasure trove of tartan eggs Sarah! Knowing how you love tartan I'm sure you are pleased with these beauties. They look divine in the hare's backpack and basket. Very interesting about the coins and names on eggs.

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  30. Sarah,
    Tartan eggs? I had never heard of them before and these are extra special with their sewing supplies tucked inside. Then the coin makes them extra, extra special. You have the most intriguing things. Happy belated Tartan Day!

    Judith

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  31. A -Tisket A -Tasket you have a very pretty basket!! Love those eggs Sarah!!

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  32. When it comes to tartans, you have the best post, Sarah. Love the tartan eggs!...Christine

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  33. Oh, my goodness...I'd never thought about tartan eggs!! They're beautiful, and must be pinned onto my tartan board!! Love them! ~Zuni

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  34. Wow I've never seen tartan eggs before! Those are great especially since they also house something unique inside of them!

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  35. Hi Sarah -
    Your tartan eggs are beautiful! Now I want my own collection :) Next Easter, perhaps. And I hope you had a wonderful Easter. Spring is here in DC, and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom - yay!
    Cheers
    L

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  36. What treasures! I love how you have displayed them.

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  37. What a beautiful treasure you shared with us. I like how it you displayed them! Thank you for sharing and have a beautiful weekend.

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  38. Sarah, your Tartan eggs are just delightful and how special to have them in your basket!!

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  39. Sarah, I love the tartan eggs and the cute way you have displayed them. Thank you for joining the Share Your Style party.
    xx,
    Sherry

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  40. I have never seen tartan eggs, they are wonderful! Thanks for sharing them with us!!

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  41. Sarah, Your Tartan eggs are lovely little works of art. I should think it took many hours of love and patience to create them. The plaid patterns in each segment of the eggs match perfectly. Lovely!

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  42. Oh my goodness, who couldn't love a tartan egg! With the family name on it!? Love it Sarah! Thanks for joining Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  43. I love tartan, and I love your eggs. I am still not getting your posts in my feed. Oh Blogger!
    Have a great day! xo

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  44. Dear Sarah,
    what a fun to find those Tartan eggs. I love Tartan also, but it is not so common here. Only Tartan fabrics are often seen here. Your eggs make a wonderful decoration. I am glad, you enjoyed my Tartan inspired post. When I wrote, I thought, you might like it. :-)
    Best greetings, Johanna

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  45. What unique and wonderful eggs! I adore them. I love that they even had a useful purpose. I've never seen anything like these, and now I want some too!

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  46. How unusual and elegant to find Tartan on eggs. I love their beautiful finish and detail. Sarah, these are just stunners!

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  47. Oh me oh my! Something new to capture my fancy. I MUST have a Gunn tartan egg. :) What lovely finds. Have a wonderful weekend dear one!

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  48. I missed Tartan Day! But lovely to see your post. I have never seen eggs like this before. They are so beautiful, but then what a clever treasure inside. So nice to know that you stopped by. I love sharing my new transferware finds with fellow china lovers!

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  49. These Tartan eggs aren't just beautiful, but functional too and I love the surprise coin!

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  50. I stopped by because of your blog’s name. Growing up (in Paris) my mother always gave me a hyacinth for my birthday, in March. Luckily I have found hyacinth plants here at Trader Joe’s during the whole month of March and into April. With a pot on the kitchen table, their scents were in the kitchen the whole time.

    I have never seen tartan eggs before – and I like your white rabbit.

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  51. I am finally able to type with no pain and am checking up on my favorite blogs.

    Just checking in to make sure everything is okay.

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  52. Oh my gosh, who knew there were Tartan eggs, little lone a National day? I love tartan and the eggs are a real treasure! The fun things inside make them even more wonderful. Would love to find some one day. Love them in your basket and the bunny is darling as well!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  53. Hi Sarah, Just checking in to say hi! We were just in Austin for 2 days to see my niece graduate from nursing school and see family. Wish we had more time...I thought of you. We were able to go to Fonda San Miguel for dinner and then the Salt Lick for lunch the following day before heading back home. Austin is just growing by leaps and bounds! Love going back for visits! Hope your garden is thriving with all this rain.

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  54. Hi Sarah! I always love your posts. Hope you're doing well and thank you so much for popping over to see me!
    be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  55. Thanks for the sweet visit! Hope all is going well for you. I have a hard time posting a lot lately! I hope that is the same with you and that you are feeling well.

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Thank you to each of you who take the time to leave a comment. I read and appreciate each and every one and will respond to any questions. Your notes are the only way I know who has stopped in for a visit.