Tag: tartan

Tartan blanket giveaway

'Tartan Blanket giveaway' blog post banner

pile of tartan blankets available from Buy-a-Kilt

We’ve teamed up with buyakilt.com to offer not one, but two of our lucky readers the chance to win one of their lovely pure wool tartan blankets.

pile of tartan blankets available from Buy-a-Kilt

Buyakilt.com is an online Scottish retailer of – yes, you got it – kilts! But along with kilts, they stock a huge array of Tartan fashion, gifts and homewares.

You can choose from any of their tartan blankets featured on this page. Entering is simple, all you need to do is comment below saying how you’d use your blanket if you won. You can improve your chances of winning by liking them & us on social media.

Good luck!

Tartan blanket giveaway

World Dolls Series: Scotland

'World Doll Series' blog post banner

vintage World Dolls Series Scotland children's book

This week we’re touring Scotland in our World Dolls Series of books.

vintage World Dolls Series Scotland children's book with illustrations by M. Russon

There are twelve little books in the series. We’ve managed to get hold of them all, so we can do quite a comprehensive tour of Europe now.

vintage World Dolls Series Scotland children's book featuring dolls Andrew and Sheena

Our doll guides for this trip are Andrew & Sheena – sporting their national costumes which they wear for high days & holidays (they dress down in jeans & T-shirt during the rest of the week!)

vintage World Dolls Series Scotland children's book with illustration of a castle

Fabulous illustrations once more – this time the work of M. Russon from the Birmingham School of Design.

vintage World Dolls Series Scotland children's book with illustration of children wearing tartan outfits playing with a snowman

They’re very atmospheric with a distinct 1960s feel.

vintage World Dolls Series Scotland children's book with illustration of houses and boats in Aberdeen

We love the colours in this book – subtle shades of green, ochre & blue with flashes of bright red.

vintage World Dolls Series Scotland children's book with illustration of a thistle

Some illustrations are full of tiny detail, but they retain a simple, spare quality too.

vintage World Dolls Series Scotland children's book with illustration of a steamboat and highland cattle

We take in towns, harbours and the wonderful Scottish countryside.

vintage World Dolls Series Scotland children's book with illustration of a red tractor

We love the depiction of life on the croft.

vintage World Dolls Series Scotland children's book with illustration of a flock of sheep with Sheena and a piper

Next week we’re heading off to Wales – hope you’ll join us!

Monthly Mood Board: Tartan

'Monthly Mood Board' blog post banner

Mood board of tartan homewares | H is for Home

What is it about tartan that makes us feel Christmas-y? Think tartan, think roaring fires indoors, snowy blizzards outside; hot toddies and wee drams of whisky!

Tartan is often made of wool and tweed – thick, warming and water resistant – ideal outerwear materials to combat the ‘dreich‘ Scottish weather. The pattern & material is often brought indoors and used for blankets and throws, seating upholstery and curtains. Tartans are strong patterns and often vibrant colours – great for adding flashes of interest, but don’t overdo it – unless of course, you happen to live in a Scottish baronial castle!

  1. Lois 2-seater sofa and armchair Highland tartan, wool – £749 and £499, Made
  2. British Isles hand-crafted fabric map – £399 to £449, Mappliqué
  3. Cardboard cake stand – £8, Paperchase
  4. Barbour stainless steel hip flask, brown – £26.36, John Lewis
  5. Hamish McPlaid cheeky chicken doorstop – £12, Etsy
  6. Turnberry fabric lampshade by BeauVamp – £175, Notonthehighstreet
  7. John Hanly pink & green lambswool throw – £110, Liberty

Tin-tastic!

"Tin-tastic" blog post banner

trio of Marks & Spencer biscuit tins designed by Sanna Annukka

Marks and Spencer are selling these Christmas biscuit selections…

Marks & Spencer chocolate chunk selection biscuit tin designed by Sanna Annukka

…with gorgeous tins designed by Sanna Annuka.

Marks & Spencer Swiss biscuit collection biscuit tin designed by Sanna Annukka

Future classics with their vintage Scandinavian folk art feel.

Marks & Spencer Swiss biscuit collection biscuit tin designed by Sanna Annukka

She was responsible for this Swiss biscuit tin last Christmas – it’s currently changing hands for £15-£20… without the biscuits!

detail from a Marks & Spencer Swiss biscuit collection biscuit tin designed by Sanna Annukka showing a Swiss milk maid

We’ve bought ours early this year – they’re sure to be popular again.

detail from a Marks & Spencer chocolate chunk selection biscuit tin designed by Sanna Annukka showing alpine trees

We’ll be giving a few tins as presents – but some will have to go under our own tree!!

Marks & Spencer Scottish shortbread petticoat tails tin

They’ve also got a butter shortbread tin with a sweet little Scottie dog on the front.

detail from Marks & Spencer Scottish shortbread petticoat tails tin showing a black Scottish terrier with a red tartan collar and lead and an envelope in his mouth

We recently posted a blog featuring illustrations by Miroslav Sasek – we don’t know who designed this tin – but it also has a vintage feel is very reminiscent of his work.

detail from Marks & Spencer Scottish shortbread petticoat tails tin showing legs of two mean and a woman and small flock of pigeons

Here are the actual illustrations from the book…

illustration of a Scottish terrier from vintage book, "This is Edinburgh" by Miroslav Sasek

…published in 1961.

illustration of a Scottish terrier from vintage book, "This is Edinburgh" by Miroslav Sasek

It’s not only going to be a tin-tastic Christmas in our house – looks like it’s going to be biscuit-tastic too!