I've just had a hectic week, going back to my cookery course...assignment after assignment...Luckily before all this I was able to finish a little Needlecase Kit my Son and Partner brought back with them for me on a recent visit to Scotland. James and Danelle went on a trip with her Grandmother and Uncle to re-trace her family's heritage...
'Ancient Thistle Needlecase'
'Ancient Thistle Needlecase'The thistle has for many centuries been the plant emblem of Scotland. According to one romantic legend, it was chosen as the Scottish emblem because a Viking soldier trod on a thistle and his cries of pain alerted the Scots to the approach of invaders and prevented defeat.
Mary, Queen of Scots, placed the thistle on the Great Seal of Scotland.
During her long years as a prisoner of Elizabeth I, she found comfort in embroidery and many of the pieces of work attributed to her, have thistles worked on them. In the nineteenth century Queen Victoria led a tremendous romantic revival of interest in Scotland and the thistle became firmly linked with all things Scottish, and has remained so to the present day!
I was also doubly lucky...and received this beautiful plush velvet 'Theatre Bag'...I think I might have to look into the history of Theatre Bags!!! I just so love this little Bag!!!
And...this little reproduction Medieval Thimble from Westair Reproductions Ltd...
In the Middle Ages, a metal Thimble was known as a 'thymel'. This reproduction of a ring-type thymel would have been used for sewing coarser materials where the side of the finger was used for pushing the needle through, rather than the finger-tip.
Similar thimbles can be traced back to Roman times and several were discovered in Herculaneum and can be dated at AD 79 when Vesuvius erupted.
After a quick surf around I found this interesting little site...Thimbles ... which discusses advantages of collecting thimbles and things to consider when starting a collection.
Purely visual now...a few beautiful images brought back home with them...various castles and scenes in Scotland. As I find out what they are I will post them up...do enjoy...
Wouldn't I like to be Keeper of the Books here!!!
A wee little cottage...
See the tiny little boat just in from the bottom left hand corner...A stunning image!!!
This one is at Stonehaven...south of Aberdeen on the North Sea...
The rest of the photos are just as grand!!!
And to think we considered them a weed when we had our small acres!!!Thank You James and Danelle!!!
18 comments:
Such a grand post today. Thanks.
It's a lovely little needle case, I hope you get good use of it!
I found a Japanese thimble at a craft fair stall once, which looks very similar to your reproduction one - curiouser and curiouser!
what a lovely story and interesting for me as my grandpa came from Scotland - I will have to get brother to find out some of the info for me to share( alas I knew but now forget-
grandpa was a wonder grandpa who gave me many memory moments
hugs from Meme
I loved all of your pics! You know that I loved the Scotland pics especially, as it really does look like Ireland, where I live. Had a great time visiting!
Micki
That is a beautiful needle case and those photos of there journey. Just fabulous. Thanks for sharing
Lovely photos :)Thanks for sharing!
And the needlecase looks really great.
Thanks for sharing a wee bit of Scotland from the land down under.
Scotland also shared her people, arriving on the convict ships and the ones that followed with perspective wives.( I myself have several that came from my ancestral homeland to the wilds of Australia in the mid-eighteen hundreds)
I think the theatre bag and the needlecase are lovely too.
xo Susan
I enjoyed your picture trip through Scotland and love your needle case. Such a beauty.
Ingrid, great post of Ancient thistle needlecase and all the photos of Scotland. They reminded me of our trip in 2000. I did started a thistle quilt, but unfortunately it has gone to my UFOs box!!! Keep up the good work on your assignments Love Natima
The needle case is so pretty...
and thanks for sharing such a lovely story about Scotland...I was their.... about 9 years ago and I just love it
so much history
Jeni
Thanks for sharing the photos and what a beautiful needle case.
Beautiful needle case and thanks for the lovely journey to Scotland. Isn't funny we both were touched by Scotland this week? I was there in the summer of 1977 but I always remember the heather and thistle. Thanks for sharing this beautiful story with us Dzintra.
Hugs Annabelle
I have so enjoyed your post today and the needlecase is charming. Thank you!
Cheers...Ann :)
Very nice post. I was fascinated by all the tidbits and facts about Scotland. Being of Scottish descent. I love the thistle too! Took some pictures of them this past summer when I was on one of my nature walks. Had no idea it was considered so important in Scotland.
I just LOVE this post Dzintra! Enjoyed reading about the Thistle. I've always loved the way they look like little purple tufts. I'm jealous about your gifts...what treasures!
You must be becoming quite the chef. Good for you. It is such hard work, isn't it?
Hope all is well.
Love,
Catherine
What a pretty little needle case you made! Like you I love the dramatic scenery of Scotland. My husband and I eloped to Gretna Green to get married! love Kath
The needle case is very pretty. And the pictures of Scottland are too. I only dream of going to places like that. Take care, Iris :)
Dzintra, Gorgeous images of Scotland. Wish I could go there. I loved the history behind the thistle. They've always been the bane of farmers, but what a great story! Also, I loved the photo of that library!!! I'd be lost in that place for ages! I'm a huge bibliophile... collecting books could easily be my undoing. My husband asks me what I need all my books for... I don't know! I just love every one. (:
The thimble struck me because my grandma had many of them. I don't know what happened to them. Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. Blogging is amazing... the support is something I never imagined. Thank you.
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