Tag Archives: plaid

Trend Spotting: Tartans

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Tartans have a long history as a pattern for textiles. Also known as plaids, these historic patterns trace their lineage back to Scotland where each clan has its own tartan. Some clans have multiple tartans for dress or every day. Each tartan is named for a specific Scottish clan. Tartans are still proudly worn by these ancient families but are loved the world over for their graphic pattern and color combinations.

In home designs, tartans have typically been used on blankets and upholstery.  A tartan covered sofa can look great in any style home whether it is a traditional English country home inspired interior, a Fulton home in Arizona or a modern California ranch style living room. Tartans can also be found on wallpaper, curtains, and area rugs as well as throws and pillows.

Tartans can range from subtle tone on tone patterns, like the one pictured here, to larger pattern that employ contrasting colors along with white and black. The size and color of each tartan pattern makes it unique and easy to identify. Tartans are different from plaids although the two are similar in pattern. Tartans are specific to the clans of Scotland while plaids can be in any number of sizes and color combinations.

If you have Scottish heritage, you can bring a bit of your history into your home with a tartan of your ancestral clan. Even if you don’t have Scottish blood, decorating with tartans will add color and pattern to your floors, walls, and furniture.  You can be as bold or as subtle as you’d like and best suits your personality when decorating with tartans.

Make Father’s Day Special

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17605308_SDo you want to celebrate Father’s Day in a fun and special way? How about capitalizing on a dad cliché instead of trying to do something different?

One fun party idea could use the theme “Dad in Plaid.” Get everyone in the family plaid shirts and some kind of plaid shorts including the guest of honor – they don’t have to match. As a matter of fact, they could clash and make the look even more entertaining.

Use a plaid tablecloth, napkins and see what you can find in terms of plaid decorations. Or create your own special look by picking up plaid shirts and shorts from a thrift shop and scattering them on the table and draped over pictures on the wall.

14626444_SYou may find paper plates or cupcake covers such as the one shown in the photo to the right. Be sure to take lots of pictures of the party and see if you can work the plaid theme into any gifts or gift wrap. For example, plaid boxers or madras shorts would fit the look.

Another party theme could be “Dad and the Ties that Bind.” Have everyone wear ties, including the youngest members of the family, and use ties gathered from a thrift shop or two to decorate. Extra wide ties from paper could serve as placemats. Old ties would also make good ribbons for gifts.

You may want to have every child draw with fabric paints on plain ties to give dad some “fancy” handmade ties from the family. Once again, get photos.

Father’s Day is worth celebrating, so why not give the dad or dads in your life a chance to be a little silly on his day? You’ll create an event that everyone will remember.