A New Tartan

By Caroline Jackson

A marriage of two tartans
Image provided by Caroline Jackson

My partner and I moved to Camusdarach about 5 years ago and married. We both took early retirement to live a far more relaxed pace of life in this beautiful area. His family name tartan is predominantly a plum colour, mine is blue. To represent the part of our life journey here and within the Highlands, I've stitched a 'tartan' that marries our two tartans. I hope to have a piece of cloth made soon.

Many thanks to Caroline Jackson for sharing with us the story behind her journey stone, created as part of the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands.

WHAT IS A JOURNEY STONE?

Prior to the beginning of the stitching of each tapestry panel, each stitcher of the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands was tasked with telling their interpretation of the 'Spirit of the Highlands and Islands' within a blank outline of a stone. The possibilities were truly endless - is it represented in the land? The people? A historical site? A favourite memory?

In any case, each journey stone represents the connection between each individual stitcher, their story, and their own sense, or 'spirit', of place. Discover more of the stories behind the journey stones of the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands here.