Here are a couple of pieces I have worked on over Christmas/New Year's holidays.
The first is taken from a Luckenbooth token. As I understand it, the name comes from jewelers in the 1700s along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. The token was given as a symbol of love. The crown indicating loyalty or faithfulness, the heart, love. Sometimes pinned to a baby's blanket for luck. At least that is what Wikipedia says.
Size of this piece (the emblem) is about 2 inches wide and about 3 inches high. About right for a 3/4 size sporran or ladies purse.
The second piece is based on a Clan Hay crest. I modified it by removing the crown held by the falcoln and substituting a ox yoke. The size of this piece is about 5 inches high by 4 inches wide. I'm thinking of making myself a sporran with this crest.
The symbolism is explained on the Clan Hay website. Briefly, a farmer by the name of Hay and his sons were in a field when Danes invaded Scotland and were engaged by King David of the Scots. The battle was going aginst the Scots when the farmer took the yoke from his oxen and ran to the battle site, rallied the scots, and with his yoke, and the help of his sons and the Scots, repelled the Danes.
The King rewarded him by giving him land as far as the falcon could fly. Supposedly there is a stone set up to mark the site. That is just a rough explanation.
Anyway, I really like the Hay crest and the Hay tartan, and this is one way to tie into the legend. The motto, Serva Jugum, is supposed to mean Hold to the Yoke.
I'm out of leather to make anything large, but I'm trying out some ideas on small scraps. Hope to get to my supplier next Saturday.
Tom
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