It has been quite the year…. that is all I am going to say.

I am seriously happy to be back at this campfire to share stories with you about projects and adventures, new and old.

In the beautiful year 1960, when most of the readers of this blog weren’t alive yet (and no, neither was I…) , some leather bits and pieces were excavated at a crannog at Loch Glashan in Argyll, West Scotland. At first, it was thought the bits were part of a tunic, but later theories have suggested that they were more likely fragments from an early Christian book satchel. The leather fragments were dated between 600-900 AD and fits my persona to perfection.

If you look at this stone from Papil, Shetland, excavated in 1877 then you can see 2 cute little backpacks. Can I say ‘cute & little’? I think I can… I mean just LOOK AT THESE!!

This type of bag was not uncommon in those days, and they remind me of the Roman Loculus satchel as well. It makes sense, you need a bag to carry your items, no?

My husband is an accomplished leather worker and he was quite intrigued by the bag from Loch Glashan and after studying this great page from the National Museums Scotland museum, he decided to make me a bag. Here it is!

I am tremendously proud to be using this at future events!