Coronavirus WILL NOT BEAT US!

Keeping the vision alive!

"...as long as ONE HUNDRED of us remain alive"!!

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In 2014 I was inspired to create the Declaration of Scottish Independence tartan! A sea of flags... Scotland's Saltire, and the Lion Rampant! A vision of white and blue, red and yellow... and a call for freedom! Those sights and sounds had a massive impact on me!

…and there was my heritage, born of Arbroath ...the Declaration of Scottish Independence - those ancient words compelled me… and the Declaration tartan was born!

 

That tartan to this day has a power that continues to surprise me, for I still feel it was waiting for me... in the eons of time, just waiting to be found.

It noted two monumental moments in Scottish history... and it then pointed to a date, the 6th APRIL 2020. The 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath. A date of immense significance to me personally, and for millions of other Scots!!

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But something else happened five years ago... a seed of an idea. That in the future - sometime - I would find another tartan! I knew it then ...and it has taken me five years to find it!

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So in 2019 I 'chipped further away' at the idea... like a sculptor who reveals a greek statue, a goddess …from a block of marble... (that’s how I feel) …and I eventually found it!

I called the tartan ‘DECLARATION OF ARBROATH 7th CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY’ …and it tells the story of that ancient document... it also complements the Declaration of Scottish Independence tartan... and it will be ratified on the 6th April 2020!

The tartan spans 7 CENTURIES within its weave, and I actually cried over it …when I saw it woven for the first time... for it struck at my heart, and I felt it was alive... Alive with that ancient and powerful message ...and it remembers the Bruce, the rebel king of old who fought for Scotland's Freedom.

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The Virus

So, for a time I felt defeated... the coronavirus appeared, and it disempowered me for much of this year. With fear... and I think I lost hope. I almost forgot what I had done... and the tartans I had discovered.

But the 700 years are almost upon us! …and I can’t let the moment pass without recognition because of this threat that is in the air around me?

… I will not be a coward!

Yes, the fear is real, and for some of us our loved ones will fall... and I am sincerely saddened at that, and hope that will not happen. But we need to be strong, and we must be there for each other at this difficult time.

So I need to stand tall. I have a responsibility. I created the 7th Century tartan to mark the 700th anniversary on the 6th April 2020, and I can STILL do that…

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So I've created a new Facebook group:

 

 

Declaration Of Arbroath 7th Centennial Year

 

A place where our vision can stay alive... and where we can all share our passions for the Declaration of Arbroath. Whether it be from a point of view of the past, the present ...or the future.

I hope this can be a place to celebrate! ...with imagery, music ...and film. Where we can share our virtual celebration of the 700th anniversary. But I hope we can also inspire each other, to plan and collaborate... by sharing stories, events, and projects. So we can all encourage each other to look forward to 2021 ...and year 701.

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The 6th April 2020 is * THE * 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath. And all of us, in our homes, in our hearts …and in our virtual digital spaces can take note that momental date in time.

LET’S MAKE IT A GOOD ONE!!! :)

But 2021 will in time come... and year 701 ...and we WILL conquer the Virus that took away that public celebration from us... in 2020.

We CAN all work together, and look to the future, to 2021... and this space can be a place to share ideas and encourage each of us to look forward to that as well. We can still celebrate together in the open air as ‘brothers and sisters’, families and friends ...communities …towns …and cities. All around the world.

So I want to welcome you here for that purpose... not as a space to necessarily debate heated politics, but to CELEBRATE HISTORY ...and to remember our Scottish heritage ...and to LOOK TO THE FUTURE with hope.

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I look forward to letting you know the meaning in the weave - the Declaration Of Arbroath 7th Centennial Anniversary tartan - on the 6th April 2020!

So keep well and be safe. We CAN make this a positive place to realise our ideas, and I am very proud to be a Scot standing side by side with you at this challenging time.

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I’ll hope to meet you here! …and keep safe!

Sincerely

Stevie, Tartan Guy

THE TARTAN ARTISAN