Tiny Tuesday

It should be so simple to find a shiny article for this weeks challenge, anything from a jewel (my diamonds are really tiny) or a button, perhaps.

My entry I acquired only this morning: it is a specialised nut on a screw fixing a strap to a bag. (see extra - the bag measures 8 x 6 ins). The pattern on the nut is the emblem of the Islander company, where I attended a workshop to make the bag. There are ten screws but only two with the pattern, on the front strap (which is purely decorative). This was a delayed uptake of a birthday present from last year. 

The workshop was well-attended - I sat with people in a group from Alabama who were very friendly. We chose our own bag colour, our tweed pattern from a selection (already bonded to the bag flap) and  straps and handles from several complementary colours, as conventional or as wildly contrasting as wished. The instructor, ?Ross explained the whole process and we assembled the bags in stages, using the screws already set out in order - he then checked and adjusted each one as necessary, before the next step.

Several of us chose the tweed that I have, it transpired that this is the Islander signature pattern, commissioned from source. Ross gave the history of Harris Tweed and explained the inspiration for the colours as coming from the landscape, which impressed our foreign visitors, who had not visited the islands beyond Skye. They all seemed very pleased with their choice and actually purchased more of the tweed component in different colourways, so they can simply undo the screws and replace the tweed as and when they wish  - I might consider doing so, I can pop into the workshop anytime.

So my Shiny Tiny Tuesday will have many happy memories of the morning spent and the gift that led me there. Thanks to the kids for that and to Incredibish for hosting this month.