Reality Check

[Pagan]

Ron, I say post away. You know Kathy, you know her work. If the person that wrote the PM feels another kiltmaker is better, maybe he should be posting about them and not bashing you in a PM.

A few times it has seemed a bit cut-and-paste, in that the OP may have mentioned budget or geographical limitations that would seem to put Kathy out of the running, yet you still chime in singing her praises. But those posts are few and far between.

Yes, but knowing Kathy, she is more than willing to work with people on those fronts.

I have no problem with endorsements. Experience matters a lot at XMTS. Perhaps the objection is rooted in the other credentials that you often cite. What with Kathy's being "the only graduate of the Keith Kilt School in North America," it's hard for any of us to gauge what this means, since we have no other graduates to compare to, nor is that something we can readily assess as to whether that's better than, say, having studied privately at the elbow of another master kiltmaker. It might be more meaningful if, in your endorsements, you speak to the outcome of her work, rather than her history.

Regards,
Rex.

Well, perhaps if the qualifications of the other kiltmakers was known, it would be easier to compare. Knowing that she went to the Keith Kilt School does make her a known quantity. Not hard to Google the school and find out about it.

I think the first thing which comes to my mind during this incident, is whether or not you decided to deal with them with the same respect they showed you… by using the PM system; “P” standing for private, rather than present it here for all to see with only one point of view.. yours.

Respect? Just because someone uses a PM instead of calling them out in public =/= respect.

I would hope a councillor would know better.

Nice personal attack, btw.

Was also informed that someone called the Keith Kilt School and found out that there are about 8 graduates in the U.S. and 6 in Canada - or vice versa. Now I'm wondering where those kiltmakers are and why they're not members of the forum too.

It might just boil down to simple economics. Kiltmaking is a very hard business to turn a profit in.

Ron, you've submitted three posts to this thread. Those three posts contain 14 direct, named references to your favorite kilt maker. Have you over done it? In my opinion, at least in this instance, yes.

I'm really hoping that your tongue is firmly planted in your cheek, no?

[Phicong]

*I am very glad for this discussion. However, I guess I am out of the mainline as I have only one formal style kilt, in my clan tartan. I have, however, been following the non-taditional kilt sellers/makers discussions and have found a system that works for me.
My first non-traditional was from a very well liked maker. I found that it was not something I could wear. Then I bought a couple from a very famous maker of modern kilts. These are ok but have too much material in the front apron area for me. Lastly I started checking out the kilts denigrated by many, many XMARKS members and guess what. I found two these "unsatisfactory" kilts really fit me and feel better than any of the others of the 12 I owned at the point I learned of their existance. Also I have received more compliments for the "unsatisfactory" kilts than I ever did for any of my other kilts.
Please keep up the kilt maker/seller discussions and don't forget to complain where ever it is felt that there is a need. There may be others like me who who are looking for this info and can put it to use.
Also. keep up the good work Ron.
Gordon