My New(some) MacDonell of Keppoch Box Pleat

**Jack Daw** · 10th December 10, 06:37 PM

Terry, that's a great looking kilt!

(And, what can I say about the STM brochure? Why, it features the MacIntyre tartan, no less.)

**GaRebel211** · 10th December 10, 08:15 PM

Bold,
That is an amazing tartan and kilt! Congrats. Yes, you have gotten my own jones up for a new kilt. On a side note what is your tattoo on your arm? Again congrats on the new kilt.
Slainte

**BoldHighlander** · 10th December 10, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by GaRebel211

Bold,
That is an amazing tartan and kilt! Congrats. Yes, you have gotten my own jones up for a new kilt. On a side note what is your tattoo on your arm? Again congrats on the new kilt.
Slainte

Thanks

I don't want to take the thread too far off-topic, but regarding the tattoo:
it's a little something I designed (my artwork). The words/phrase is "Quo Itinere Ibis?", which roughly translates as "Upon which path will you travel?"....I ended up contacting a professor of languages/Latin from BC, Canada for the translation, as I wanted "Old Latin" (which would've been recognizable in biblical times) for this design.

The lettering I based upon that found in the Gutenberg Bible (though I ended up changing a couple letter fonts to make it easier to read):

...on the inner arm is a drawing I did of a Christ/Satan mirror image. I won't go into the symbolism, as I don't want to be breaking any forum rules, or start a religious discussion that might get the thread closed....(the image was taken from my original design, and was not changed in any way by the tat artist):

...the one addition the tat artist did was the clouds of Heaven & the flames of Hell. I really hate needles, so I decided to get it done in one sitting, about 5 hours worth. My arm felt like hamburger by the time it was done!

Eventually I plan to get it touched up, including a mini-demon & angel encircling the gap on the wrist, wrestling each other...symbolic of the struggle between good & evil.

Anyhow, that's the tattoo in a nutshell.

**longhuntr74** · 11th December 10, 05:30 AM

Great looking kilt Terry! Thanks for sharing and I'm anxiously awaiting the outdoor pics!

**BoldHighlander** · 11th December 10, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by longhuntr74

Great looking kilt Terry! Thanks for sharing and I'm anxiously awaiting the outdoor pics!

Thanks mate!

Sorry about the delay. I picked up a nasty cold virus from my 11 yr old & haven't been able to venture outside much the later half of the week. Soon as I'm up to snuff they'll be coming!

**BoldHighlander** · 14th December 10, 02:22 AM

This afternoon there was a knock at the door. It was the Fed Ex delivery driver with a package from the Scottish Tartans Museum:

Enclosed was a pair of extra-large Ancient Red garter ties:

I was pretty excited, because they arrived in time for tonight's Christmas party with a few close friends (thanks Matt! ).

Okay, the bad news.... I originally had ordered a pair of large garter ties, but found that they were just a tad on the short side. So, I exchanged them for the extra-large pair. Now, through no fault of the STM, I find that these are just a wee bit too long!!

In the end I had to tuck the extra bit up under the fold-over of my kilt hose.
It worked okay, but I'm still disappointed. Apparently my calves fall into some nether-land, where they are a wee bit too large for one size, and not large enough for the larger size

Looks like I may have to learn to knit so I can make my own....

**BoldHighlander** · 14th December 10, 02:48 AM

I was caught tonight heading out for my 1st public reveal of my new kilt:

The family & I were heading to a very casual Christmas party with a few close friends (hence the rockabilly Santa hat ).

I wish there were some pictures of me in the kilt at the party, unfortunately, my wife who was in charge of picture taking took none of me at the party (at least none where you could see the kilt ). The kilt was a pretty big hit with my friends however!

As it turns out, one of the ladies present was from Canada, and she was thrilled to see me kilted as it turns out she is a descendant of one of the Island clans (Macneil to be exact) & it also turns out her mother was a champion Highland dancer in Canada in her younger years (even taking her to the Braemar Games & getting up close to the Royals there). I didn't think to ask her mother's name, we were busy talking genealogy (her Macneils & my Macranalds), but if I think about it in the future I'll ask & update the thread.

Another lady friend there told me that it was really cool to see me in a kilt as she had never been this close to one before

The only negative response was from a good friend of mine (a transplant from San Antonio) whom I could tell was very uncomfortable around me. I got the distinct impression he doesn't think it's manly to wear a kilt (I did catch a stab at humor later about me wearing a "dress"....I just let it go without comment). I knew that both he & his wife refuse to attend the Highland Games after an incident where some kiltie sat in such a way as to answer the "question", however, rather I was wearing anything under mine or not, I'm always very conscious of my movements, so as not to reveal much (if anything) to others.

At any rate, I did not allow them to rain on my parade! :mrgreen:

On the way home we stopped by Fred Meyers, and since it had been sometime since I'd been kilted in public (outside of Highland Games) I decided to casually observe reactions. What I noticed is that though a few folks made obvious glances (or attempted discreet second looks), most of those present more or less ignored me (I should note that I was not wearing my Santa hat at this point). I chalk this up to the fact that kilts (at least the utilikilt variety) are not exactly an uncommon site around town, however tartan kilts are not that common, so I was a little surprised by the reaction.

All in all it was a very good night!

(...now if I could just shake this cold virus! )

**Downunder Kilt** · 14th December 10, 03:08 AM

The kilt looks great on you Terry and as for the in between size of your calf muscles, I too have a mostly in between body (one good reason to get tailor made kilts though

)

Hope you can get that knitting thing going. I bet once you start though you won't stop at knitting just one or two things.

Great that you had a good night out and good to see mostly positive responses