kustom kaktus kilt pin

[Retro Red]

For some time, I've been trying to find a kilt pin for my Arizona tartan kilt - one as unique & representative of my native state as the Arizona tartan. The 2 most iconic images of Arizona are the Grand Canyon - not really practical as a kilt pin - and the saguaro cactus, since Arizona covers most of where it grows.

Surprisingly, I had difficulty finding a suitable saguaro cactus pin. What few I found were too small & light; meant more for wearing on a blouse.

Fortunately, there's no shortage of Native American silversmiths in Arizona & I was easily able to get a pin made to my specifications. I'm very pleased with the results.

I had some trouble trying to photograph the pin; if I used a flash, it tended to wash-out the pin details because of how shiny the pin is, but if I didn't use a flash the pic was too dark. Here's the best pic I was able to get. At some point I'll get an "action" photo of me wearing the kilt & new kilt pin.



.

[Mipi]

Nice kilt pin.

Next time using flash, you should try not to take picture right from the top (front) but try to do it from an angle. You'll avoid flash refletions to hit you camera (old trick and new fool selling the it,haha)

[Sionnach]

Very nice pin- classy in a southwest way. Very appropriate.

[george7]

Custom is cooler.

[Riverkilt]

What a great pin! Gotta be a market for Native silversmiths to make kilt pins. Have my two custom Hopi silversmith kilt pins...so much the artists can do.

Not sure how you meant it....the sahuaro is certainly a symbol for Arizona, but it only grows in parts of the southern part of the state. Once you go West to the Mohave or North out of Black Canyon sahuaros are gonners.

Think it was in The Searchers, the old John Wayne movie, that they called Monument Valley (in Utah actually) Texas and put fake sahuaros up. Its a good five hour drive to the nearest sahuaro from there.

I love sahuaros, their fruit is delicious. But even though they're a worthy state symbol for Arizona they're hard to find in most areas of the state.

If you can score some LEGAL sahuaro fruit next summer (tastes like strawberry, cherry, watermelon mix) get you some vanilla ice cream, melt it down just enough to mix in the sahuaro fruit, and refreeze. Sahuaro ice cream is delicious, and the tiny seeds are very tasty too.

I guess all my sahuaro rambling is proof that's a great kilt pin. Sadly, never did get a line on the Arizona state tartan through its inventor....

Ron

[macwilkin]

Ron,

Red's kilt is from Matt; as with my Iowa tartan, Matt (and Barb for that matter) can have the Arizona state tartan custom woven for you.

As I recall, you've never ordered a kilt from Matt -- isn't about time? :mrgreen:

Todd

[Bugbear]

Interesting idea. You might also consider a topografical kilt pin in the shape of Arizona. Just a thought.

[unaspenser]

That pin is fantastic! It's just right to give some Arizona spirit. The tartan's very nice as well.

[Riverkilt]

Aye Todd,

I think I've spent more on Lewis Hose from Matt than I've sent to most kiltmakers!!

Working with Kathy Lare, she's friends with Dr. Smith(?) who holds the rights to the Arizona tartan...we've been hoping there was a bolt of it somewhere - like within the Caledonia Society...

No offense to either Matt or Barb, I'm just too sold on Kathy to vary.

Ron

[macwilkin]

Aye Todd,

I think I've spent more on Lewis Hose from Matt than I've sent to most kiltmakers!!

Working with Kathy Lare, she's friends with Dr. Smith(?) who holds the rights to the Arizona tartan...we've been hoping there was a bolt of it somewhere - like within the Caledonia Society...

No offense to either Matt or Barb, I'm just too sold on Kathy to vary.

Ron

Ron,

Considering Dr. Smith and Matt are members of the STA, the GTS and other tartan organizations, I doubt you have much to worry about there.

Todd