My very first experiences with KK is slightly vague, a little like how you don't really remember getting squeezed/cut out at birth. Ok, maybe not that vague, but close. There isn't a defining moment I remember of "hey I got my first email from KeyKollectiv!" After a lot of digging though my various emails, forum PM's etc I have deduced that our real first contact was when Kudos inquired about if I'd like to review ModKeys on KeyChatter. I also remember the bugger wouldn't let me pay for the set, after much insisting. The set he sent me was indeed one of the most gorgeous set of handmade caps I've ever had. Ok, it's flat out is the craziest set I've ever owned...
I'd be lying if I said there was a whole lot of magic in those first interactions though. At first, especially when "official" work is happening, I keep things easy and surface level. The more we talked though, the more the actual magic happened.
I've had my own artistic endeavors going on years and years before I really became involved in the keyboard community. I used to be part of "The Collective" in Boone (no ****, that was the name), which was a basement 10 artists of all varieties (writers, sculptors, musicians, painters,...) rented out under a local burrito shop downtown.The people in The Collective were the absolute closest friends I've ever had in my life, because the mutual respect and comradery of that group was just unrivaled. After the review, we didn't stop talking. My ongoing Skype/Chat convo with Kudos saw action daily, 7 days a week more or less, until even today. The more I talked to Kudos, the more I realized he was just like those people from the Collective in my own past. I quickly realized I was talking to a guy that genuinely cared about the artistic integrity of what he was trying to do, and also realized how hard he was on himself and how hard he pushed himself to make what he was doing happen (it's an artist thing for sure).
So at this point, our relationship is far past one of Artisan & Keyboard Blogger. He has become one of my closest and most trusted friends, and someone that I enjoy talking about life with far more than we actually talk about keyboards at this point. While I am blessed to have many IRL friends like Engicoder, Retro, Hoff, Mesteris, etc<3, Kudos has become a true friend that I greatly cherish and seek out his input and advice on things far outside of the acquaintance or even "good friend" comfort zone.
Finally, let us not forget the unsung hero and secret weapon of the duo, Koala-T. Not only are her sculpts some of the most adored of all KK's work, but her writing is freaking incredible. She absolutely puts me to shame, and has curated some of the best blog posts I've ever read. Hell, I'd pay $$$$ just for access to their blog (business idea guys
) If you haven't read their blog, stop reading my stupid rant and go read it,
now.
I could go on and on about how wonderful these two are, or gum up the works here with pictures galore of their gorgeous caps, but I don't want to get too sappy and have people think I belong in some Chick Flick, or am some beardless lame-o. Take Retrochick's word (and below pic) for it. I am not sappy, I am a badass lumberjack with a happy face of stone without an ounce gushy love in me.
So, TL;DR KK is kinda cool and stuff.
