2015 Keep Making Stuff Monthly Challenge

[thefanninator]

I've messaged a few others about this & want to invite any & all who want to participate in a monthly project. 1 new project every month for all of 2015.

Each month we'll use one of the patterns Tom has shared (Thanks Tom!) on the Patterns & Templates forum. The pattern will be announced on the 1st of each month.

No hard and fast rules except to follow the pattern (should be close but not exact) and share pictures & details of your finished project by the end of the month.

The goal of the monthly project is to "Keep Making Stuff", push your skills, learn new techniques and get better. It's not a competition, no prizes, except someone will choose the pattern for the following month.

I'll post a link to the 1st pattern January 1, 2015.

[TwinOaks]

I'm in. I tried to keep up some monthly challenges about 2 years ago, then life kicked me where it hurts..... I haven't been doing much leather work SINCE then, so it's fitting that I pick up leather challenges as I start living again....

or....

In response to the "challenge" aspect.......Bring it!

[electrathon]

This is a good idea.

[Hi Im Joe]

I'm in. Can't wait to get started!

[MonicaJacobson]

Sounds fun! It's always challenging making a pattern someone else chooses.

[Charliewz]

Good idea, challenging. I'm in.

[takitty007]

I'm pretty new to the leather world but that sounds like a fun way to learn, I'm in

[Hi Im Joe]

I'm not sure how you guys and gals feel about this but what about after all the submissions are in we and the forum vote for a "winner?"

We could do a poll just for fun? Maybe it will add just a bit of a competitive edge?

[MonicaJacobson]

I'm not opposed to the idea. I don't mind losing to you lotsa'wallet makers.

[thefanninator]

That's fine with me. The "Favorite" can choose the next pattern.

[Bob Blea]

Count me in. I need to work on making different items with different techniques. It would be a good challenge each month.

[johnj]

I'm all in ,schedule permitting .

[johnj]

I Don't like loosing so be warned ,LOL

[papaw]

I would be willing to take it on as long as my load around here doesn't bog me down sounds like fun.

[stacy739]

Bring it!

[Troy Burch]

Is this just for people that will participate in all the projects or can anyone play at any time?

[thefanninator]

I'd like to see everyone do all 12 but I know life happens - materials/$$, family, jobs. Skip some if you have to and come back when you can.

[eglideride]

I would like to "audit the class" if possible?? Another great learning opportunity!

[rundogdave]

Sounds fun. I'd like to give it a try.

[TwinOaks]

Do you want to apply a schedule to the projects? Such as:

"Pattern posted by the 5th of the month, all competing entries completed by the 20th, and voting/judging by the end of the month?"

I'm not trying to take over your challenges, but merely trying to provide some insight from previous iterations. I would also suggest that there be a 'window' for Q&A in case anyone participating doesn't understand part of the construction methods.

If I can help out on these, let me know - here or PM, and I'll be happy to do so.

[Troy Burch]

I'd like to see everyone do all 12 but I know life happens - materials/$$, family, jobs. Skip some if you have to and come back when you can.

Thank you, If it gets to be a problem let me know and I'll step out.

[leatherwytch]

I am going to try to give this a shot in spite of all the stuff I need to get done for comicon.

[thefanninator]

Do you want to apply a schedule to the projects? Such as:

"Pattern posted by the 5th of the month, all competing entries completed by the 20th, and voting/judging by the end of the month?"

I'm not trying to take over your challenges, but merely trying to provide some insight from previous iterations. I would also suggest that there be a 'window' for Q&A in case anyone participating doesn't understand part of the construction methods.

If I can help out on these, let me know - here or PM, and I'll be happy to do so.

The pattern should be posted on the 1st of the month. The idea is to use one of tboyce's patterns in the Patterns & Templates forum. There are a bunch there so take a look at them, print them out... we just won't know which one will be chosen until the 1st. Some will finish before others - participants can post up their finished projects early if they like.

Ask questions throughout the month if you run into trouble. I guess the 25th should be the deadline so we can choose the favorite and have them choose the next pattern to post up by the 1st.

We could choose 2 a month, one easy for beginners and one for those who need more of a challenge. Or should we just progress from easy to hard?

What happened in previous iterations?

Edited December 31, 2014 by thefanninator

[TwinOaks]

In previous challenges, there was initially mass confusion, a groundswell of ' can I join in?' questions, and the decisions of what to make

were SWAGs. There was a lot more enthusiasm than planning (my bad!) for the long term 'lesson plan', so your decision to use Tom's patterns is a good one. It will keep participants on the same page.

The challenges I started were more oriented to learn the tools, than to do projects, so end results were often drastically varied.

For 'difficulty levels' I think it'd still be better to just have one project/month depending on difficulty. The lessons start at one point and build skills. If it's something simple (change purse) then have two options; something complicated (purse) then only that pattern. That was one of my challenge failures- too much variety to stay focused on the tool. My vote is as you said- easy to hard. Old hands can use the opportunity to show what experience has taught them, and then be the 'teacher's assistant' during Q&A.

Be prepared for a drop off in participation, as some folks will get their feelings hurt others will just 'run out of time'. A rank beginner won't produce the same quality as someone with 20+ yrs experience, so limit/discourage 'ringers' from showing off (too much). Beginners may be intimidated into not participating if 'competing' with a pro or semi-pro. This is where 'winner chooses' can go wrong- if the same person 'wins' consistently, then the plan for the challenge gets altered.

Thanks for taking the lead on this, I feel it's one of the best ways to help our member base.

[Hi Im Joe]

We could always limit the winner to two picks. After that if they keep winning the runner up could pick the next pattern?