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Back Road BearsWhen one of us comes up with an idea for a CHALLENGE like the Animee or the Beast or the Traditional bear challenges what does that mean exactly??? Who ever comes up with the idea determines what style the bear or critter is to be or what it's made of etc., right? And a photo gallery is so kindly created by Quy for the Challenge Gallery.
But does this mean that everyone can posts bears they made last month, last year, 5 years ago or does it mean they must challenge themselves to make a NEW creation for THIS challenge?
I was thinking that the whole idea was to create a new bear based on the challenge guidelines. That the purpose of a challenge was to encourage us to try something we'd never tried before and then show off what we made. And because others were going through the same process at the same time we could 'discuss' any hic-cups if necessary and have fun along the way.
Am I wrong?
Someone set me straight, please... before I repost in the Challenge forum for the Synthetic Bear Challenge.
Thank you!!!
:hug:
Daphne
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsHmmm. You are probably right Daphne. But I have not been here long...so...I don't know...I posted pics of bears I had previously made in two of the discussions (Animee and synthetic bear). :redface:
BUT I wasn't even part of TT when the Animee challenge was posted but actually the date of the challenge coincidentally is around the same time I was experimenting with the fun proportions of Animee. And it was new for me then too... 
Good question, Daphne. I don't think "challenge" has ever been officially defined. So I don't want to speak for TT or the Advisers as a group.
As an individual, though, just someone who enjoys hanging out and playing here, my feeling is that it would certainly be nice if we all challenged ourselves to create something new... but, practically speaking, I realize that's not always possible. So I guess that means my personal preference would be to see as many people participate in each challenge as possible, even if those folks have to post prior work... rather than a very few people posting only new brand work.
I guess I'm saying that it boils down to idealism vs. practical reality.
I'm okay with people making their own decision regarding whether they want to post new work, or older work. Some challenges REQUIRE new work, such as the one associated with Sue Ann's pattern for "Goldie," or the digital challenges in which people were asked to use specific elements in their design(s.) But others, like the synthetic challenge, could motivate people to TRY synthetics... or just inspire them to post some of their work, which just might challenge OTHERS to try it for themselves!
I'll be curious to read how others feel about this, too. Please post your input!
When I set up the 'completely classic' challenge, I drew up a pretty tight specification and explained that I hoped this would encourage members to work with the challenge and stretch themselves as near, or as far, as they felt would benefit themselves.
There were a few examples of previous work posted at the outset which moreorless fit the brief, but in the main, most people dived in and created new bears especially for the challenge. That was really satisfying!
Good luck with this one Daphne. I think the key is to say what you hope to achieve from your challenge, but to keep an open mind too. 
DoodlebearsI agree with Paula
I think the key is to say what you hope to achieve from your challenge, but to keep an open mind too.
As for the 'completely classic' challenge I made my bear Benjamin and I have gone on to make a whole range of classic bears since. I told Paula, whilst at the Hugglets show, that she had changed me and I was now making classic bears as well as all the other kinds of bears I produce. THANKS PAULA! 
Hugs Jane. 
Jellybelly Bearsagree...and while im still way behind on all challenges!!! i would think its making something new and sticking to the guidelines. i'm definitely in on this synthetic one....i keep telling myself in a forceful voice!
Back Road BearsAlright.
Well, I'm going to go with the idea that there are multiple threads going in general discussion about synthetics which thus open up multiple opportunities to post, and many have, photos of previous work done with synthetics. So the challenge itself will be for new work. I agree it's inspiring to see what people have done with synthetics as a way to get those participating in the challenge going. If it wasn't for Paula and Melanie I never would have entertained the idea of using synthetics again!
OK, Off to post in the Challenge forum again! 
Thank you, everyone, for your various thoughts and opinions on the matter. I certainly don't want to exclude anyone from posting pictures of their work so hope that everyone will find they can indeed locate a place to post photos of new and photos of old.
Posts: 1,836diggin in pockets for my 2 cents....lint, dust, hairband...an here it is my 2 cents :
I think the challenge gallery area is just that "a challenge gallery". There are guidelines set by whoever opens it to create something new that fits the guides for that "current" challenge. I would cheer for posting pictures of older works in the thread to inspire others, but for challenge purposes the work in the gallery should be something created specifically for that challenge.
I think the showcase area is a nice place to show off all of your nonsale works and the bears and friends area for salable. The threads can hold older pictures, but the galleries should be for "working" the challenge.
:hug:
~Chrissi
Back Road BearsWell, said, in my humble opinion, Chrissi! :hug:
Canna Bear PaintJust a few thoughts (from someone that hasn't read every post above, so hopefully I'm not being repetitive).
A challenge should be, by definition, something new and challenging. However, having people post work that they've done previously, or having experts on the subject post examples, also has merit. What about the thought of having two galleries... the challenge gallery with new pieces designed to "meet the challenge" and a SHOWCASE of existing and inspirational work?
Just a thought!
Kelly
You gals make great points. I think what we're pretty much saying, thus far, is that:
1. The challenge setter gets to determine the nature and scope of the challenge
2. It's always preferable to create something new for a given challenge
3. It's better if older/previous work is posted in discussion threads about the challenge, saving the challenge GALLERY for only new pieces
4. Having said that, we won't jump on people for posting prior work in the GALLERY area if that's the only way they're able to occasionally participate in challenge galleries.
One of my concerns, by the way, about limiting the challenge gallery area to only new work comes from a caretaking Advisor place. What if, say, beloved member Jane proposed a challenge with a lot of excitement on board... and then only one person created something new to post in that gallery? Would Jane feel badly about that, like no one supported or liked her (or whatever)? If so, as an Advisor -- and as someone who really likes Jane! -- I'd rather see people posting prior work to Jane's challenge gallery, than nobody posting to it at all. Makes Jane feel better, and gives us all that much more to look at, organized into a nice little photographic category. Jane my dear, I'm singling you out because you're so well loved, this would never happen.
Anyway, Daph, thanks for bringing this up, and everyone else for your thoughts. Keep em coming!
Back Road BearsI think, again, this goes back to the definition of Challenge. We have the general discussion area and the tips and techniques forum and the mini and NF sections and the Shocase forum to post photos of previous work. There are oodles op places for folks to post pictures of things they've made.
And while I see Shelli's sensitivity to how the challenge starter's feeling may be hurt the flip side is that, thus far anyway, the challenges have originated in a thread on the discussion forum, testing the waters to see if there is interest first. So if someone goes ahead and opens a thread in the Challenge forum to post completed challenge bears, they are doing it knowing how much interest there is/isn't in that particualr challenge from the start.
Anyway, I've gone ahead earlier and posted in the Challenge Forum for the Synthetic challenge with guidelines that the majority of us in this thread seem to think a Challenge should have. I went on to post links to the threads on the discussion forum and encouraged those with previously made critters to post thier photos there as inspiration and insentive to those participating in the challenge. If no one posts or participates in the Synthetic Challenge (which I know won't be the case because I put 'feelers' out before hand, talking about it on the discussion forum) I'm OK with that. It'll teach me to find out if there is an interest first before I post another challenge!
This is supposed to be fun.... with very reasonable and simple guidelines and not a lot of exceptions, alternatives, etc. I HATE complicated!!!!
If we were a group of quilters who were presented a "Challenge" we'd be shown examples (by the instructor and perhaps students who had done something similar in the past) and then given the resources and any instruction necessary to make a new piece according the the Challenge Guidelines. Often the Challenge Quilts are put on display in a quilt shop once finished..... signed, dated, etc... and they are all new pieces, created for the challenge, not dug out of the closet from years gone by. I never heard of a challenge being done any differently.
Perhaps I just need to broaden my horizons? I'm not meaning to be bossy or a 'by the rules' kinda person.... just want us to all be on the same page.
:hug:
Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsDaphne, what happened to the original gallery thread you posted ( the one some of us :redface: posted "old" bears on)? Can a person just delete a whole thread if they are it's originator?
Tami... YES, that's correct. People can delete their own posts and can NOT delete or edit the posts of others here.
However... If a deleted post happens to be the start of a thread, then that thread will be deleted along with the initialpost.
Sometimes it's done inadvertently!
And sometimes it's done intentionally..... 
.....if a person feels their post may be misinterpreted.
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Back Road BearsI did it intentionally Tami. 
I realized that we all seem to have different ideas of what a Challenge is so before more posts of 'old' bears were put up I wanted to establish 'rules' for the challenge. I simply thought the bears folks posted would naturally be NEW bears made for this challenge. I didn't realize there was any other way to participate in a challenge. Silly me! :doh:
Please feel free to post your 'previously made bear' pictures in one of the threads about Synthetics on the General Discussion forum. I posted links to these threads in my new post on the Challenge Forum.
Sorry for any disappointment or confussion! Kimmy and Jeannie... my apologies to you too as I recall both of you posting pictures of your adorable bears that you made previously. I LOVE seeing pictures of everyone's work! I truly do. It's what inspires me! There are lots of places to share those pictures so please do. Let's just keep this synthetic challenge for NEW creations!
Thanks and Hugs,
Daphne
:hug:
