Discussion bi-monthly challenges

[brad]

I read through the list (Cat: the list of suggestions for the oldies challenge topics). Yes, you have covered a lot, some fairly broad, some more specific. I propose a challenge perhaps a bit more specific than some others, yet broad enough for a number of folks to show and tell?
How about: "An Homage to North American Indigenous People/Culture." 
(if you choose to run this challenge, please not until later in the month or so.  I will be out on a job on a remote site, often limiting my access online.)
Brad

[caeterle]

We have been doing those challenges since 2015 or 2016, I think. It's hard to pick specific topics because it usually left people out. That's also the reason why we are very generous with the rules

I can say that I wouldn't have something for that challenge myself. Maybe it would be a good topic not for one of the oldies challenges, but for one of the bimonthly challenges to make something new? What do you think, Brad?

[brad]

Well, we can get quite creative on trying to fit a piece into the topic. Many, topics I can't fairly contribute. But that is ok. I think a "monthly make something new" to more narrow topics seems more do-able. Instead of bi-monthly, IMO. Especially, for some of the stuff many of you do.
Thank you, for your efforts and time to keep these kind of threads going. Brad

[caeterle]

We used to have monthly challenges, also when we still had more active members, and most people couldn't commit. It's also the reason why the blog carnival fizzled out.

I'm just speaking for myself here. I like the challenges, they have taught me one thing or the other by pushing me, for example they drove me to finally use sequins.
They are also hard for me, though. I am not good with planning pieces, especially within a narrow topic. I like to play and usually start with a vague idea (except for bead loomed pieces as they need a pattern) and more often that not, not even I know what something will look like in the end.
Also my output is not very high. I have a list of vague ideas and often my muse distracts me with something else. So I wouldn't be able to do a monthly challenge. Again, just speaking for myself.

Thank you very much for your input, Brad, I really appreciate it.

So what does everyone else think?

[DawninCal]

I think Brad should join our challenges!

As Cat posted, we used to do a monthy challenge, but so many people had difficulty making the submission deadlines (including myself) that we changed it to bi-monthly. I think if we had more of our members participating, monthly would be more doable.

I like the challenges for the same reason Cat does. They force me out of my comfort zones, which makes me try new techniques and materials and also encourages me to think in new ways.



Dawn

[brad]

Thank you, I actually just found these/this challenge forum, after my original post on categories of items. I am slow at learning all the opportunities and segments of sites like this. I have been very active on a similar format site the "Banjo Hangout" for over 15 years, and I am still discovering stuff on it. Brad

[michelle]

I have mixed emotions about a monthly challenge. On the one hand, I think it might force me to focus. And on the other, my creative process is similar to Cat’s, so it might be push. I am sure that I would love Brad to join us. 😄