PITH 2018!!!!

[mightysmurf8201]

Yup, you guessed it, it is that time of year again! It's time for this year's PITH!!!!

The pipe in the hat(PITH) trade is something we do here once a year. We choose a shape or feature that participants have to make or incorporate into a pipe, and set a deadline. Once the deadline hits, we randomly generate a list of all participants, and you send your pipe to the person below you on the list. You receive the pipe from the person above you. Upon receiving your pipe, you inspect it, smoke it, and give an honest and thorough critique back to the maker. The pipe is yours to keep.
The pipe in the hat trade is designed as a tool to help you grow in your pipe making skills. It can certainly be intimidating to jump into something like this with all these more experienced people participating, but getting the type of feedback that comes with putting your pipe in the hands of someone else is much more beneficial than posting pictures. Plus you get a pipe out of it. Some of the shape requirements might seem like a big challenge, but the PITH is designed to force you out of your comfort zone and to help you get some experience in the art of pipe making.
I can't stress enough, YOUR SKILL LEVEL DOES NOT MATTER! In fact the less experience you have in pipe making, the more you have to gain from participating! The idea here is that the best way to grow is by challenging yourself. This is a great way to get some good practice and helpful feedback. The deadline will likely be around the end of July, 2018.
If you want to participate, just post with the words "I'm in", or something to that effect.
I'm in!

1. mightysmurf8201
2. JMG
3. Ocelot55
4. RickB
5. DocAitch
6. seamonster
7. PeskyPrussian
8. ronps
9. Janka
10. PremalChheda
11. Rshey
12. eric
13. wdteipen
14. Bluesytone
15. Michael Rizzo
16. scotties22
17.Doug535
18. ricebiscuit

[JMG]

I get back to the States on the 12th. I'm in!

[Ocelot55]

I'm in!

[RickB]

I'm in, as long as the theme doesn't end up being something that keeps me from making something I feel good about. Outside my comfort zone is great, I just don't want to send anyone anything that isn't my best work.

[DocAitch]

I am in as well. I have found this exercise to be most gratifying, and have learned some techniques that I use frequently.
I also enjoy the pipes I have received on a regular basis.
DocAitch

[seamonster]

I'm in!

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[N.Burnsworth]

I’m in.

[PeskyPrussian]

I am in, for sure!

As an aside, while trying to think of theme nomination ideas I went back and looked at all of the previous PITH themes and realized that they used to be quite a bit more general, artistic, and even bizarre with theme nominations like "Alfred Hitchcock" and "beer stein". There was one year where the theme was a tribute to a famous pipe maker, which I thought was actually a pretty interesting idea.

So, my initial nomination for theme will be "Ivarsson Tribute". Pick an original Sixten shape and attempt to recreate it either faithfully or with your own twist.

[mightysmurf8201]

my initial nomination for theme will be "Ivarsson Tribute". Pick an original Sixten shape and attempt to recreate it either faithfully or with your own twist.

I really like where you're going with this. Keep the ideas coming everyone!

[Isakowitch]

I'm in!

[ronps]

Can I play again, please?

[pmbattles]

I'm in!

[Massis]

Dropped out the last few times, but willing to give it a go again depending on the chosen shape. For now, I'm in!

[Janka]

I'm in! First time doing this and I'm super excited!

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[mightysmurf8201]

So I just want to throw something out there. In the past we've pretty much kept the PITH limited to North America due to the higher costs of shipping internationally. We have a number of international people wanting to participate this year. I have no problem with this, but just be aware that by participating, you are agreeing to ship to whoever you are designated to. Just a fair warning so there's no confusion later.

[Vermont Freehand]

I'm in !!!

[notow1]

I'm in !!!

Where will You get Your Materials? Norm.

[DocAitch]

We could do a bamboo, there was some interest for that in 2017.
I do like the idea of a Sexton Ivarsson tribute.
DocAitch

[Massis]

So I just want to throw something out there. In the past we've pretty much kept the PITH limited to North America due to the higher costs of shipping internationally. We have a number of international people wanting to participate this year. I have no problem with this, but just be aware that by participating, you are agreeing to ship to whoever you are designated to. Just a fair warning so there's no confusion later.

Actually it's been a while (2013 I think) but us Europeans have participated in the past But it's a due reminder because shipping can be a PITA instead of a PITH.

[mightysmurf8201]

But it's a due reminder because shipping can be a PITA instead of a PITH.

I see what you did there