Remember, the auction is Saturday only, so don't miss out! (Sorry to all of you out-of-towners, but the rocker is just too cumbersome to ship.)
Big shout-out to Scott over at the 501st for being generally awesome and helping arrange all the auction details. He even let me pick the charity, so the entire winning bid will go to one of my local favorites, Give Kids the World.
Oh, and get this: Scott tells me we'll be starting the bidding at $100, because that's how much his own mother has already bid for it! Haha! Suh-WEET!
And speaking of the AT-AT, one of the reasons I've been a bit scarce over here is John and I have been spending our evenings for the past week-and-a-half painstakingly re-drawing and formatting the AT-AT template, plus writing up complete step-by-step instructions, so even a woodworking newbie can tackle this project. (If you can handle a scroll saw & a power drill, then this is in your skill set.)
My original hand-drawn template wasn't completely symmetrical or perfect by any means, but this new-and-improved one is, and we've formatted it so you can print it at home and piece together the full-size template, no special printers or scaling required.
This is the first time John and I have written up such a comprehensive tutorial & template, complete with a materials guide, tool list, and handy illustrations. (It's 37 pages long, you guys. THIRTY SEVEN PAGES.) That's because this is something of an experiment; we're planning to sell the template on Etsy as a digital download. (Like, WHOAH, right??)
If this little experiment is a success, then I may be able to convince John to help me make similar templates & guides for other big projects in the future. Just the big stuff, though, or anything so complicated that I think a template & guide might be helpful. Rest assured I'll still be posting all my usual tutorials and crafty bits; this would only be in addition to all that.
And of course if nobody buys this one, then it's a safe bet we won't be wasting this much time on templates again!
So anyhoo, if you're interested in purchasing the template, it's an instant download over at my brand-spankin' new Etsy shop.
I hope this helps all of you who wanted your own AT-AT rocker get one! And thanks for all the support and general awesomeness - you guys totally ROCK. ;)
I like Scott's mom, and I hope the auction goes well! It's such a kind thing that you're doing.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the etsy shop! If you decide you like selling and aren't thrilled with etsy, there's always storenvy.
That rocker makes me smile everytime I see it.
It's so awesome this is going to auction for charity. I hope it brings in a lot of money.
ReplyDeleteI have only 7th grade woodshop under my skillset. And 7th grade was...um...22(gulp) years ago....so basically nothing is left there. Otherwise I would totally be interested!
ReplyDeleteMe too! 7th and 8th grade woodshop lol. I'm still game to get the templates though, it looks like a fun project to do with help. I don't have kids yet but my 11 yr old niece is a huge nerd and would love something like this, even if it's not anything she could ride.
Delete~erin kristine
HURRAY! Epbot has an Etsy! More more more more more more cool patterns!
ReplyDeleteIf we give you Epbot-themed stuff, like stuffed Epbot-robot dolls :) or jewelry from an Epbot tutorial, would you sell it on your shop? I think it would be supremely cool to have a sort of crowdsourced Epbot atelier where donated Epbot-related items could be sold for charity (minus your cut to cover administrative costs and labor, natch).
It's clear that a lot of people would love to have stuff inspired by your suggestions and tutorials, and it's clear that a lot of your devoted crafting fans are happy to send you creations that you've inspired, so you might be in business here!
Kimstu
Yay! Good luck, Jen and John! Hope the template sells like hotcakes! Wish I knew some tiny Star Wars fans to make the rocker for, but I don't, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone who makes their own version will send you a photo of their finished product. It would be awesome to have a photo gallery of AT-AT rockers and their happy little riders.
KW
"If nobody buys this one"
ReplyDeleteSeriously? SERIOUSLY?
The only question is how many thousands the bidding will be at when it DOES SELL.
Sheesh, Jen.
I'm with Maureen, I think it will blow your mind when the final auction number is known (you will let us know, right??)! I think you'll be shocked at home many patterns you'll sell :)
DeleteYabbut, I think Jen meant "if nobody buys this template", not "if nobody buys this AT-AT rocker model", which she already knows is going to sell for AT LEAST $100 (prolly more like an order of magnitude greater, actually). I agree that the template is likely to sell like hotcakes too, though!
DeleteIn fact, I think it would be nice if the auction site mentioned specifically where the template can be purchased, so all the disappointed low-bidders can make their own! :)
Kimstu
Great, now my wife really is going to make me fix the scroll saw! :-)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see the templates! And, welcome to Etsy!
Please let us know how much the rocker goes for on the silent auction! I'm predicting over $1000 ;) that thing is awesome and a great venue to auction it off at!
ReplyDeleteAn Etsy shop! YEEES! What kind of stuff do you plan to put on there?
ReplyDelete!!!!
DeleteWait a minute, you don't take PayPal?? Noooooo!
No, we do! Is it not set up on Etsy? EEK! [zooms off to fix]
DeleteThanks for letting me know, MaryAnne; Paypal is an option there now!
DeleteYAY! Thank you!
Delete(Everytime I spell my name here, it always comes out as MAryAnne. I think I'm going to keep it that way.
If anyone makes it, please post your pictures. I'd love to see the personalized touches that different people will make.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your etsy shop! Be sure to fill out your Shop Policies, so people are clear on sales/returns/refunds/shipping, etc. There's always someone who will take advantage if things aren't spelled out very clearly. When I checked, you had 4 sales already!!! Woot!
ReplyDeleteOh, Jen! You have made me so, so, so, so happy! Obviously, my teenage almost adult children are too big for this, but considering the rate at which I finish projects, it should be done just in time for grandkids! :)
ReplyDeleteI don't want to be the one to pour cold water on anyone's joy, but is their a disclaimer or legal mumbo jumbo somewhere in your document that holds you and John not liable if something bizarre ever happens from someone using your plans? People are so happy and quick to retain an attorney and I hate to think of anything bad happening to you guys. Secondly, are you protecting your design somehow so someone else doesn't turn around and get rich off your idea? This rocker is soooo cool and just like the flip-flip hanger debacle, someone could easily try something dishonest. I hope the rocker you built sells for a fortune and that you sell ten gajillion design plans! Have fun at MegaCon!!! Juli~
ReplyDeleteGood point Juli! I've seen some ugly stuff happen. Is there anything that protects you if a kid gets hurt on the auction item one (obviously NOT from your design!!!)?
DeleteI'm not sure if it counts, but I've included a recommended age bracket (5+) and a notice to never use the rocker without adult supervision inside the file. I also wrote that it's for personal/non-commerical use only, but of course there's little I can do if someone DOES sell a completed rocker.
DeleteWe'll also be physically posting a safety tag on the auction rocker, so fingers crossed the winners will be careful & not allow anyone too young on it!
I want to build that for my nephew!! Though he is a bit of an enthusiastic kid not sure a rocking toy of any sort would be wise xD lol. And while i may have zero wood working skills, and currently I am not ready to learn (i'm still tackling Knitting) i do know someone who has great wood working skills.. and all i have to say is "its for the grandson" and we will have on at-at rocker !
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the chance to buy the plans!! Now, to get my hubby to build it!!
ReplyDeleteSix sales already - awesome! I favorited your shop from both of mine. That makes 199 admirers in about a day of being up. I do believe that your new venture is going to be a success :) Not surprising to those of us who follow and love you! Congratulations!
ReplyDelete*swoon* I wish I wish I wish I didn't live in a tiny apartment with no power tools whatsoever ._. One day I am going to have a home that will allow me to make this because I am pretty sure I *need* it in my life.
ReplyDeleteI laughed out loud when I read that comment about Scott's mother already putting in her bid! You have to keep us posted on how much it goes for! I may have to point my father-in-law in your Etsy shop's direction, since his first grandson is due in 4 weeks and his geeky parents would totally ADORE that rocker!
ReplyDeleteDid you put a copyright notice in the .pdf? It would suck if someone stole the design then tried to claim "It wasn't copyrighted anywhere in the template!" That probably would not fly in court, but.... :-(
ReplyDeleteDo you have a template like pieces and dimensions used? I would die , cry, and try to fly for this!
ReplyDeleteYes, Ray, you can buy & download the whole thing here on Etsy!
Delete