its kinda funny.. i didn't realize there were so many AT readers...
wouldn't be suprised if by tomorrow the scores reach over 2000 votes. I'm with the others that this final round should have been judged by a panel- i would think the finalists would've been cool with that... it is entertaining though...

by the way- does anyone know how to attatch a photo when you want to ask a "good question"?

Well, there IS more at stake in this contest, isn't there? By the way, when am I getting my soap? After we figure out who all else is getting theirs, I guess.

Hey Brent, thanks so much for asking that question! I've been wondering that same thing for ages and thought I was the only one scraching my head, perplexed, assuming the answer is right there in front of me and I just can't see it. I hope someone can enlighten us...!

I just post links to the pictures on my Flickr account. That works...

If no Flickr account, what then? AT let us know.

don't you just send AT a jpg attached to an email?

Yeah, I think you send it to editor@apartmenttherapy.com right?

Curtis, this contest is making me sick. How are you?

Could you post or emai lme your flcker site so I can see all your wonders?

guido, baby-
I'm fine, thanks! My flickr thing comes up when you click on my name; I put the link in there. See, how it's blue? Click on it!

guido--
Why is this contest making you sick?

(I need my own website so I can have a cool blue linked-up name, too!)

Wow Curtis. I just checked out your flickr site. I am gobsmacked. The world needs you.

Why, geez, Dorio, thanks! I would love to fill the world's needs.

In MY perfect world, the world would cough up a tad more cash than I'm making now, but still in bi-weekly doses of Direct Deposit and for me to basically spend my time ONLY doing decorative painting (especially more, more, more paint-by-number murals) and accessorizing the rooms that I would work on.

Curtis! I am similarly amazed! I especially love your subway bathroom...I had an idea of doing something like that except I never even imagined it as cool as that...SO COOL!

I will add to the compliments, Curtis -- your art deco bathroom is stunning! Your paint-by-number mural has inspired me to try something similar in my bedroom. If I wasn't on the opposite coast I would hire you to do it :)

I started browsing paint-by-numbers and found a service that turns your 8x10 photographs into paint-by-number kits. The idea was intriguing since then I would no longer be limited to the kits that are available. What do you think about this? Is it too far removed from the original source material?

p(too)
I wasn't loving the glut at the end (and I really really wanted to look at them all) but what totally turns me off is the level of cheating since the prizes are valuable this time.

Yeah, I hate the gaming aspect of the voting.

I feel a little better if there's actually 3000 new people checking this site out, and not people in big offices running from computer to computer to get a CB2 gift certificate. The idea of "we're doing everything we can to win" is soooo bad reality show, and the opposite of what I love about this site, which is people sharing ideas and resources.

For me, this contest has gotten kinda silly by this point. it was fun in the beginning to see all the different rooms, but when it came down to the semi finals, at least on the east coast, with the "nail biting smackdown" winning by just one, etc.... that's when i think this contest started its downward spiral. i think if there had been a panel of judges, then it might have deterred a need for campaigning and/or tech/internet saavy and be based more on merit. oh well, i guess only a few more hours and it will all be over. i'm sure it will be a "fight to the finish!"...or maybe everyone has gotten bored and apparently, the blue bathroom will get her reward.

Maybe if we do this in the future, we have the popular vote for the first portion, then go to a judges panel for the finals, as has been suggested by many. I do think that might be a better way to go when there is such a motivating prize on the line.

I agree that the finalists should have been voted on by a panel. Perhaps the top 9 that didn't get into the finals or maybe the people who host BSSS. But letting the votes go unchecked until the final tally doesn't seem fair. And maybe I misunderstood but I thought the finalists were to be one from the east coast and one from the west coast.

About posting a photo - I had the same problem. I now email editor@apartmenttherapy.com and attach a jpeg. It's then up to Alex if he decides to post it or not. I've sent a couple of photos but none have made it to the site. But then none were intended for "good question".

Urggh...I hate how some of the finalists are clearly getting their mates to vote for them. The numbers are going up like crazy. What I hate more is that I'm addicted and can't stop refreshing my screen!

I'm secretly hoping AT will announce that they have decided to have a panel of judges decide on the final outcome some cheating is rampant!

Reef

That should say...since cheating is rampant.

Reef

And clearly the hoping is not so secret.

I'll go now and try and do some work.

Reef

Lucy -
Well, I'm in NYC, which has all the best airline flights anywhere, actually. I could really do this kind of mural anywhere.

RE: kits available -- I don't always use "kits" but in the case of my own mural, I used an already-completed vintage painting as the visual source. I sort of re-assigned numbers to the colors therein, and it worked out just fine.

That said, back in the old days, one of the things that sucked resources out of the company that made paint-by-numbers famous was their desire to create custom ones for people, and the guy who was in charge of that stuff is still alive, and he wrote a book "Whatever Happened To Paint By Numbers?". Anyway, he recommends one of those services you're talking about. I've never seen the results of that in person, and I don't know what it would really be like.

Personally, I prefer to work with the vintage ones, because I like the "found art" aspect of it, and the "folk art" feeling (since they were done by "folks), and I kind of like the idea of changing the scale, kind of Jeff Koons did with tchotchkes.

I wouldn't rule out using those ones you're talking about, though.

What I was saying about not letting it stop you, to use me for yours, is just that a certain amount of the process can happen off-site. The selection of the image, breaking down the colors, etc.

If you want to pursue it, e-mail me at generalaesthetic@yahoo.com

Why are so many assuming there is cheating going on? (Don't disagree, just curious)

p(too),

I think they're calling soliciting votes from people who don't normally hit AT every day "cheating."

I sort of agree. I can understand telling your family and friends to vote for you, but getting a class of schoolchildren to vote, or plugging your entry in a livejournal community that has 10,000 members and little to do with interior design (I saw an entry in a crafting community) doesn't seem right. I think the huge, huge gap between Ky's and the others shows who's campaigning and who's not.

Just my unsolicited 2 cents. And I didn't even enter, so I'm sure no one cares haha.

I'd argue that a crafting community site would have lots of cross-over to AT, but I see your point.

But do we really think these broadcasts to other non-ATers will NOT yield new traffic after the contest?

And, um, when I was in a past contest, I asked my Mom to vote, and she's not an "AT regular". Now, whether she voted for me or not is uncertain. ;)

I still think personal pride factors in to people doing self-promo. But again, I see your point.

Traffic, hits and visitors means this site will generate income and exposure for Maxwell, our gracious host. That translates into AT being around for a long, long time, so I say send the URL to Ice Station Zebra!!!

I'd like to say that this contest is sort of a wonderful example of growing pains.

CB2's sponsorship of this was really quite a lovely thing. However, it was inevitable that higher stakes would inspire "using all resources avaiable to win" for some people. Since some were thinking more in line with past contests, only modest efforts in those directions were entertained.

However, the constant re-assessment of how future contests will be run; presented; judged, etc. is sort of a natural evolution that I'm sure will keep the site interesting.

I must say that even with all of this, the general tendency to actually make personal slams at the contestants' actual entries seems to have been less that in previous contests.

I'd say that perhaps the questions that the entries are asked to address might be re-thought, and that suggestions to the entrants, something along the lines of what P2 had said in one of these threads about contestants keeping a low profile in the comments, except to address questions and personal attacks, etc.

Yes, it would make a cumbersome little set of rules and guidelines, but it mightn't be leading the lambs to slaughter, however inadvertently it might have been.