Is there a possibility of an IPP ever being in the United States? Just Curious because I'm dying to go!

There have only been about 10 IPP's in the States in the past 30 or so years. If you look at puzzleparty.org you can probably figure out where the next one is.
To be invited, you need either to have a sizable collection or be a serious builder/designer.

I'm fairly certain that Dave will edit this post, (or at least add more information to it) but since you've asked, and I have been pm'd, emailed, chatted up on facebook, skype, and MSN more times than I care to count, I will answer now.

As you are probably aware, I've been collecting puzzles for over 30 years. My collection, while not the largest around, does have a few puzzles in it. I've 'built' one or two in my time, and have been an active presence on the TP forum, not to mention being a moderator. Many of the members of IPP have enjoyed correspondence with me over the years, and I've had more than one exhibition. I've participated as a observer in many competitions, been a 'judge' in one or two.....ok, you get the point. I've been around for a while.

Now, I just became an "IPP Member" in 2010. Why? Because it is by invitation only. Yes, some of you are great builders (so am I ) Yes, some of you are great collectors (so am I) Yes, some of you have been around for many years and had a presence in the forum (nope, not me-I'm as quiet as a mouse )

I want to point out that while the members of TP are more than welcome, the IPP quite obviously isn't just a twisty organization. Many of the people in my photos are wire disentanglement people, or burr people, or trick box....you get the idea. The list just goes on and on and on. As a matter of fact, that cubers vs. non-cubers impromptu competition was there to show...well I have no idea what, but we all come from different types of puzzling backgrounds.

So if you aren't invited-don't feel bad. Let me give another example. Uwe isn't a member. He's never been to an IPP. I played puzzle delivery girl for him, and when I brought a bunch to Jerry Slocum (the founder of IPP) he asked if Uwe wanted an invitation TomZ is the youngest member at an old 18! Why did he get in I hear you ask? Well, how many of you who keep sending me messages have a massproduced puzzle? or have made as many as TomZ has at his age?

Will there be an IPP in the States? Well, wasn't IPP29 held in San Francisco???

So please lads and lasses, stop insulting me by sending the "if you got in, why can't I?" Ya'll (not just TP members, but readers in general) hurt my feelings when you do that

Hold on a second Rox, Bug was there too. Does that mean that I can pretend to be your other child and you can help me get in.

One is more than enough! No thanks. I want no more kids!

She wasn't allowed to go to the exchange, or the puzzle party though. And that my friends is where the real fun is at.

I don't even want to ask...

This time it is clean and wholesome. No alcohol, no tucking money, everyone has their cloths on... Just loads and loads and loads of puzzles! 6 hours each day.

The exchange is first. A one for one swap with loads of photos being taken, and loads of explaining going on. It's great that everyone tells what his/her puzzle is all about, and then you do the same. But believe me, by the end of that 6 hours-you don't even know what your puzzle is about.

As for the puzzle party! OMG! another 6 hours of running around purchasing puzzles, looking at puzzles, preordering puzzles! It's a puzzlers heaven! Because my husband might just read this, I won't post how much I spent. But suffice it to say, it was my puzzle budget for the past 6 months. I'm so glad I haven't been going out and buying more since March. (I realized then that I might want to slow down so I had money to spend at IPP in EUROPE-where they all started!)

And when you run out of money....well, there is still looking to do! 6 hours isn't enough time. I just know I didn't see it all!

You mean people were wearing loin cloths?

I certainly hope so! I only managed to see one pair of tighty whities this time around. Was hoping for more, but sadly.....

Part 3 is up. Wei-hwa doing a bit of puzzling too.

And now loading....a football game at Hendrik's! Yes, they even got me to kick the ball around a bit. according to my computer it will be ready in about 1 1/2 hours. Oh this slow thing!

Ok, I've finally managed to photograph the puzzles I brought home. Enjoy!

Nice pictures and very nice puzzles! But in some pictures I see a little problem I also have with some puzzles I brought from IPP: They have yet to be solved.

But that's the fun about it, isn't it? Enjoy!

OK, I finally put up my TwistyPuzzle meet up and IPP31 pictures.

Here are a few favorites, with captions:


Pantazis at the TwistyPuzzle meet up, a bit wet from walking through the rain to make sure people knew where to go. That is dedication!

It was very nice to see Georges again, the last time was DCD 2007.

Rox being kind enough to watch my table while I shopped around. This was later in the day so a number of my puzzles were gone already.

A bit hard to see (I wanted the paper, but autofocus chose too near), but this is Oskar diagraming the shape of his 17x17x17 pieces to Mr. Verdes

Rox, a bit jealous that I got my hands on a Panex. Sorry Rox

Enjoy,

Dave

Oh God.... that was a picture of mine at the 3rd Twisty Puzzle Meeting where
I got wet three(!) times in the rain.

The first time was when I went to check if anyone went to the wrong place
(it wasn't far, but there were no places to cover!). The second time was when I
returned to the hotel to pick up those who arrived (by plane!) later, and the
third time when we returned to the event!

It was good to meet again many good friends, especially Georges and Milan
whom I met again after *three* entire years!

And Rox, nice Panex!




Pantazis

I am sorry Bob, I didn't check the forum during IPP so I missed your question. But I did get a nice picture of Christoph Bandelow with Dave:


IPP was a fantastic experience. I used to think that the most exciting thing about going to an IPP would be all the puzzles I would get a chance to play with, but as Jerry Slocum told me on the first evening; it is really all about the wonderful people you get to meet. I am so happy to have met people like Georges, Dave, Rox, Geert, Milan, Rob, Oskar, Tom, Andreas, Frank, Pantazis, Juozas, Hendrik, Anthony and all the others in person. A few others that I really wanted to meet (particularly Hidetoshi, Jason and you Bob) were missing, but hopefully I'll get to meet you all in the future.

I wish I could have gone. Also, I hope this (one of those pictures above, guess which one) results in a mass-produced V-17

I will load my photos of Dave in a Dress once I delete a few unwary people.
He has great legs you know!

I've loaded a few videos on my YouTube Channel of the puzzles that have intrigued me-well, those I've managed to open or play with for a while. More will be loaded as I have time. Enjoy!

I don't suppose you have a secret picture from behind, do you?

As Dave said, My husband was taking the photos. But wait! Don't tell on me. I do-it's on my phone!

Group photo of all the invitees who also have an account at this website:

(Erroneously Frank Tiex's wife is also in the picture)

Oskar and George on the front deck of our (hired) boat:

My parents and me had hired a boat for the week prior to IPP and boated around Berlin. On our way back we picked up Oskar, his wife José and George Miller in Berlin and boated to Potsdam, from where we took the train back to the IPP hotel. Luckily they still had a room available for me as I didn't account for the TP party prior to the IPP when making my reservation. I actually got the very last room in the 11 floor hotel.

Ahem, attendees, you mean. Wish I could have managed the time away. Looks like it was a blast, as usual.

... of all present for the shooting ...

Yes, unfortunately we couldn't find Rob or Juozas at the time, they had already left the banquet. Sorry guys, we tried!

Dave

Can't we just photoshop all of them into the above photo? They *were* around anyway!




Pantazis

69/170 puzzles brought home this year now have videos up on my YouTube channel. I'm hoping more will be loaded in the coming weeks. My goal is to get all the puzzles I brought home video'd before the next IPP.

I'll post again when I get the next 40 or so videos put up. Enjoy.

Loaded another 25 or so videos this evening. Enjoy!

All 170 puzzles I brought home from IPP are now posted. Some are posted in double or triple per video if they are identical in nature. You can see all the videos hereon my YouTube channel.

wow, that's a lot of work to do. I always struggle with my few gallery pics when new puzzles arrive: First put them on the gallery in the solved state, then play with them...

By coincidence I found your video about "another unknonwn puzzle" and may be of some help:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoKnbFyWN1g

It is Jean Carle's IPP31 exchange "Table de Jardin/Garden Table" and there should be a tiny little umbrella with it to put into the central hole in the table. I guess it is an interlocking puzzle, but that's all I know.

Rox, thanks for taking time off your busy schedule to share all those puzzles with us.

I finally got around to upload my videos from IPP. Perhaps not so interesting from a puzzle perspective, as I didn't even think to use my camera during the most exciting moments (the puzzle exchange and the puzzle party). But at least I captured Dave attacking an original Dino with his pocket knife (how he diagnosed the problem he fixed in this thread), and some collectors may perhaps have interest in The Official Elemental Neon Cleaning Guide.

Thank you for that Klara! When I saw the title, I couldn't help but laugh! Well done. I didn't know you were recording through any of that. Sneaky you were!

Indeed! As Dave gracefully demonstrates, only official IPP shirts (which carry
special molecules with the shape of a pentatruncated rhombic triacontahedron)
may be used. Those molecules are the only ones which can neutralise the special
radiation (which only affects your solving capability) emitted from the elementals
every time those previous puzzles are cleaned. So beware! Normal shirts will cause
irreversible damage to the puzzle as well as your solving capability solving.




Pantazis