How to Make Atlassian Summit Suspenders

The Problem

 

After attending every Atlassian Summit user conference since 2013, I've acquired a lot of buttons, or "Summit flair" as I call them.  I've run out of room for them on my conference lanyard however, and honestly, they were getting heavy!  So this year, I needed a different solution.  How could I display my flair?

The Solution

I thought for a while and came up with nothing.  Then, somehow, I thought of suspenders!  Now, being a girl, and never being a farmer, I've never worn this contraption.  But I asked my boyfriend where I could get them and we found some in the men's section at Walmart.  $6.50 USD later and I had a craft project!  Follow along below to make your own.

How To

Step 1:  Configure suspenders
Realize you don't know how to wear suspenders and watch many YouTube videos until you can successfully adjust the length.  Learn that women should wear thinner versions.  Ignore that tip; it won't be the first time you're not "on trend" in fashion.  PS - A wardrobe of only Atlassian t-shirts is always "on trend"!

 

Step 2:  Gather Summit materials
Your Summit hording pays off!  You have 4 lanyards from previous Summits ready for a second life.  Realize you've collected far too many Atlassian pins though.  Choose your favorite ten, give the other twenty a hug, and put them away.

Step 3:  Gather craft materials
Realize that you travel full-time in an RV so craft materials are scarce.   This is the one time where a can of WD-40, a drill, and awning repair tape won't fix it.

Look in the tool box and the office supply drawer.  Find a glue stick, a needle, less than a yard of thread, scissors, permanent markers, a seam ripper (why is this needed in an RV?), a label maker, safety pins, a putty knife, and something called "Super Weld."  Put half of that stuff away because it won't help this project.

Step 4:  Get crafty
Use the scissors to cut the lanyard fabric from its hardware.  It frays immediately.  Run back to the tool box and find the "Super Weld."  Use it as super glue on all the lanyard ends.  Do it quick because it's unraveling!  Try not to super weld fingers together.  Use the needle and scarce amount of thread to affix the lanyard to the suspenders.

Realize that you haven't sewed anything since seventh grade home economics class.  Remember?  You attempted to make jean shorts.  Floral.  Denim.  Shorts.  Horrific!  How did you even pass that class?

Step 5:  Add finishing touches
With the pins and two pieces of lanyard on the front, it's time to decorate the back.  People standing behind you need to know about your Atlassian devotion too!

Resist the urge to glue the remaining lanyard with the "Super Weld."  Sew a few stitches with the remaining inches of thread.  Curse loudly as you struggle to knot the thread by the dim light of a lantern.  Only stab yourself with the needle once.  Impressive!  If this Jira consulting thing doesn't work out, maybe you can be a seamstress?

Step 6:  Finish up
It's way past your bed time but you have a completed an almost respectable attempt at custom suspenders.  Costs, injuries, and permanent damage to the RV is minimal.  Congratulations!  All that's left now is to put them on and get yourself to Atlassian Summit!

Find Rachel and Her Summit Suspenders

Will you be at Atlassian Summit, in Barcelona, the week of September 3, 2018?  Meet Rachel Wright and win her Jira Strategy Admin Workbook or one of 5 new training courses!  Rachel will be hard to miss with her custom-made Summit suspenders.  Find her in these locations.

4 comments

Comments for this post are closed

Community moderators have prevented the ability to post new comments.

Monique vdB
Community Manager
Community Managers are Atlassian Team members who specifically run and moderate Atlassian communities. Feel free to say hello!
September 2, 2018

This is delightful, and I immediately zoomed in to make sure your Community Champion flair made the cut! It did! My new Summit Selfie goal is to take a Summit Suspenders Selfie with you. 😃

Like Daniel Eads likes this
Billy Poggi AUG NOVA_ DC
Community Leader
Community Leader
Community Leaders are connectors, ambassadors, and mentors. On the online community, they serve as thought leaders, product experts, and moderators.
September 3, 2018

@Rachel Wright you're awesome! :)

Bastian Stehmann
Community Leader
Community Leader
Community Leaders are connectors, ambassadors, and mentors. On the online community, they serve as thought leaders, product experts, and moderators.
September 3, 2018

Great Job @Rachel Wright. Another Idea if you want to show all your collected flair at once, take photos of each part and have a them printed on the back of an T-Shirt. 

If you leave empty spaces, you can even add more photos after each summit.

Like Rachel Wright likes this
Rachel Wright
Community Leader
Community Leader
Community Leaders are connectors, ambassadors, and mentors. On the online community, they serve as thought leaders, product experts, and moderators.
March 12, 2019

The verdict:  not comfortable or practical.   I removed my pins and threw the suspenders away in Barcelona.  Not sure how you guys wear those things!

See you at Summit 2019 to continue the flair challenge!

https://community.atlassian.com/t5/Summit-articles/Summit-Flair-Challenge/ba-p/634246#U1030852

Comments for this post are closed

Community moderators have prevented the ability to post new comments.

TAGS
AUG Leaders

Atlassian Community Events