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Monday 6 February 2012

Just not me!

February's Brit Bee package was eagerly awaited from Jennie.  Jennie is an architect, so what would it be?  Cute wonky house blocks?  Or maybe something more structural like Jacquie's awesome Building Bridges? Oh no no no no.  Jennie wanted faces, and not any old faces, the Bee's (old) faces!

My reaction?  And I quote, "WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"


This is Ms Feb's inspiration; as far as I know, none of Brit Bee sport a beard!

I was not happy.  I really hate having my photo taken, and the thought of having my face on a quilt, I find quite frankly disturbing!  I am not good at doing arty-art.  Graphics, straight lines, angles, block colour, I can do that, portraits, no.

But it's Jennie's month; so desperate not to be defeated, and in my usual manner of charging ahead, (no pun intended!), I found one of the only decent pictures of me not in a wedding dress and wearing a tiara, and got to work.

Jennie had suggested using Photoshop, but I don't have that; hubby is the whiz, and that's the way we like it, so I headed online instead.  For now Picnic is the place to go, (there are other sites, so come April, should any of you crazies want to replicate this later in the year, you will be able to find an alternative).

Uploading my picture, clicking on the 'Posterize' effect changed me from this...

Bar Il Molo, Varenna, Lake Como, Italy.  I recommend the pizza!
...to this...


Much better!

Then I headed from a point where my 'comfort zone' was already a distant memory, to somewhere decidedly downhill and around the corner from there.  I had to get the image to a fabric block.

Enter freezer paper, Bondaweb and lots and lots of swearing.


I printed the image onto the freezer paper, cut out the fewest number of pieces possible and then ironed them onto corresponding black, cream and white cotton.  Cutting all the tricky curves, making sure that the pieces were all going to overlap a little and go back together was tricky enough.

Top tip and the benefit of hindsight - fellow Bees, if you are using Bondaweb, iron it to the back of the fabric BEFORE you cut out your face out.  Trying to attach (old crumpled) Bondaweb to small pieces without ruining your new iron, only leads to ruining your ironing board cover instead; trust me, I know.

Frustration!  These were heading for the bin, but I calmed down enough to flatten them out and proceed.
So then I reassembled my face as best as I could and pressed it all into place.  Jennie wanted a background that represented each of us... what else could I do!?


To this point, NO SEWING.  That was not right.  I had to sew something!  So on to the transformation into Bride of Frankenstein!


It was whilst using my machine's applique stitch that I managed to sew right through my left index finger, rendering the air blue, needle unusable and an abrupt end to a rather frustrating day!

It is now a nice shade of purple!
But the block is now complete and ready to post back to Jennie, and it'll either give her a fright or a very good laugh...


I tried.  I learnt many things, my children learnt new words, I don't think I'll be doing do it again!

I can't wait to see what the rest of the Britain's Most Wanted quilt looks like!

55 comments:

  1. That is pretty damn cool! Ouch about the finger and :) about your children's extended vocabulary!

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  2. oh my gracious! that is super awesome hadley! sorry about your finger though! that stinks! i am always looking for some new swear words... just so you know! ;)

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  3. it's really really cool and you've done an amazing job.....but honestly? You'd have me running to the hills and crying. Frankly, Hadders, you deserve a large bottle of wine and a medal.

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  4. I love your block - this block seems to be making everyone swear. Did you bleed on the block? Then there really would be some of you in the picture ;-) Now go and have a very large glass of something...

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  5. Agreeing with Katy. Bummer about your finger!

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  6. this is such a great idea! i can't imagine how i would have reacted though haha -- nicely done, maybe i'll give it a try.. sorry about your finger! wowzers :(

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  7. Top Girl. Excellent diversion from comfort zone, Hadders. You done good.

    sorry bout the finger ... blurry applique ...

    x

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  8. Ooh, Hadley, your poor finger!!! Ouch. But WOW on the block - I don't think i would ever have dreamt of doing something like that but you really pulled it off! Well done!

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  9. Well, I'm with you on the photos of me, etc. I think you are a very good sport to have made this and it is very Andy Warhol like. I am having trouble looking at your finger, yikes!! I live in fear of lopping mine off with the rotary cutter but it seems I should also be more fearful of the sewing machine.

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  10. This is a fun block, although I can see why you were frustrated. But, this is the first time I have seen a photo of you! You should post more photos of you...you are lovely.

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  11. Ok, now I picked myself up off the floor laughing at this post, I'll be appropriately concerned for your finger, the children's alternative language lessons, and ask, how is the sewing machine? Hope you changed the needle! lol Serious Hadley - you did goooooood! Showed us all up again getting on with it!

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  12. Youch!! I say that knowing exactly how that feels since I did it once and I keep trying to do it on this new machine! I like how your block turned out! You taught me something new showing me how you did it.

    If there isn't a little blood in each quilt that I make then I didn't work hard enough on it. Usually the bleeding part coming it on the binding step for me.

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  13. what a very clever idea: well done, and it looks fantastic. I feel your pain with your finger: I have done that before! ! PAIN

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  14. The technique is brilliant and your portrait looks so cool - the frankenstein bit made me laugh though!! So sorry about your finger, no pain no gain! no... not helpful. I'm so interested to see how this quilt turns out!

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  15. So hope your finger is better but wow Hadley- your block looks wonderful and is a job well done! I am quite impressed!

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  16. Well I'm really rather relieved not to be a member of any sewing bees if this is what you're called on to produce!
    Of course you've risen to the challenge admirably and done a wonderful job!
    I hope this is the last time you sew through your finger, but if not, try to forget to take a pic of the offending digit next time, please :)

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  17. For your first foray into portrait quilts, that is entirely impressive!! So sorry about your finger - touch wood, that's one sewing injury I have yet to sustain. I'm sure your kids already knew those words.

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  18. First of all sorry for the ouchies on your finger. Here, have a cup of tea and a *insert your biscuit of choice here*.

    Secondly, that block has worked out really well. I saw someone else post about this particular bee and this block and I was interested to see how the blocks would turn out and by the looks of it yours has turned out great. Minus the needle through the finger of course.

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  19. Sorry about the finger stitching, but I suppose it was a necessary pert of the process?
    I have shaved the merest whisper off the side of my finger with the rotary cutter- didn't feel a thing at the time... Blood everywhere..Had to start again.
    But your block looks great.

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  20. Well that is certainly a challenge that you have risen to magnificently despite being wounded in action. Di xo

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  21. That is fab and thank you for the instructions. I feel a lot calmer now about the whole thing.

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  22. Poor finger :( and poor ironing board :(
    But your block looks great! Well done!

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  23. Ouchness, I did the exact same at about 15, well I didn't, it was my baby brother crawling on the presser foot. I have since learnt to turn the machine off whilst threading the needle when small children are about!
    You certainly gave blood sweat and tears on this one!

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  24. Bugger! You hated the task the most and then and aced it. Suppose I am going to have to do something more than a stick figure then!!!

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  25. You did so good! This is awesome!! I hope to do as much justice to the "inspirational artist" as you did... I hope to do less justice to my finger, however.

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  26. Just wow! This looks amazing, I can't wait to see it in person! Thank you for doing the impossible- I love it!! Britains Most Wanted is def gonna be the name of the quilt and why did I not know about 'Building Bridges' it is gorgeous- is everyone still up for Brit Bee round 2?

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  27. Well, I think that's amazing! Well done you for stepping so far out of your comfort zone. Hope your finger is feeling better!

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  28. Ouch!
    You certainly rose above the challenge, it is brilliant!

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  29. Hey I reckon that you deserve an A+ for your effort and persistence. After all that Blood, Sweat and tears I'm sure that your swap partner will be extremely happy.

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  30. Hilarious!!!!!!!!!! Your blog post that is, not your face! And what is it with you and dark shades! Are you a secret member of the Itlaian mafia or something? Jxo

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  31. You'll do anything to get done first.... Nah, seriously, good job, I'm well impressed :-)

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  32. OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was literally BLOOD, sweat & tears :( Did you have an Anglo-Saxon (or better yet, Latin!) dictionary on hand for all that swearing? I don't think anyone would want my face on their quilt...more the rogues' gallery, me!

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  33. Me too! Well impressed Hadders! :-)

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  34. I think you should have gone with one where you had a tiara on... Looks great though, hope your finger feels better!

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  35. Yikes, pain city! If its any consolation my 3 year old displayed an impressive grasp of swear words at the weekend..delivered in *exactly* my tone of voice. But well done you, I'm not sure I could have managed that!

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  36. Sounds like a long day, but at the end of it all you have a great story and an awesome block -- nicely done!

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  37. Wouldn't you rather your kidlets learn new words from you than their peer group - or the kids on the bus?

    I've been playing around with Picnic with the idea of getting into Spoonflower which is so not a good idea as I might not surface until next year.

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  38. Jeepers! I would have been cursing too! You are much better than me :) I feel your pain re finger too. I did that a couple of years ago too but I went right through the nail and out the other side. That bought out some colorful words too!

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  39. I see that Tracee has given you an A+! I think the name for the quilt will catch on, just not sure of the concept! LOL!!

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  40. Worth the fight though! Great idea for a quilt block and yours is such a good one! I have done the finger thing-it was my thumb and the needle tip snapped off inside- fun in casualty, Dr was a keen embroiderer!

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  41. You are so clever Hadley and basically managed to not only do an amazing job but incorporate a tutorial and make it sound easy! My son just saw your finger and said, `What has she done to her leg?`, so I hope your finger is feeling better. Awesome job Mrs.G...one day, I say one day, it would be great to do a quilt with the fam on it. Not now though.

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  42. Ooooh - I feel all queasy! Remind me never to do that.... The quilt block is a great idea though - will show it to the OH as he is the one that deals with photos!I'm sure the recipent will love it!

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  43. First off...you are a beautiful young woman. If I looked like you I would be pasting pictures of myself everywhere. Second, you did a great job on your block. Finally, you didn't get any blood on the block did ya? That is what is really important!!!

    Seriously, Hadders....you are a beautiful woman!!!

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  44. I just want to say bravo for just bloody DOING it! And I think your Frankenstinian look is rather fetching! Stitches are cool, y'know - maybe not on faces right enough...*g*

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  45. Sorry about your finger! Your block is fantastic!

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  46. You definitely deserve a medal for intrepid sewing and courage in the face of a challenge. Your block is wonderful and now you can breathe a sigh of relief and move on knowing that you have proved yourself equal to the challenge. Hope your finger gets better soon!

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  47. THAT is AMAZING work. So sorry about your finger! I have had puncture wounds from sewing but that one takes the cake....

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  48. good god!- That task would have terrified me aswell. I think you did a great job, with a very tough assignment, kudos to you.

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  49. Blood, sweat and tears involved in the making of this block then!? Poor you re the finger that must have hurt! I see a bit of Abfab in this block - not sure if that is a compliment though!?

    have to say the original is much nicer!

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  50. This is amazing! I've seen some of these portrait quilts recently and I think you are totally brave for trying it out. You did great and thanks for all those tips! Sorry about the finger! I cut my right hand twice today :( Maybe that helps ;-)

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  51. What a novel idea, you had a great go! It would have taken me on a long bus ride away from comfort zone, through stretch zone, And a long way into panic zone!

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  52. Incredible! You did a fantastic job, but the little cotton you doesn't do the real life you justice...you're way more colorful (ahem).
    Is your finger OK?

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  53. Oh my goodness!! I hope you are ok!!! I used to wonder how you could sew your finger (my small mind thinking of getting the finger BETWEEN the presser foot and the throat plate), till I got my finger in between the needle and the presser foot!! But luckily for me it just hit with a "thunk" on my fingernail instead of going through!! But my husband, who is an upholsterer has gone all the way through!! Are you healing well? Hoping that you are!! Hugs!!

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