Tuesday 12 October 2010

Self portrait Blogtoberfest day

Well Tinniegirl has decreed that today should be a day where self portraits are the focus of the day. Just thought I would explain why I have suddenly inflicted a picture of myself on you for today!


So now we have that over and done with, let me give you an update on the book binding - the class has been organised by the school as part of a well-being programme - offering up the school services to staff at the end of the day so there were only 6 of us there. The papers for the covers are beautiful and we have leather for covering the spines ... but that is some weeks away! Our first job was to choose the leather covering and we all just stood there for a while stroking the silky smooth skins. Picking one up, then putting it down, then choosing another and then going back to the first one - until the teacher saw that we could easily spend the whole hour that way and made us make a decision so we could start on the real work. At this point I think she realised that 6 members of staff could be more trouble than a class of 30 teenage girls!

Our first job was to cut up our papers, fold them into sections and start sewing them together. We have brought them home to complete as homework. (which is what I am doing in my self portrait!) The hour flew by and I think we were all disappointed to have to stop and come home! We learnt a neat trick to make sure you don't pull your thread out of the eye of the needle by unfurling the strands of the thread and twisting the needle through it, so clever. As an example of adults being as troublesome as kids, the person opposite me cut off enough of the waxed thread to do her sewing at home, wound it round 2 fingers to make it tidy, did it too tight, couldn't get it off her fingers, fingers started going bright red and looking a tiny bit swollen, had to have it cut off !

13 comments:

Rachel Brett said...

Yes I would agree there, I seem to revert back when I am on a course too - although it depends who I am on the course with!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheri said...

Can't wait to see the finished product! I'm guessing that teenage girls are more accustomed to being required to follow instructions. As adults, we have a tendency to do our own thing.

Sian said...

And I bet you were all giggling away like teenage girls while she did it too :)

I'm sending a wave to your self portrait!

Anonymous said...

Haha. Some people need constant supervision whatever age they are. Happy Blogtoberfest!

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Aw, it's a cute self portraint, Deb. It's fun to hear about your first class and a great idea to get your co-workers involved in a project. I'd be interest in the needle and thread trick if you care to share...maybe a photo to help me understand? :o) Enjoy!

Jennifer Grace said...

The course sounds so interesting. I can stitch books simply, with just paper and card covers, but I'd love to be able to do it with leather and make a real book!

I bet it's quite fun going back to class, as it were. No passing notes when the teacher isn't looking! xx

Maria Ontiveros said...

Beautiful self-portrait! I still struggle with those.
Rinda

Scrappi Sandi said...

That sounds like a great course...can't wait to see you're finished project! LOL at that poor lady's fingers...my son did that with a rubber band one day & was scared to death!!

humel said...

Hey, you 'inflict' a photo of yourself on us any time - lovely to see you :-) I'm not sharing a photo of my full-of-cold self, my poor nose is currently redder than my hair!

The bookbinding sounds so interesting, I'm extremely jealous of you ;-) Can't wait to see the results! xx

Denise said...

Lovely self portrait,glad you are enjoying your class and very pleased to hear it wasn't you who got the waxed thread stuck round your fingers!

scrappyjacky said...

Love that self portrait,Deb....and the course sounds fascinating...even with some badly behaved pupils!!

Amy said...

Deb, you have made me laugh out loud!
I can just see you all standing there in a daze stroking the pretty papers! I hope the fingers survived ... the poor woman!

Photography said...

:-) Nice post!! I love your portrait :-)