I finally have a face to share. I knew I would be challenged by Alex's encouragement to be less realistic and more whimsical. This is probably as far as I will take it as I don't know what I would do with a quilted final version. I have been teaching for 38 years, represented by the school house full of questions. The angels tucked among the flowers at the bottom are family members who have died. The Virgin of Guadalupe represents my love of Mexico and is in remembrance of my mother and her devout faith. The little sushi cat is a stand in for all international foods, which I love, the grapes in a glass for living in wine country and the dogwood blooms for the time I spend in graduate school in the Midwest of the US. Thank you, Alex. You are such an amazing and generous teacher. Thank you everyone for the inspiration your work has provided and thank you, Helen, for creating the graduating class of 2020. Happy 2021 to you all!

GOOD BYE 2020!!! The faces project has been a hit Alex. You nailed it!! Looking forward to birdhouses in Jan. i knew I saved those old McKenna Ryan patterns for some reason.
She was one of my favorite applique designers from when she first started making patterns. Her birdhouses are darling, and I plan to work them into my project.
Hope all you beautiful faces have a great start to your new year. HelenW

My face includes some of my favorite memories. My talented mother taught me all thing needle and culinary-related. The buttons in the fabric represent my first memory stringing buttons at Grandma’s farmhouse at age 2. I grew up sewing all my Barbie clothes, my own clothes and progressed to quilting and sewing home décor. My ‘ears’ represent the popcorn that my parents grew, after which the family would gather to remove the corn from the cobs each year. Such fond family memories. I taught tatting nation-wide through a smocking association. SAGA, thus my neckline accent. My bodice fabric represents my educational profession. In reflection of our Hawaiian trip, I placed a flower behind my ear. When we moved to our present house, it included grape vines, so I now make jelly and enjoy wines-not home-made! Ooooh, and I love my Starbucks fancy iced mochas.
I am far behind many fabulous completed faces, but I loved this project and look forward to finishing up the quilting and enjoying it. Thank you, Alex, for your unending spark of inspiration and education!

Finished yesterday. The quilt fabric interior sashing and on my collar is for my love of quilting. The crocheted lace on the collar is for my love of crocheting. My top and headband is in a cat pattern representing that I'm always covered in pet-fur from my two dogs and one cat. My hair is made from printed words material that represents both my love of reading and my chatty, chatty mind. I have a bow made from ribbon that include cherries (obvious reason). The dragon fly above my bow and the large butterfly upper left is in remembrance for my daughter, Leah, who died six years ago this past November. The smaller butterfly holding my gaze is for my grand-daughter, Bella. The two butterflies on my shoulder are for my grandsons, Conrad and Andrew. My bee, sunflower and heart buttons are for my son, James. The piano keys and flower made from music notations are for my love of music and my learning the piano. My flowery eyebrows represent my love for gardening. There's a crab button on one of the keyboards as I was born in July. And, my "I'm a Winner" ribbon is from my wins at the Dallas Quilt show in 2019 and 2020. On it here's an angel pin representing my mom.

The 2020 year is coming to an end, but still getting a few new graduates. Welcome ljsj; Msmizre, and rose1226!!! Sew glad to see you made it!!!HelenW

Making my face has been a great exercise in self reflection. As with so many this year, there has been sunshine and shadow. But, I am going into 2021 with my eyes wide open! I look forward in hope to sharing a cup of tea - connecting - with friends and loved ones, singing together, and being with my beloved grandchildren again. I am thankful to have had the beauties of nature - birds, garden - and my faith to sustain me.

I started doing faces when I took a class from Susan Edmondson. This class added to my repertoire of ideas, here is my latest. Shelisa, Goombay Goddess.

Had lots of fun doing this. I adding my favorite things, Dragonflies, Sunflowers, Turquoise, and my cat-Jack!!

KMICHAEL wrote: KMIchael, I put your face in the graduation class, but just wanted to point out that there is a category for faces. If you make separate post categories
Barbara has to move your post so other people will find it. I took a screen shot to show you where it should have gone. HelenW

2020 will be over soon. Happy to put a few more faces into the Graduation Class.
Congratulations Autumn, At 12 years old I think you are our youngest graduate!!! Wooo Hooo!!!
Welcome to the World of Quilting!!! HelenW

This was way out of my box. Enjoyed the process. Surprised myself. Did not have fabrics with images.

My 12 year old granddaughter made a face quilt of her parents for Christmas. They loved it

Merry Christmas everyone!!
I just wanted to share I found lip fabric!! Sew cute. It's My Mind's Eye for Riley Blake, I ordered a yard, hoping it's a good size...

HelenW wrote:
And I would add HELENW to the Nice List, always ready to jump in with suggestions, screenshots, and help. Not to mention the Awesome Graduation Class graphic which has really gathered us all close. Happy Holidays to you and yours.