And secondly let me tell you a bit about what it is not going to be about! I am betting that a good number of us thought about, and may have used, fingerprints when considering identity. But how many have actually had their fingerprints taken in a Police Station? Not only have I had it done but I was a young child. What heinous crime did I commit to deserve this? Well, nothing actually.
There was an openday at the local Police station where families could go and look at what the Police did. I remember it was pretty cool getting near a Police motorcycle and there may even have been horses. Or I might be making that bit up, I don't really remember. What I do remember though is getting my prints taken and having black inky fingertips. I remember it becuase I felt very proud and special, better than any other kid in the room because, you see, it was my Dad (My Dad!) who was the Scenes of Crime Police Officer taking the prints.
So fingerprints seemed like a good theme for my quilt because not only to they relate to the theme generally but a part of my identity is tied up with being my Dad's daughter. Being my Dad's daughter explains why I have red hair, arthritic knees, wrinkly knuckles, have actually rung Crimewatch with information and have twice broken up a domestic violence assault in a street.
But then I got another idea so I am not doing fingerprints after all. But I am still proud of my Dad.
I see your name/signature and numbers, but can't begin to guess in what direction you're going. Your dad sounds very interesting -- I'd love to be at a dinner party with him.
ReplyDeleteYep, fingerprints. It's a feature of my piece, too.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have to admit that I've been fingerprinted a BUNCH of times. In the international adoption process, you have to be fingerprinted and have your fingerprints checked by the national crime registry. Imagine how romantic and lovely an experience it is for a couple -- planning to add to their family -- to go down to the police station to be fingerprinted?! Roger and I had to do it twice, as once our local department sent our sets off to the FBI, it turned out that the prints weren't clear enough and they had to repeat the process.
And now, in California (or our county, at least) for liability and safety reasons parents have to be fingerprinted and have their fingerprints run thru crime registries before they can volunteer in schools. Again, it's a good safety thing in the long run, I guess but it's one of those weird things when you just want to help pass out cupcakes at class parties and drive on field trips.
As it happened I was fingerprinted for the first time shortly after the theme was announced. No, I wasn't arrested--just hired by the Federal Government for a Census job that is yet to materialize, (a story for another day--) but I was required to swear to things and be fingerprinted. I was taken aback by how beautiful fingerprints are when done for official purposes. So, yes, my piece will feature a fingerprint. I knew it was probably going to be a popular image, but I think it will be interesting to see how many people use it and how we use it differently. I have already seen Gerrie's--yep, fingerprints.
ReplyDeleteTerry, you told!!
ReplyDeleteI've been fingerprinted, too, (not arrested, just worked as a bank teller) but none visable in my quilt.
ReplyDeleteAre those name tags Helen? The only time I have been fingerprinted is travelling to/from the United States. There are no fingerprints in my quilt.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post. I can't wait to see the quilt!
ReplyDelete(I was finger printed, too, and thought they were very beautiful, too -- all for the mundane sake of an Aussie spouse visa, and here I am...)
Oh Ok, so you all got proper fingerprints done and I just got play ones. Well so what? No one else's DAD did them!! Maybe I should have invited him to be a guest designer for our theme this month! And no Brenda, not name tags. You will have to wait and see what convoluted idea I got this month!
ReplyDeleteIf it makes you feel better Helen, I'm married to an employee of the US government and I haven't even had play fingerprints made. Oddly, I may still be under the radar. And no, no fingerprints on my quilt (though i considered it).
ReplyDeleteHmm - the photo really does look like phone numbers that sometimes appear on children's clothing name tags. Now I'm really curious. Bring on 1 June.
ReplyDelete