Comments on: Handmade in Prison: Part One - The Teachers http://whipup.net/2006/10/23/handmade-in-prison-part-one-the-teachers/ handcraft in a hectic world Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:49:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Lesley George http://whipup.net/2006/10/23/handmade-in-prison-part-one-the-teachers/#comment-24534 Lesley George Sat, 02 Dec 2006 06:11:35 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/10/23/handmade-in-prison-part-one-the-teachers/#comment-24534 How amazing - I teach crafts at women's prisons in Australia and for some reason, sitting here in the cool - as it is 42C outside - I typed in "teaching craft in prison" and voila - this site came up I understand your thoughts about the situation completely. At the moment with Christmas nearly here I feel so much for all the children of these women that I see each week I will post more at a later date, but was just so thrilled to find someone else who can understand how much the women and I get out of the experience Best wishes to you all, Lesley How amazing - I teach crafts at women’s prisons in Australia and for some reason, sitting here in the cool - as it is 42C outside - I typed in “teaching craft in prison” and voila - this site came up
I understand your thoughts about the situation completely. At the moment with Christmas nearly here I feel so much for all the children of these women that I see each week
I will post more at a later date, but was just so thrilled to find someone else who can understand how much the women and I get out of the experience
Best wishes to you all,
Lesley

]]> By: Making a Difference « Live Granades http://whipup.net/2006/10/23/handmade-in-prison-part-one-the-teachers/#comment-19016 Making a Difference « Live Granades Fri, 03 Nov 2006 19:54:15 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/10/23/handmade-in-prison-part-one-the-teachers/#comment-19016 [...] You can read the two part series here and here. [...] [...] You can read the two part series here and here. [...]

]]> By: Pauline John http://whipup.net/2006/10/23/handmade-in-prison-part-one-the-teachers/#comment-17833 Pauline John Fri, 27 Oct 2006 07:47:13 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/10/23/handmade-in-prison-part-one-the-teachers/#comment-17833 What a fantastic overview of the teaching in prisons. very good publicity. I like many of the teachers are proud of not what we do but was the prisoners do and the amazing creativity of many of the prisoners What a fantastic overview of the teaching in prisons. very good publicity. I like many of the teachers are proud of not what we do but was the prisoners do and the amazing creativity of many of the prisoners

]]> By: Rebecca http://whipup.net/2006/10/23/handmade-in-prison-part-one-the-teachers/#comment-17739 Rebecca Thu, 26 Oct 2006 15:03:28 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/10/23/handmade-in-prison-part-one-the-teachers/#comment-17739 Thank you everyone for leaving such positive feedback on Weeks' post and on our work at Fine Cell. We we thrilled to play host to Weeks and Bill (and their extremely well behaved daughter Sophie, 5 who angelically sat in the office for over 2 hours whilst we chatted!) Both Bill and Weeks were giving of time, advice, books and their wonderful fabrics, and we are thrilled that they enjoyed their visit. Our success is reliant not only on the fleet of wonderful volunteers that travel into UK prisons weekly to teach our stitchers and those that help us here at our London offices but also on the word of mouth provided by all those who enthuse about our project and offer to help in a plethora of ways. Sites such as whipup.net really do help to spread the word, provide a forum for discussion and a space in which crafts experiences can be shared. So thank you to Weeks and for all of you who have expressed messages of support to us. I really do hope that more programmes like ours at Fine Cell Work emerge throughout other parts of the globe, the benefits really are something, if anyone has any queries or question about our work then feel free to write to me direct at : rebecca@finecellwork.co.uk In the meantime, here's to part two of Weeks' account! Kind wishes, Rebecca Thank you everyone for leaving such positive feedback on Weeks’ post and on our work at Fine Cell. We we thrilled to play host to Weeks and Bill (and their extremely well behaved daughter Sophie, 5 who angelically sat in the office for over 2 hours whilst we chatted!) Both Bill and Weeks were giving of time, advice, books and their wonderful fabrics, and we are thrilled that they enjoyed their visit.

Our success is reliant not only on the fleet of wonderful volunteers that travel into UK prisons weekly to teach our stitchers and those that help us here at our London offices but also on the word of mouth provided by all those who enthuse about our project and offer to help in a plethora of ways.

Sites such as whipup.net really do help to spread the word, provide a forum for discussion and a space in which crafts experiences can be shared. So thank you to Weeks and for all of you who have expressed messages of support to us. I really do hope that more programmes like ours at Fine Cell Work emerge throughout other parts of the globe, the benefits really are something, if anyone has any queries or question about our work then feel free to write to me direct at : rebecca@finecellwork.co.uk

In the meantime, here’s to part two of Weeks’ account!

Kind wishes,
Rebecca

]]> By: Edie http://whipup.net/2006/10/23/handmade-in-prison-part-one-the-teachers/#comment-17370 Edie Tue, 24 Oct 2006 00:49:37 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/10/23/handmade-in-prison-part-one-the-teachers/#comment-17370 inspiring... and yet I know many people resent any kind of "life improvement" opportunity for prisoners. The attitude is: they're in jail because they did something bad, so why are they getting to do something fun/educational/positive? And I counter with the statement that, people are in prison because, for some reason, they didn't know what else to do. They either didn't have the personal resources, education, or good examples to follow, and made a terrible mistake. To keep them from returning to prison, they need to acquire those personal resources, education, and good examples. I have thought of trying to do this kind of thing in my local jail, but time constraints, and I must admit, fear of the more violent prisoners, has kept me from volunteering. Also, in my state, the attitude at the jail seems to be that these people don't deserve to be treated like people, but somewhat worse than the dogs & cats in the animal shelter (I got this impression from personal experience w/the way my ex-boyfriend was treated while in jail for a DUI). I am also wondering how, in the program described, how sharp objects are handled? Do they allow prisoners to have scissors, needles, & pins? I can't imagine that in the jail I'm familiar with, that they would allow prisoners to have that kind of thing, so the only time they could sew would be when the teacher is present. anyway, it's an interesting post, and I too am looking forward to reading more. inspiring… and yet I know many people resent any kind of “life improvement” opportunity for prisoners. The attitude is: they’re in jail because they did something bad, so why are they getting to do something fun/educational/positive?
And I counter with the statement that, people are in prison because, for some reason, they didn’t know what else to do. They either didn’t have the personal resources, education, or good examples to follow, and made a terrible mistake. To keep them from returning to prison, they need to acquire those personal resources, education, and good examples.
I have thought of trying to do this kind of thing in my local jail, but time constraints, and I must admit, fear of the more violent prisoners, has kept me from volunteering. Also, in my state, the attitude at the jail seems to be that these people don’t deserve to be treated like people, but somewhat worse than the dogs & cats in the animal shelter (I got this impression from personal experience w/the way my ex-boyfriend was treated while in jail for a DUI).
I am also wondering how, in the program described, how sharp objects are handled? Do they allow prisoners to have scissors, needles, & pins? I can’t imagine that in the jail I’m familiar with, that they would allow prisoners to have that kind of thing, so the only time they could sew would be when the teacher is present.

anyway, it’s an interesting post, and I too am looking forward to reading more.

]]> By: emily http://whipup.net/2006/10/23/handmade-in-prison-part-one-the-teachers/#comment-17287 emily Mon, 23 Oct 2006 13:28:25 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/10/23/handmade-in-prison-part-one-the-teachers/#comment-17287 I wish there were more programs like this in America...seems all we do is cut off rehab programs of any kind. Very inspiring story. I wish there were more programs like this in America…seems all we do is cut off rehab programs of any kind. Very inspiring story.

]]> By: admin http://whipup.net/2006/10/23/handmade-in-prison-part-one-the-teachers/#comment-17251 admin Mon, 23 Oct 2006 05:37:43 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/10/23/handmade-in-prison-part-one-the-teachers/#comment-17251 Weeks, what a wonderful post - I know how you have been looking forward to this trip and going to the prison, I am so glad that is was everything and more that you expected. I cannot wait to see pt 2 of this story, and hope to see some of the prison quilts and prisoners quilting in action (if possible). Thank you Weeks,
what a wonderful post - I know how you have been looking forward to this trip and going to the prison, I am so glad that is was everything and more that you expected. I cannot wait to see pt 2 of this story, and hope to see some of the prison quilts and prisoners quilting in action (if possible).
Thank you

]]> By: beverly http://whipup.net/2006/10/23/handmade-in-prison-part-one-the-teachers/#comment-17218 beverly Mon, 23 Oct 2006 01:15:16 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/10/23/handmade-in-prison-part-one-the-teachers/#comment-17218 Thank you for sharing this story. I taught in a women's maximum security facility for a year, and it was the most satisfying teaching I've ever done. I had a similar experience. I told a young woman that her writing was good, that I was interested in what else she would write. She asked me to repeat myself twice. Then she told me that no one had ever told her she was good at something. It's heartbreaking. I love the idea of teaching needlecrafts. This was inspirational to read. Thank you for sharing this story. I taught in a women’s maximum security facility for a year, and it was the most satisfying teaching I’ve ever done. I had a similar experience. I told a young woman that her writing was good, that I was interested in what else she would write. She asked me to repeat myself twice. Then she told me that no one had ever told her she was good at something. It’s heartbreaking. I love the idea of teaching needlecrafts. This was inspirational to read.

]]> By: wilsonian http://whipup.net/2006/10/23/handmade-in-prison-part-one-the-teachers/#comment-17208 wilsonian Sun, 22 Oct 2006 23:23:49 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/10/23/handmade-in-prison-part-one-the-teachers/#comment-17208 What a beautiful story, on so many levels... What a beautiful story, on so many levels…

]]> By: filambulle http://whipup.net/2006/10/23/handmade-in-prison-part-one-the-teachers/#comment-17196 filambulle Sun, 22 Oct 2006 21:21:30 +0000 http://whipup.net/2006/10/23/handmade-in-prison-part-one-the-teachers/#comment-17196 Thank you Weeks! This is a VERY interesting post. I am looking forward for the second one. Thank you Weeks! This is a VERY interesting post. I am looking forward for the second one.

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