This is a wonderful program, so glad you took the time to share it with us. :) Kudos, to the inmates that are involved, the work posted is Great !! Along with the good they are doing for charitable, causes. I agree, have found some scary, folks that have made some poor choices big o softys when given simple courtesy and respect.
Keep up the good works !! :)

I've worked with non violent, made stupid mistake prisoners before that had a second chance on work release programs, but I'd never associate or acknowledge ones ones that has left someone a victim. To me that is a slap in the face to the innocent. You certainly put a lot of dedication into this project.

Pride - or egos. Sometimes, they let their egos get in the way. The quilt program benefits from this as they try to out-do each other in their quilting designs! :-)

What a great read!

What a wonderful program! Keep up the good work.

I'm wondering too if the womens prison has a similar program? I wonder if the guys will continue sewing after they get out...

If they do continue to quilt when they get out, I hope they don't run into the Quilting Police.

Seriously, what a wonderful project. Kudos to the governor of the prison for introducing and keeping alive such a great project, and to all the staff who work on it. Many years ago, I worked with a group of women prisoners to make a panel for the AIDS Quilt. Having something to do and to think about other than prison life was seen as a positive thing.
This is a link to a program that ran in a prison down here:
http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/..._features.html
cheers
Rainy

Awesome.
I especially relate to the red and white quilt in the bottom row of the picture!
Love the story.

Our facility is only for men. We are located in the very SE corner of NM. The only women's facility is up in the NW corner of the state & it's a state owned facility. I don't know if they have anything like this, but you'd think if they did, the word would eventually make it down here.☺

Please put up some kind of link to a website or articles about your prison's quilt festival.
I travel that-a-way now and then, and would love to see it.

Kathy: May I duplicate and share your story with others.

Holice

Sure! Thanks for taking an interest. I love what I do and, as I said, I like to brag on these men.

It just goes to show you the world is full of some wonderful people and you should never judge a book by its cover.

You are an amazing person to do so much for so many others.

This is a wonderful program. It is doing much good for the inmates besides producing the beautiful quilts.

You are definitely an Angel to these men! I loved your story! The quilts are beautiful, tell the guys, "Rock On". They are doing a wonderful job. There should be more of these programs in other prisons. Thanks so much for your service to them and your community! God Bless you all!

Wow... i'm so impressed w/your service to the inmates. You're doing a great job and what beautiful quilts! Bless you!

Thanks! I can truly say, "I love my job!" Not many can say that.

Kathy

WOW! Thank you and please thank the "Quilt Techs". You are all touching so many lives - what a wonderful idea!

It's wonderful to hear of positive things like this happening in a prison. It's a great program! Glad the warden took the initial chance to give it a try! Thanks for sharing the story

The Quilt Festival is presented by the Western Heritage Museum here in Hobbs. I usually save the "best" quilts that are turned in during the year and bring them for display. The quilts remain hanging for 1 month. The effort to hang an exhibit is enormous, so we let them live there that long. This is also a time when there isn't much else going on, except tourists, so it's a good time for the Festival. Every other year we have guest speakers an dendors, but this year we had a make-it-and-take-it workshop for anyone who was there. We even got a guy (husband) who really got into the whole quilting thing!!! He was so proud of his little 4-patch quilt he made. We were too!

The Festival is usually held from the middle of June to the middle of July. I don't know when it will be next year, yet.

Kathy

Thanks!
Is there some kind of website we can visit, or some kind of mailing list we can get on, to know when it's coming?

[quote=tooMuchFabric]Thanks!
Is there some kind of website we can visit, or some kind of mailing list we can get on, to know when it's coming?


[quote=QuiltswithConvicts]I'll try to find the website for the Western Heritage Museun and Lea County Cowboy Hall of Fame - it used to be this long, complete title, but I think they have shortened it, but I haven't the foggiest. I'll dig through my stuff tomorrow to see if I have it.

Kathy

http://www.museumshobbsnm.org/

Try this link - I found it on Bing just now. I don't think there will be anything now as they usually don't put anything up until the deadlines are getting close.

Kathy

Oh thanks, that's wonderful. I've got it bookmarked.
And the intro video is very interesting.

Kathy you are doing a fantastic job with that program , those Quilts are all Superb . I think they should put this kind of program in all prisons . You are such a sweet person to go and do this for these men :thumbup: :D

Kathy...thats a really interesting read for someone like me who doesn't know much about our prison system. My imagination leads me to somewhere way other than a a group of men competing about their quilt designs! You do have a very unique opportunity and I'm happy to hear someone so proud of their work situation. Your story is refreshing on a lot of different levels. I'm sure like everyone else, you have your days that are challenges, but I'm really happy for you and your group of "boys". Their work looks really great!

Such an interesting job. After eight years, I am sure you have seen and heard it all. To be paid as well, that's great, can you quilt while there? Too bad there isn't a short video of them throughout their day, what a good documentary that would be.

The quilts are beautiful. God Bless you for your part in the program.

Betty

What a cool story! I am so impressed with the quilt-tech's quilts- and all hand quilted! They should be proud of themselves. And you have to be a special kind of person to keep on top of this program. Kudos!

You've already heard it but it bears repeating that this thread has been extremely interesting. It is indeed inspiring to read about prisoners doing something positive with their lives that helps others (as well as helping their own self exteems).

Thank you so much for taking the time to post this story! :lol:

Great job.

How interesting!
I have been wondering how to deal with sewing machines, etc. in a prison system. Never dawned on me to teach hand sewing.
I am not familiar with privately owned prisons, but if more govt projects were put in the hands of American citizens, the savings would be staggering; the creativity in utilizing idle hands amazing.
I am joining your fan club!
I saw an episode on Simply Quilts a decade or more ago regarding quilters going into a women's prison and teaching quilting. I could immediately see the benefits in so many ways.
Your details on personal development of the inmates reveals a lot about them that I had never considered. For the most part, they seem to have come from a "survival of the fittest" environment, hence poor behavior on many levels.
Our county prison facilities are in a town down the road from our place. In the new year, I think I will go to the County Sheriff and see if he and I can't figure out a way to make this a reality here in Grant County. I know that there are many county properties that benefit from "trustee" industry.
I am convinced you can never change someone else's life unless you teach them to do something that they can take with them wherever they go. It is one thing to go out picking up garbage along the highway, but it seems to be a "dead end job".
Don't you think an inmate would benefit more with a skill that he can teach others?
On this board, we daily meet people new to quilting; everyone has to start somewhere. We watch them grow in individual, unique applications and their private lives are surely improved by the doing for others as much as their own personal growth.
And, STANDARDS! Y'all have absolutely articulated the need for standards and goals well. How many of us never considered those two qualities as beneficial to our lives until we came to quilting?
I am so glad you joined us! And, I am greatly encouraged by your explanation of the program. You have presented it so well that I could absolutely print out your introduction and our County Sheriff's Department would have a new outlook on the persons in the cells, I am sure of it!
THank you. Now, I have to go back and read the other pages, because the responses and questions you got on the first two pages are an education in themselves.
This is all VERY exciting! <wave>

What a great story, I am impressed by the pride you have in these men. I would hope something like would be available in all prisons, instead just complete idleness. Their work looks fabulous. I imagine you could sell them on Ebay to pay for the fabric if the money was needed. You are obviously a good teacher/mentor. Do you ever get scared, being in a prison with a door locked. I worked in a lockdown psych unit and hearing the door lock me in really got to me.... Thanks for doing this I sure hope the men see that you are giving them a gift.
Merry Christmas
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Karen

This program is going to be the Spirit feature in the next issue of "Quilter's Home Magazine." It will be in the February/March issue! I think it's so cool to be able to let the world know what these inmates are doing & QH is such a terrific mag, with a wonderful slant in their outlook on everything quilty!

Thanks to Quilter's Home Magazine for this - hope you're "listening."

Merry Christmas!

You really love your Quilt Techs guys. There is a part of the job you don't mention, psychology, social service skills, empathy, you are a very special person to fulfill that job. You are passionate about your work. May God bless you and your guys,

Wonderful work done here....something to be proud of, for sure.

Quite a great work done here....Pride is a wonderful feeling and you have given it to them.

What a great program....its great to see that the men have something to help them occupy thier time and to think of something good instead of evil. Your program seems to have everything down pat to make sure expectations and requirements are met. Congradulations on such a wonderful programs that lend itself to giving a second chance to those who need it. Great Job!

Very interesting! Great story!

I hope that the quilting, meeting deadlines, working together, having a creative outlet and hopefully a sense of accomplishment can bring a positive change in their lives.