Beading from Prison...interesting

Hey all! I thought this was interesting and just thought I would share.

A friend of my husband's brother is in prison for too many petty things to go on about here but the other day my husband received a letter from him. Enclosed in the letter he included a little something for our girls...Earrings he made! They are woven but since I don't do this stuff really I don't know what kind of stitch. Peyote, brick I haven't a clue. I just thought it was really interesting that they are teaching this in prison. He talked to him a few weeks ago and although I wasn't on the phone I could hear him through my husbands phone and he sounded quite excited about beading!

Here is what he sent

I didn't get a good close up of the other pair but you get the idea.

Looks sweet =)
It those are made sideways its peyote - if they are made bottom to top they are brickstitch ...
But I would guess they are Peyote - thats the technique I would used ...

That's a really nice thing for him to do, and nice that they're teaching it!  Those could be peyote or brick stitch-no way to tell without a close look though.

Wow those are nice Cat!  Extremely good that they have the guys beading in prison though I'm surprised they let them have needles.  No wonder your brother-in-law is excited, that must be a huge relief of boredom and an excellent way to spend time!

Pam

 What a great project! THose are fun designs too. I wouldn't have thought of them doing things like this, but why not? the seed beads aren't expensive, the tools are relativly harmless, and it really is a lot of fun!

Lois

That is really cool, Cat!  Its nice that they are teaching them things to occupy their time, somthing that they might continue to indulge in once they are out of prison.  Thanks for sharing!

 Cat, those earrings are great! And such an unexpected place to look for beading!

I bought a couple of pieces of beadwork at the Minnesota State Prison back in 1970.  It is stitched to/onto leather, and the back is laced on.  This is typical of Anishinabe and Dakota Indians, at least in Minnesota.  At the time I made my puchase, beadwork was rwestricted tothe cragts area.  (I was teaching basic electronics to some of the inmates under MPTA at the time}

I don't know about Ohio, but there are several resevations around the state, and a very larege community of American Indians in Minneapolis.  They constitute a very disproportionate part of the prison population here.

CrystalCubeBead.:

I was teaching basic electronics to some of the inmates under MPTA at the time

Bless you Stan, what a wonderful thing to do! 

CrystalCubeBead.:

I don't know about Ohio, but there are several resevations around the state, and a very larege community of American Indians in Minneapolis.  They constitute a very disproportionate part of the prison population here.

Pam

 I thought it was neat too!

I think he is actually in Arizona because (I think) it's Federal prison. He just had a very long list of stupid stuff and I don't know how the system works really but I guess it was enough this time to send him to federal but I think he's low security. Don't know really.

It's actually my husbands brother's (whom is now dead) friend in prison. He stayed with us for a couple weeks a few years ago helping Steve with some stuff around the house, trying to keep him out of trouble, but alas it didn't work for too long.

I just thought this was so cool so I wanted to share with everyone!

Sherri S.:

That is really cool, Cat!  Its nice that they are teaching them things to occupy their time, somthing that they might continue to indulge in once they are out of prison.  Thanks for sharing!

 Those were exactly my thoughts!

 Cat, this is hilarious.  They do nice work.  I just have this picture in my mind of a bunch of men in orange jumpsuits beading around a table making earrings and talking about the new stitches they learned.  What a great idea to keep their hands and minds busy.  jeannie

Jeannie :

I just have this picture in my mind of a bunch of men in orange jumpsuits beading around a table making earrings and talking about the new stitches they learned.  What a great idea to keep their hands and minds busy.

Now I have this image in my mind. Crack me up! It is good to teach them something useful though. Who knows one of them might just be the next Famous Bead Artist!

That's really interesting! The beadweaving in the earrings looks to be of good craftsmanship too. Thanks for sharing this story!

 I saw a program once where more and more prisons are not only allowing, but encouraging the Native inmates to pursue their traditional art, whether it be beadwork, carving kachinas, painting, etc... They are then able to offer them for sale (though I don't know where or how) and it actually goes a long way to help the inmates improve their self image and self respect, in addition to earning money that they can save for and if they are ever released. Some of the inmates that are very good artists then are allowed to teach their craft to other interested inmates. Not a bad idea, if you ask me.