I arrived at the prison this morning geared up and ready to start our embroidered jewelry class. Unfortunately, today we hit a glitch because of a health fair in the women’s area of the prison. Doctors, who previously had come to take blood samples from the women, were back with the results and talking with the women about their health. Due to this, it was impossible for us to have our class today, although, I think tending to one’s health is the best reason to miss jewelry making class!
Even though we didn’t have class, I still showed the women the sample piece for today. My sample is a manta pendant, however the class project is actually an embroidered pendant (since I don’t know how to embroider I brought the manta to show them the general idea). I also brought them a sheet of pictures of other embroidered pendants so they could see the project in context. I was shocked at their enthusiasm!
To say they were excited is an understatement. The prospect of making embroidered pendants was thrilling to them. I bought natural colored cloth for them to embroider on but they swiftly suggested also using black so the colors would pop. They also spoke amongst themselves about the different techniques in the photos and what they thought would be most stunning on a pendant. One woman said, “You always bring us new and interesting ideas. This is really beautiful!”
We agreed that I would leave them the supplies and they would work on the embroidery over the weekend. On Monday we will construct the pendants and start our Monday project. This afternoon they are getting together to cut material and work together on their designs.
Although personally I am sad about not spending much time with the women today, I am happy that they are working together in a group independent of me. This gets them in the habit of working collectively and self-sufficiently, which is ultimately more sustainable. For this reason, missing the class today is actually good news!
After I left the women’s area I submitted my revised Education Plan to the administration and received my updated permission document. While we are having the leather working class, the previous professor is ill and we will be working with a new one. Yesterday I visited his workshop and we outlined the class projects and went to town to buy materials for the class.
A peek into our leather trainer’s workshop
The new leather work, Alberto, is a wonderful artisan. He even has had his products sold at the International Folk Art Market with a group of Ayacuhan artisans (he couldn’t attend due to money). He participates in artisan fairs throughout Peru and internationally in other South American countries. My hope is that he can share his experience with the women of these events to help them understand how large fairs work and give them a greater sense of the Peruvian market.
We start leather class in 1 1/2 weeks!