FINE CELL WORK

  Fine Cell Work is a social enterprise that trains prisoners in paid, skilled, creative needlework undertaken in the long hours spent in their cells to foster hope, discipline and self-esteem. www.finecellwork.co.uk

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My new personal project: a world map with the countries I’ve visited filled in :) Still need to fill in a lot of Europe though…

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We think this is a great idea!

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Look what arrived into Fine Cell Work HQ!

Now to decide which of us gets to go...

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The Broderers Livery Company, who are the guardians of the ancient art and mystery of embroidery in the UK, have been longstanding supporters of Fine Cell Work. They have funded our volunteers and our hand embroidery training and enabled us to buy our state of the art embroidery machine which is now producing livery and regimental crests to order.

Here is our Founding Director, Katy, with Master Nick Bagshawe, past Master Hugh Toler and Wardens, Peter Mosse and Roger Sanders.

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We still have a few of our hand-embroidered Port Eliot 2015 purses left, only £12! Please email [email protected] if you'd like to bag one!

Fine Cell Work is a social enterprise that teaches needlework to prison inmates and sells their products. The prisoners do the work when they are locked in their cells, and the earnings give them hope, skills and independence.

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Absolutely thrilled that the Sleep Quilt commissioned by the wonderful Tracy Chevalier won 2nd prize in the group quilt competition at this year's Festival of Quilts. Thank you to Tracy for your incredible support of FCW, and congratulations to all who were involved in stitching.

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Novelist Tracy Chevalier blogs about working with our Wandsworth quilters

Lots of fantastic feedback about the 'Sleep' quilt following on from the Festival of Quilts last week. We'll keep you updated on where and when it will be next on display, but in the meantime, here is the story of why it was commissioned and how it was created

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Meet Kit Kemp, the creative force behind the Ham Yard Hotel

Kit Kemp wafts into the Ham Yard Hotel wearing a multi-coloured silk gown she says makes her look like “Dumbledore’s wife”. Blonde, bright and breezy, her garments are busy with detail — just like the room we share tea and cake in.

A wonderful feature in Tuesday’s London Evening Standard about one of our fantastic trustees, Kit Kemp. (Page 20 if you manage to pick up a copy!)

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Ian completes his City and Guilds qualification in Fashion with distinction!

Ex-prisoner Ian has an update on his volunteering in the FCW HQ and his City&Guilds qualification. Well done Ian! 

Read his article here.

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Still think these are the coolest.

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Shut the frick up, are these needlepoint frames omg

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Wow!

Edit: Just found a source .  Tapestry Spectacle by Chloë McCormick and NODH

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Just a few of our stuffed owls- each one uniquely stitched by a Fine Cell Work prisoner. Now only £1 each in our office sale!

38 Buckingham Palace Rd, Victoria, London. Until Friday 28th July.

Fine Cell Work is a social enterprise that teaches needlework to prison inmates and sells their products. The prisoners do the work when they are locked in their cells, and the earnings give them hope, skills and independence.

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Some quick snaps from our office sale on now in London Victoria.

Fine Cell Work is a social enterprise that teaches needlework to prison inmates and sells their products. The prisoners do the work when they are locked in their cells, and the earnings give them hope, skills and independence.

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I started Fine Cell Work about 13 years ago, under the tutelage of Louisa, a woman who became a good friend and a brilliant teacher. She taught me the basics, and with her help I became very good at what I was doing. If it was not for volunteers like Louisa and the multitude of others who also do a fantastic job in teaching beginners to become very good stitchers, there would not be a Fine Cell Work charity. So thank God for those volunteers and the recruitment drives they do in each prison they visit. It is brilliant to see a blank canvas turn into a work of art that brings joy to so many people. The staff at head office deserve a big round of applause for the positive feedback they give when each tapestry is sent back to them. The colours and choices they decide on is inspiring. You look at the colours and think to yourself that they are not going to work, but they do every time. I recently suffered a stroke and thought I would not remember how to do my stitching, but bit by bit it came back to me. My left hand was almost useless, but learning to hold a needle again has given me my dexterity back and slowly my speed has been getting better. My eyesight suffered, but with glasses I am able to see the patterns again. Slowly but surely everything is coming back, and I am sure that if Helen in the office was not at the other end of a telephone, I may well have given up on life altogether. I became so very depressed, but being able to talk to Helen I was slowly able to get my confidence back. FCW stuck by me and to me that is huge, and as long as I am able to I will carry on stitching for Fine Cell Work, as they kept me from visiting a very dark place. But now, I am back in the light, and loving what I am doing. Thank you FCW and all of your volunteers, you do a fantastic job, keep it up.

FCW prison stitcher, Paul

Read more prisoner testimonials here.

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Fine Cell Work is a social enterprise that trains prisoners in paid, skilled, creative needlework undertaken in the long hours spent in their cells to foster hope, discipline and self-esteem.

Jailbird bag for our Summer Sale: Reduced from £39 to £30!

Plus free p&p until midnight Sunday 26th July (GMT) using code: SS15

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Fine Cell Work is a social enterprise that trains prisoners in paid, skilled, creative needlework undertaken in the long hours spent in their cells to foster hope, discipline and self-esteem.

In blue or red, our ‘Best Thing’ cushions are machine embroidered in British prisons.

Now on sale for limited time, reduced from £39 to £30.

Free p&p until midnight Sunday (GMT) using this code: SS15

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Fine Cell Work is a social enterprise that trains prisoners in paid, skilled, creative needlework undertaken in the long hours spent in their cells to foster hope, discipline and self-esteem.

Geometric design needlepoint cushions, each stitched differently allowing Fine Cell Work stitchers to show their creativity. 

Summer Sale:

18 inch cushion reduced from £125 to £75

14 inch cushion reduced from £75 to £50

Free p&p until midnight (GMT) Sunday using this code: SS15

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Hotel Designs have featured our luxury hotel commission in their industry news section today!

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Fine Cell Work is a social enterprise that trains prisoners in paid, skilled, creative needlework undertaken in the long hours spent in their cells to foster hope, discipline and self-esteem.

On sale now: Johnny Cash lyric hand stitched by British prisoners on linen.

Reduced for limited time from £65 to £50.

Free p&p on all items until midnight Sunday using this code: SS15