Gloria Giraldo learned to embroider at Cookham Wood prison in Kent, a long way from her native Colombia. She did crewel embroidery in fine wools and silks, working for two years from macroscopic photos of a valuable tablecloth which was sewn in France, 150 years ago.

Many women in the prison contributed figures to the tablecloth. They embroidered the lions, cats, deers and dogs in their cells, on linen stretched over hand-held frames. The figures were then applied by Gloria to the tablecloth itself. Most of the women were Colombian. Many of them, like Gloria, hardly spoke English. They learnt to do the work because Gloria taught them.

Before she left prison, Gloria wrote to us saying:

"It was wonderful to do all that work. I am feeling very sad to leave you but that is life. I love this kind of work and I think when you do something with love it is better in the end. At this moment I am dreaming of embroidery."

Gloria returned to Colombia, where unemployment is phenomenally high and she no longer had her own home. However, she as able to continue stitching for Fine Cell Work after a visit from Polly Scott Bolton, FCW’s former design co-ordinator, to deliver a tablecloth commission to her in person.



Gloria completed two commissions for embroidered tablecloths, worth £7,800. The panels of the tablecloth were brought back by her friends in their suitcases over the course of two years. The tablecloth is now ensconced in its new home, a castle in West Sussex.

Gloria has been able to afford to emigrate to Spain, where she has been able to find work and live near to her family.