Summer of 2013 Lu-Wow!

Fun in the conga line!

Hula dancers perform 'Little Grass Shack' and 'Pearly Shells'

Joe and Leighan join in on the musical fun.

Richard and Christie rest after lunch.

The students and staff of Hope University just love the summer and we celebrate the Southern California sun with Spirit Week!  Crazy sock day starts out the week, followed by sports day, where you can dress in your favorite sports jerseys and talk sports with your friends.  On silly hat day it is always a surprise to see what comes in the door.  The week is capped off with the ever popular 'Lu-Wow' day, filled with food, dancing, Hula, limbo and a sunny summer feeling of being on vacation in the tropics. 

Etsy Sales!

Handmade felt bead earrings.

Hand knitted gadget holders.

Hand wrapped and felted soaps. 

Our Etsy shop has been humming with sales!  The holidays are fast approaching and ordering items from our Etsy shop just could not be easier.  Skip the lines and parking troubles at the mall and order from Hope Handmade on Etsy! 

India Visits Hope

Indian Dancer.

Telling a story.

Teaching us hand gestures.

Indian drummer demonstrating a special drum.

The students learning hand gestures. 

The students of Hope University were privileged to be visited by a traveling artist, Indian dancer and her musician drummer.  She told us a story with her dance movements, hand gestures and even the expressions on her face.  The drummer played on special Indian drums and showed us all of the different sounds they could make.  The dancer did not wear any shoes, but had bells around her ankles that sounded like twinkly stars when she stomped her feet.  She wore a very colorful traditional Indian dancer's costume that flowed with her movements.  As she danced and told her story the students watched with new appreciation for her art.  Between dances the drummer demonstrated the many sounds he could create on the special Indian drums.  He told us that is takes many years to learn the techniques and styles of drumming for Indian dance.  The dancer also was able to show us some hand and foot movements for us all to try.  The students all enjoyed a little trip to India through her dance.  

Print It! Print Show

Darren Petersen's First Place print, Automated Tree System

Fred Mezzo's Second place print, Lone Cowboy

Juror Carleton Christy had a challenging task in choosing winners among the many wonderful prints exhibited in Print It!, Hope university's exhibition of Print making at Catalyst Gallery in Westminster, CA.  While Darren Petersen won the first place cash prize for his Automated Tree System print, Fred Mezzo was awarded Second Place for his portrait of John Wayne titled, Lone Cowboy.  Ben Simendingers's etching Dust Cloud, was the Third Place winner, Cathy Acton's Bird on a Branch was recognized with an Honorable Mention.  Fourteen prints, beautifully framed by Randy Higby Gallery, sold at the show. 

Etsy Preview...Cards!

Two linoleum block prints by Miguel A. and Cindy H.

A lovely pen and ink drawing by Ana P.

A gently colored card by Chris F. along with a study in repetition by Joanna B.

Soon to be in our etsy shop are cards!  Each card is a reproduction of one of the Hope University student's artwork.  We have pen and ink, linoleum block prints, hand drawn images and paintings.  Each one with it's own unique charm.  All of the cards are blank on the inside for you to add your own sentiment, yet if you would like to special order them with one you can by emailing or calling us for your order.  We have so many talented people here at Hope so the selection will be grand. 

Yarn Bomb?

Clients and instructors visiting from AbilityFirst.

Terry is very happy to be knitting on the loom.

Karen G. and her mother create pieces for the installation.

Michelle Miller/Fickle Knitter discusses knitting with Cindy H.

Pei-Lin and her mother enjoy the fiber arts together.

Objects from the 'wrapping' station.

Rene and her mother work together on the knitting loom.

Pieces of bright colored weaving along with the many tubes that will be installed.

Our videographer Stephanie Serna interviewing student Frank L's mother. 

The students of Hope University are preparing for a bomb...a yarn bomb that is!  We received a grant from the VSA to create a 'yarn bomb' and present this concept along with knitting, weaving and other fiber related arts to other facilities and the community.  We have done knitting and fiber arts workshops at several other facilities including Social Vocational Services in Norwalk, AbilityFirst in Long Beach and Fairview State Hospital in Costa Mesa, California.
On March 14th, we hosted a 'knit-in' here at Hope to bring together parents, volunteers and clients from some of the other facilities we visited to get together and have some fiber art fun!  We had a weaving station, a knitting station, a stitching station and a wrapping station.  The weavers worked collectively on our rigid heddle looms, the knitters used both needles and the knitting looms, the stitch-ers sewed and embroidered while the wrappers, wrapped various objects with yarn. We were also assited by the knitting celebrity, Michelle Miller, the 'Fickle Knitter' who helped us knit a piece for the installation.  Thank you Michelle!
 As you can see the 'knit-in' was a success!
Our installation will be at the Westfield Mainplace Mall in Santa Ana, California on the 19th of April, ready for the VSA celebration at the mall on Saturday the 20th, where several of our Hope U students will be performing along with other persons with disabilities from around Orange County and beyond.  We will also have demonstrations and a 'mini class' of weaving so anyone can create a piece for the yarn bomb.  We hope to see you there!

New Happenings in Fiber Arts at Hope!

Christie learns to weave.

Ana has caught the weaving bug.

A warped and woven Cricket loom.

Crystal shows off a weaving shuttle.

Tanette loves to weave.

A point of view of weaving view.

The weaving station is attracting a lot of attention.

The Hope University Fiber Arts program has expanded into WEAVING!  We have acquired 4 new Cricket rigid heddle looms for the students to use.  As soon as they were warped and ready to go several students jumped at the chance to weave.  They are enjoying it so much and are feeling very successful creating beautiful fabric on the loom.  You can look forward to seeing new items appear in our Etsy shop and at our various Boutiques during the year to come as we explore the therapeutic fun of our new rigid heddle looms.  

Valentine's Day Fun At Hope University

Joanna making Valentine's.

Oscar looks happy about the goodies in his bag.

Melanie stirs the white chocolate for the strawberries.

Yummy Valentine's Day treats. 

Lori and Brian enjoy the day.

Miguel plays a Valentine's Day themed Bean Bag Toss game as Richard looks on.

Pei Lin is thinking about all of the Valentine's she will get.

Joe enjoys singing Karaoke. 

On the 14th of February we had a party to celebrate Valentine's Day.  Students made Valentine's to give to their friends, filled up bags with Valentine's Day loot, played games, sang Karoke and had a DJ with a dance.   Here are a few of the students highlights.  
"I liked the dancing."  Pei Lin Stotler
"My favorite part was listening to the music."  Margaret Kelley
"I had fun passing out my Valentines to all of my friends." Rene Smith
"Singing Karaoke was my favorite part of the day." Carol Wallen
"I liked doing the Bean Bag Toss." Jennifer Doyle

A wonderful day was had by all. 

Etsy Preview

Little owl with a belt

Little owl with spectacles.

Soon to be available on our etsy page is this adorable brown owl sporting a green belt.  He is ready to sit on a desk top, shelf or table showing off his new accessory.  Our owl is sure to bring a smile to anyone who passes by.  This little fellow makes a wonderful eye glass holder, how wise he looks in spectacles.  We hope you visit our etsy shop and peruse our selection of our handmade items.  Don't forget that all proceeds go directly to the program.  

Christmas on the Radio

Frank changes a station on the boom box.

Many shoppers at our Boutique of items handmade by the students.

Joe V. is the driver in the 'car' skit.

Our wonderful Choir.

Jason R. and Chris F. ham it up backstage.

Jason R. and Fred M. perform in a skit.

Joe V. relaxes before the show.

A wonderful light show.

Dancers with lights captured attention.

The light show continued.

Rockin' out to the radio.

Melanie V. and Crystal S. act out a fun skit.

Snowflake Dancers move to the sound of the Bell Choir.

This past December Hope University has it's annual Holiday program at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton California.  The title of the show was 'Christmas on the Radio' and we featured skits, dance and music from different eras.  Some of the students remember their favorite parts of the show:
"Singing in the Choir."  April Renick
"The car skit." Ben Simendinger
"Listening to the Hi-Hopes." Joe Valierie
"Hearing 'Silent Night' sung by the Choir."  Amy Lacher
"I really enjoy rehearsal and the anticipation of performing." Chris Friedman
"I like being in the sign language part."  Darren Petersen
We all had a wonderful show.