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!

Spirit Week Staff Talent Show!

Rene Cortez singing opera.

Shelley RuggThorp singing with the students from our group The Hi-Hopes in accompaniment.

Vera plays the flute with Susie on piano.

SuzAnne singing opera.

Steven Noguera playing classical guitar.

Lisa brightening up the stage with comedy.

The Hope University students enjoying the staff talent show.

Michele V. & Vera O. sing karaoke for the students.

Our Spirit Week continued with a Staff Talent Show.  All of the staff at Hope University are artists in their own right.  Hope has visual artists, writers, singers, performers, musicians, painters and fiber artists.  On the day of the Staff Talent show, some of the performing artists were able to show off their craft.  The students were treated to a wonderful show of opera, classical guitar, flute, piano, and a comedy performances.  Shelley RuggThorp sang with some of the students from our performing group 'The Hi-Hopes' as accompaniment.  The students enjoyed seeing their instructors on stage and marveled at their amazing talents. 

Exploring Art

Karen explores repetition and color.

Michelle likes to use acrylics and an easel. 

Joanna finds out how colors work on a dark background.

Tanette gets ready to work on her sewing project.

Hope University is a day program for adults with developmental disabilities.  We have an arts based curriculum centered on exploring each clients abilities.  There are many arts for the clients to choose from, painting, drawing, pen and ink, printmaking, knitting, weaving, sewing, felting, pastels, acrylics, even graphite.  Here we have some views of clients participating in the offerings.  Artwork created by the clients is often used in making items that we sell at our annual holiday boutique as well as on our Etsy shop.  Custom paintings and artwork are available for commission by our talented artists by request.  Please visit our website to view more.