"Shopify" Preview

A set of 4 refrigerator magnets made from original student artwork.

New item for our 'Shopify' store.

We will soon be opening our own 'Shopify' portal linked through the Hope University website. Our Hope U handmade boutique will still be open for your etsy shopping needs.  The Hope University students are making so many wonderful items that our inventory is expanding enough to offer them in other venues.  Hope Handmade made appearances at the Patchwork handmade marketplace in Santa Ana recently, as well as at our Holiday show.  I hope you check back often as we debut new items here on the blog and on our website. 

New Year and New Items in our Etsy shop!

"Purple Taffy" hand woven scarf.

Hand woven scarf.

"Lavender Meadow" hand woven scarf.

Hand woven scarf. 

It is 2014 and the students of Hope University are looking forward to another fun filled year.  Field trips, performances, parties, and fun with friends top the lists. 
Our Etsy shop has some new items for purchase.  We have listed a new item, our hand woven scarves.  The students do enjoy creating these one of a kind pieces.  Using a rigid heddle loom is a new skill that we were able to add to the fiber arts classes in 2013, and it has proved to be very popular. 

Etsy Updates for September

Napa Valley Purple Grape Felted Bead Barrettes.

Coastal Pine Green and Red Felted Bead Barrettes.

Hope U Student April makes a wonderful hand model for our wrist warmers. 

Robin's Egg Blue and Spring Green Hand Knit Wrist Warmers.

 
Hope University's very own Etsy shop has been busy!  We have sold 4 items, one pair of wrist warmers and 3 felted wool bead barrettes.  This week in Etsy class we updated some inventory and added another pair of wrist warmers and two new felted wool bead barrettes.  Above are some views of these new items and as you can see our product is selling well.  Now would be a great time to get in some early holiday shopping while our items are in stock!  So be sure to stop by the Hope Handmade Etsy shop to view the entire collection of items to make your selection. All of the proceeds from the sales at Hope Handmade on Etsy go directly to the students and their program. 

Hope Visits The Orange County Fair!

Allison is very happy to be on the bee ride!

Ben, Joe, Fred, Allison and Darren in the OC Fair garden.

A happy Fred on the trucks.

The Hi-Hopes performing on the OC Fair stage.

Sharon, Michelle and Chris at the Fair.

The popular 'Monster Truck' ride!

The annual Orange County Fair is in full swing and we had a wonderful opportunity through
 'friends of the fair' day to attend.  The Orange County Fair sponsors one morning for persons with disabilities to attend the fair for free.  The rides open early for them and are free as well.  Our students look forward each year for this special morning that is 'just for them'.  Hope University's very own performing musical group The Hi-Hopes, was live on stage for all to see and hear.
Some of the fair highlights were:
"I liked the horn sounds from the bumper car ride."  Ben Simendinger.
"The monster truck ride!"  Fred Mezzo.
"I really enjoyed shopping."  Michelle Emory.
"The bumper cars were the best ride."  Ana Pinedo.
"I liked the bumble bee ride."  Allison French and Bradley Clayman.
"The monster truck ride was fun!"  Jennifer Doyle.

Wrist Warmers to Warm Your Heart

Hope University's knitters have been busy knitting up product for our soon to open Esty shop.  Felted bags, scarves, our little owls and pin cushions/pen holders, pot & pan scrubbies, even head bands are all waiting to be photographed for the shop.  This week we were able to find the perfect hand model for our unique wrist warmers.  April Renick's hands really fit the bill.  She was so excited to be chosen and had great poise for our hand poses. 
We asked April to tell us a little bit about her new found hand modeling experience,
"It was fun, I enjoyed it.  My favorite part of doing the hand modeling was being able to try on all the colors of wrist warmers.  It was my first time being a hand model and I would definitely want to do it again."
Thank you April for lending us your lovely hands and we all think she will get her wish to hand model again for us here at Hope University. 
We share with you here some photos from the wrist warmer shoot, featuring April's hands. 

Getting ready for the Gala

Centerpiece 'masks' drying.

Parent volunteer Deb D'Luna assists in glittering the masks.

Centerpiece masks with 'gems'.

Diane S's amazing red house original painting, available at this year's Gala.

Frank L's happy flower family, original colored pencil drawing available at this years Gala.

Jim L. shows us his unique perspective of light through a trellis.  

Sharon M's original painting of a resplendent Native American.  Available at our Gala.

Lori L's pretty girl in water color is reminiscent of a Japanese Kokeshi doll.  Available at this year's Gala.

As we mentioned in an earlier post, our annual fundraising gala 'Life is a Masquerade' will be this Saturday, March 10th with the silent auction room opening at 5:30.  The Hi-Hopes will play, people will dance, there is a large silent auction with a wide range of items such as, student created original artwork, gift baskets for every taste and even travel packages. 
The place is the Crowne Plaza Anaheim Resort at 12021 South Harbor Blvd, Garden Grove, CA 92804, just up the street from Disneyland!
Above you see the centerpieces being created as well as some of the original artwork waiting to be framed.
We are very excited about this years gala and do hope to add to our building fund with the money we raise.  Hope University has been saving money to purchase our own facility and we are busting at the seams with clients now.  There are so many special needs adults that would love to join our Hope U family and enrich their lives through the arts.
Please contact us for more information on our program, to donate, to volunteer or to even to take a tour of our current facility.   

Christmas by Candlelight, Act ll

 Opening the second half of the show was the hand bell choir with a slide show of student artwork.

The hand bells.

Alexis getting ready for her keyboard solo.

The Choir.

Karen and Michelle start the 'Baking Cookies' dance.

'Baking Cookies'... the dance.

Ron playing his accordion.

Paul and Cathy sing a duet of 'The Christmas Song' or 'Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire'.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus!  (Maurica and Ben)

The Grand Finale, 'Joy to the World'.

The audience gives us a standing ovation!

The staff takes a bow.

Here is the second installment of Hope University performing in their annual Christmas Program, titled 'Christmas by Candlelight'.  The students enjoyed dancing, singing and acting as they participated on stage.  Photographed by Eric Stoner.

Hope U Has A Lu-Wow!

Musical instructors Steve and Rene lead the students in an island drum circle.

Students making tropical fruit kabobs.

Students performed the 'Little Grass Shack' hula dance.

Tanette getting ready to throw in the ring toss game.

Alexis and other students dance to fun island inspired tunes.

The summer heat made us all think of going on a Hawaiian vacation, so we had one here!  There were tropical fruit kabobs, hula lessons, an island ring toss game, an native drum circle, a hula dance performance  and a DJ dance party! Fun was has by all!  Aloha!

"My favorite part of the day was the dance in the afternoon."
Kim Mumper

"My favorite part of the party was making the tropical fruit kabobs."
Lori Slikker

"I liked helping to cut up the strawberries and pineapple with my friends."
Tanette Tuttle

Mural Mosaic

Sharon M. working on the mosaic.

Darren P. enjoying the view.

Fred M. showing hands on artistry.

Darren P. Fred M. and Sharon M. all very proud of their work.

Entrance way mural in progress at Integrity House.

Earlier in this blog we showed you photos of the mural going in at Integrity House in Santa Ana California.  Well, work has not stopped on this amazing project.  Now the students have finished the painting phase and have moved on to the mosaic addition.  All of the artwork used in the mural was student and Integrity House consumer generated.  This has been a wonderful collaboration of efforts from both facilities as well as countless volunteer hours.  Here are two blog posts, one showing the mural's painting phase and the other is of only some of the volunteers who have given so much of their time in this project.  We are hoping to have the mural completed by the summer of 2011.  There will be a grand unveiling and reception to honor this artistic achievement. 
The students are so excited about the mural, seeing their artwork on this large of a scale is so validating.