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141020 Waldorf School of Orange County Monday morning weekly craft group happy crafters mothers parents and children Needle-felted mouse craft group

Thank you Christine Newell for the crafting joy you bring!

Today, our Waldorf School of Orange County craft group gathered in the lovely garden outside of The Company of Angels store to needle-felt a mouse in his pumpkin house. The size of Pumpkins are approximately 7 inches wide and 3 to 4 inches high. Supplies fees for today was $15.

Some crafters worked on Knit-A-Square for charity for Knit-A-Purlooza.

I am adding a feature at the bottom of this page where each week I highlight the works of some members of our community. This way, we can can be the support for one another! Please E-mail me if you want me to feature you. My e-mail is: Jzinius@yahoo.com.

This week, I am featuring several of our Waldorf families who will be selling their handmade goodies at The Journey Waldorf School’s Harvest Faire in Aliso Viejo. Please come, enjoy this festival and support them as well. Click here for more info on the bottom of this page.

One of our diligent crafters here will be performing at the world-famous TED conference in early November. Who is it? You can come attend her performance before she leaves for her Europe concert.  Click here for more information.

– Jzin

Gallery of Past Projects from Our Waldorf School of Orange County Monday Morning Craft Group

Click on below picture to see a gallery of our past craft group projects.

140907 Monday morning craft group. Waldorf School of Orange County. Show girls. CastleofCostaMesa.Com. 2

You can “like” and follow our weekly craft group projects on facebook here.

Please think also of craft group projects you will like to make or see offered, as our craft group donations for our 2015 Waldorf School of Orange County annual gala fundraiser. It’s still early for May 2015, but it’s good to give ourselves plenty of time. E-mail me, if you have ideas: Jzinius@yahoo.com. You know if it’s up to me, it will be another playscape set or puppet show set!

Crafting in a Garden, Among Friends

141020 Needle-felted mouse craft group with Christine Newell group picture 1 Lisa chugging detail 2

October 20, 2014. Monday Morning. Needle-felting and chugging pear kambocha from our Yasmine’s newly opened cafe Fermentation Farm. That’s how we roll.

Today’s craft group project: Needle-felted Mouse in a Pumpkin House! Christine’s grandson, Jack made this pumpkin mouse-house below last year when he was still in Kindergarten!

140915 Jack's needle-felted pink pumpkin with little grey mouse 2 square

Squeak! Cathrine’s lovey dovey mouse couple at home.

141020 Squeak! Cathrine's lovey dovey needle-felted mice couple in pumpkin home on honeysuckle fence 2

Mr. and Mrs. Squeakers.

141020 Cathrine's lovey dovey needle-felted mice couple atop pumpkin home on honeysuckle fence

Lucas and his mouse in a pumpkin house, freshly handmade by mommy Sophie this morning.

141020 Sophie and Lucas with pumpkin mouse 2

141020 Katherine expressing herself to Gloria 2

If we were English, we would be drinking tea this morning. However we are Southern Californians…

141023 Pear Kambocha from Fermentation Farm 2

Thank you Lisa for bringing us probiotic-rich, healthy Pear Kambocha from Yasmine’s just opened cafe, a stone’s throw away from the school: Fermentation Farm.

141020 Lisa needle-felting wool batting into pumpkin shape

Lisa, like everyone else felted with single felting-needles. As a needle-felting fiend, I must interject and tell you about…

Jzin’s Favorite Needle-Felting Tools

Needle-felting pen. You can needle-felt with 3 needles at once! You can hop on by at The Company of Angels to buy these clover pens, or you can purchase on Amazon.com by clicking on the picture below.

Clover felting pen

Here are my favorite fiber artists using the clover felting pens. They are smiling. It means this is a good needle-felting pen.

130216 Nunu and Anicka needle-felting geodes

The magical spiral felting needles! I LOVE these puppies! You can get them from Weir Dolls and Crafts website or via Amazon Weir Doll’s store. Click on the image below to take you there.

The spiral needle has a twist into a spiral shape, makes each stroke much more efficient. Speed up felting time with a spiral needle, both felts and twists the fibers with each punch, making your felted projects go much more quickly. Our in-house felter now swears by these needles as 3-4 times faster! Jzin says again: “I love them puppies!”

130223 SPIRAL Felting Needles Size 38.

Amazon.com price: You can buy a pack of 3 or a pack of 20 on the above link.

Nursing and Needle-felting. We are awesome like that!

141020 Kimmy nursing baby Dagny and crafting needle-felting a huge pumpkin at Waldorf craft group

The awesomeness of Kimmy’s pumpkin was that it was done with special teamwork technique…

141028 Kimmy's needle-felted pumpkin and mouse completed at home.

141020 Kimmy nursing baby Dagny while needle-felting pumpkin for fall

When your pumpkin is firm enough, and at the desired size and shape, you can tie a length of strong polyester string to make grooved segments.

141020 Needle-felted pumpkin tied up in strings to make segments

Christine cutting out pieces of string for those who need them.

141020 Christine doling out strong polyester strings for tying grooved segments on needle-felted pumpkins 2

Linda explaing to Aubrey how to make segment indentations on the pumpkin by tying with one long string.

141021 Linda explaining to Aubrey how to tie strings to make segments on pumpkin 2

After creating segments onto the pumpkin, here we see Jennifer cutting a door in a segment between strings. (Don’t cut off your string!)

141020 Jennifer cutting door into pumpkin 2

It takes work to gut out the felted wool that has been felted into the core of the pumpkin to create a tiny room just big enough for your little mouse.

Next, this is the fun part, cover and needle-felt pumpkin colors onto to you white pumpkin. Our handwork teacher Christine Newell have been busy these days in the dye pot dyeing orange and green wool roving  and curly locks  in singing tones of glorious colors for this morning’s project.

141020 Sonia and crafters surrounded by hand dyed wool roving and locks

Alena came really late today to craft group. And when she did, she totally subverted our earnest diligence with her big basket full of…

141020 Alena subverting craft group by peddlering basketful of free cute kittens 2

Free kittens!

141020 Alena peddlering basketful of free kittens Laura's boy on the bottom 2

141020 Melissa and Emmalyn reaching into basketful of kittens 2

Sharon cuddling one with a pink nose, white gloves and white socks…

141021 Sharon with Alena's kitten with white nose gloves and white socks 2

Anička is proud of her 8 kittens!

141020 Anicka with her needle-felting pad proud of her basketful of 8 kittens

141020 Alex playing with Alena's basket of kittens

Alena’s kittens are currently 5 weeks old and still need their mommy. If you want a kitten please contact her now and she will give you one when it’s weaned at about 8 weeks old.

141021 Julie with little tiger kitten 2

Gloria’s door. I love her romantic looking spirally foliage. She plans to donate this gorgeous pumpkin set to Miss Jenell’s playgroup.

141021 Gloria's pumpkin with romantic curly foliage

October 27, 2014. Gloria’s handwork in its new home at Miss Jenell’s playgroup… delighting children of all ages!

141027 Gloria's handmade fall needle-felting mice in a pumpkin home in Miss Jenell's mommy and me Waldorf classroom

141020 little boys under tree outside company of angels store 2

Mommy and Me crafting pair in the morning: Linda and Rachel.

141020 Linda and Rachel mommy and me needle-felting mother and daughter

Linda’s mouse on her house…

141020 Linda's grey mouse atop his pumpkin house 2

Yuko came at the end, but this experienced felter whipped out her pumpkin in a jiffy.

141020 Yuko needle-felted a little brown mouse peeking out of his pumpkin door 2

Lucy and Rebecca’s needle-felted pumpkins. I love the striations on Rebecca’s pumpkin on the top right.

141020 Lucy and Rebecca's needle-felted pumpkins 2

One mouse each – for a son and a daughter…

141021 brown and white mice peeking out needle-felted pumpkin by Cathrine Ji

141020 Waldorf School of Orange County Monday morning weekly craft group happy crafters mothers parents and children Needle-felted mouse craft group

Last year we made the same craft. Click here to see photos from craft group last year.

1000 Knitted Squares For African Children by January 23, 2015

The Waldorf School of Orange County Parent Association organized its first annual knitting for charity program. This year our squares will be donated to the nonprofit organization, Knit-A-Square, who assembles squares into blankets for African children in need. Our goal is 2000 knitted squares by January 23, 2015!

Knit-a-square for orphans in Africa. Your handwork will hug them with love!

140929 Knit a square Knit-a-square for charity Knitapurlooza 2

You can help us knit 8″x8″ squares for a child in Africa. Pick up supplies and place your donationed handmade love in the front office basket. If you need help/want to learn to knit, come to craft group Monday mornings for assistance.

Josh and Kim are hosting an adult night out and a knitting great time!  Come thirsty with your knitting needles and yarn for some award winning, exceptional craft beers. Valiant Brewing Company is graciously giving us $1.50 off each pour.  Please RSVP by October 27th.

More information on how you can help: Liz Wenger Knit-A-Purlooza Flyer.

http://www.knit-a-square.com/

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Schedule: Upcoming Monday Morning Craft Group Projects and Other Local Crafting Events

October 27, 2014. Basket weaving (Grade 9 curriculum). Rectangular basket woven with flat reeds, holds 2 wine bottles.

141007 Flat reed woven double wine bottle basket on cherimoya tree 2

We need your help to craft for WSOC Winter Festival’s Elves Workshop. Craft kits are now available in the front office. Thank you for your crafting help. Please return completed kits before December 3, 2014.  Click here to see last year’s magical Elves Workshop.
  • October 27, 2014. Basket weaving (Grade 9 curriculum). Rectangular basket woven with flat reeds, holds 2 wine bottles. Last year craft group made round baskets. 2 weeks of basket weaving $18 supplies fee covers both weeks. Christine’s basket weaving supplier had only 12 handles for the wine basket so first come gets one. Not to worry if you don’t get a handle we have plenty of other designs to choose from.
  • Thursday October 30, 2014. 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Adult brew-and-knit for Knit-A-Purlooza at Valiant Brewing Company 2294 N Batavia St Orange, CA 92865. Please RSVP Josh Boyle or Kim Eijpen.
  • November 1, 2014, Saturday. 10am-2pm. Introduction to sewing machine class at Waldorf School of Orange County, offered by Christine Newell. Sign up sheet is in the Company of Angels store. Class size limited to 10. Fees $40.
  • November 3, 2014. Complete basket weaving.
  • November 8, 2014. Saturday 12-5pm. Harvest Faire at The Journey School, 27102 Foxborough, Aliso Viejo, California 92656, USA. Crafts, fairy cafe, games, music, artisan booths (Castle of Costa Mesa, Open Ended Creations, Miss Phyllis Gilmer’s handmade dolls, et cetera).
  • November 10, 2014. Dry felted Christmas Trees.
  • November 12, 14, 2014 both days. Wednesday and Friday. 9:30am-12pm.  Miss Phyllis Gilmer Journey School Doll Workshop Jingle Baby Oak and Acorn. See flyer. This is not on campus.
  • November 17, 2014. Roving Angels. These will be a little different from last year’s project. Parts of these are wet-felted.
  • November 24, 2014. Thanksgiving week, no school/no craft group. Happy Thanksgiving!
  • December 1, 2014. Let’s donate our craft day to the crafting for our Winter Festival Elves Workshop. Click here to see last year’s magical Elves Workshop.
  • Not craft group but school-wide event: Saturday, December 6, 2014 – Winter Festival 2014. Click here to see last year’s magical event. Christine is preparing for our Elves Workshop this year and need all the help she can get. Please let her know if you can help craft little treasures for the children!
  • December 8th, 2014. String art

131207 Blossom fairies, felt cardinals and white silk on the ceiling bokeh.

Our very magical annual Elves Workshop at Winter Festival

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Announcements

One of our diligent crafters here will be performing Mozart, Dvořák, Mendelssohn and et cetera piano pieces at the world-famous TED conference in early November. Who is it? You can come attend her performance before she leaves for her European concert.

141020 Anicka with her needle-felting pad proud of her basketful of 8 kittens

Who: Our very own 9 year old needle-felter/crafter Anička !

What: Due to popular requests, she will perform her piano music for us before she leaves for Europe for her TED conference concert in early November, 2014.

When: Sunday, November 2, 2014

Time: 2pm – 5pm

Where: Kim’s Piano, 10200 Beach Boulevard, Stanton, California.

Cost: This amazing concert performance is free, for the benefit of your enjoyment. But I know if you bring her needle-felting supplies or other craft supplies / Company of Angels gift certificates, this avid crafter will be very happy.

Scroll to the bottom of the page on the following link, to see our little Anička’s biography on the TED-x program here!

141029 Anna Ostrova TED X program biography dyptich

See our Anička’s biography on the bottom of the page on TED program!

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Jzin’s Etsy Store, Castle of Costa Mesa

Thank you for supporting my crafting mania by shopping Castle of Costa Mesa on Etsy! Here is my latest needle-felting: Cinderella tending her pumpkin patch.

Il faut cultiver notre jardin. – Voltaire.

Cinderella’s step-mother forbade her to attend the ball at the palace. What can she do but to tend her own garden. Who knows what life holds when you simply focus on and do the best with the work in front of you?

141015 Il Faut Cultiver Notre Jardin Cinderella and pumpkin patch by CastleofCostaMesa

Castle of Costa Mesa on Etsy

October 5, 2014. The King’s dog ran into the cave and the King ran after it. He had never before seen a maiden more beautiful, and he said to her, “Where did you come from, beautiful child?” … The King lifted her onto his horse and rode away towards the palace. – The Wild Swans, Hans Christian Anderson. The Wild Swans Wool Picture, CastleofCostaMesa Etsy Store

141005 The Wild Swans by Hans Christian Anderson Night Galloping on White Steed towards The Palace Needle-Felted wool picture by Castle of Costa Mesa

Castle of Costa Mesa on Etsy

140922 Mother and babe of the morning stars needle-felted.

Mother and Child of the Morning Stars by Castle of Costa Mesa.

Gallery of Past Projects from The Waldorf School of Orange County Craft Group

Click on the image below to view our Waldorf School of Orange County weekly craft group projects.

140907 Monday morning craft group. Waldorf School of Orange County. Show girls. CastleofCostaMesa.Com. 2

You can “like” and follow our weekly craft group projects on facebook here.

Be in the know for upcoming handmade giveaways: Like CastleofCostaMesa.Com on Facebook

130530 Square Giveaway 6 Waldorf Flower Fairies at Tanager Park

I give away my lovingly handmade dolls and crafts seasonally. If you “Like” my Castle of Costa Mesa Facebook page, you will be notified of upcoming giveaways. Click here to view the list of my past giveaways. Perhaps the next winner could be YOU?

Like Us on Facebook black and white. Fairy Tale Dolls, Handmade With Love. I want you to love learning mandarin chinese!CastleofCostaMesa.Com

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Support Our Local Waldorf Community/ Place a Free Ad

If you are interested in placing an ad on “Support Our Southern California Waldorf Community” (free if you are a member of Southern California Waldorf community) please e-mail me a good picture and a link. If you would like a free shout out for any special events or offer, let me know as well. Time permitting, I will toot your horn.

Meanwhile, please support our local peeps! Thanks! – Jzin

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Come Support These Families from Our Community:

Come enjoy Harvest Faire with your family, plus support the following WSOC families from our community who will be selling their handmade goodies at the Journey School!

2014 Journey School Harvest Faire Flyer CastleofCostaMesa edited, date banner enlarged. Harvest Faire on November 8, 2014. Please come and support us! Thanks!

  • Date: Saturday, November 8, 2014
  • Time: 12pm-5pm
  • Location: The Journey School, 27102 Foxborough, Aliso Viejo, California 92656, USA.

Our own Heller family will be selling their famous rocky boards and other open ended toys at this faire. Below is a photo of Cole and Jonah, father and son working on last year’s wooden castle for our school’s gala fundraiser.

141023 OpenEndedCreations flyer for Journey Harvest Faire by CastleofCostaMesa with Kaili, Cole and Jonah

You may support this family’s Etsy store here: Openendedcreations

Miss Phyllis who is the assistant handwork teacher, will also be offering her handmade dolls and toys at this event. Below is a photo of my daughter, classmates with their knitted gnomes helped made by Miss Angie and Miss Phyllis in second grade.

1306 Second Graders and their knitted gnomes

Miss Phyllis will be showing her work at The Harvest Faire. If you cannot attend, you can still shop on her handmade store here: PhyllisGilmer on Etsy

Handmade Waldorf Treasures by Phyllis Gilmer Costa Mesa CastleofCostaMesa.com

I will be there as well. You can win a $50 gift certificate for Castle of Costa Mesa Etsy store…while supporting a Waldorf school! Come to The Journey School Harvest Faire and enter a raffle to win this!

141017 Gift Certificate Donate to Journey School 2 Done blot out code

I will be offering many items which are not on my Etsy store. If you cannot make it, you can still support my CastleofCostaMesa Etsy store here.

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