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130501 Gloria wet-felting soap with baby Catherine on her lap.

Today our craft group gathered to make wet-felted soap. Antoinette said, “I love this craft! These soaps make very great gifts for teachers, family and friends.”

130501 Group picture of wet-felted soaps made by Waldorf craft group today

Some finished and unfinished wet-felted soaps basking in our Southern Californian spring sunshine.

For $5 we had access to all the materials to make as many soaps as we wanted. Christine Newell taught our group to make this craft. Thank you Christine Newell and Rachel Skelly for organizing our craft group!

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Today

Today our Wednesday craft group gathered outdoors in the garden of our Waldorf School of Orange County school store, The Company of Angels, to make wet-felted soap.

I reached out for a bar of Trader Joe’s honey oatmeal soap and wrapped that in my first layer of wool batting. This layer was too wide and had to be trimmed by pulling off some of the edges.

130501 Jzin wet-felting a bar of soap in wool batting

Christine’s soap, snugly wrapped up in 2 layers of wool batting.

130501 Wrapping bar soap in 2 layers of white wool batting

Wrapped in lime green pencil roving…Christine added chartreuse and rose red corriedale wool tops in thin layers to the soap. Thick layers of wool will felt into detached bumps that will have to be cut off and discarded.

130501 soap wrapped in thin layers of chartreuse and rose red corriedale wool top roving and lime green pencil roving

Kimmy (with her baby girl resting inside her belly) laid down thin, flat strips of colorful roving on her soap.

130501 Kimmy laying colorful wool roving on wet-felted soap project

Rachel and Debbie making wet-felted soaps.

130501 Rachel and Debbie making wet-felted soap with wash boards

Christine misting her soap with hot water from a spray bottle.

13050a1 Spraying the wet-felted soap project with hot water from a spray bottle

{For those lacking spray bottle and patience, I would boil hot water and drip thin strips of hot water and liquid soap onto the wool. Boiling water makes the wool felt faster. You will however, need to wait to hand felt your soap when it is touchable with bare hands or gloved hands. My hands are made of steel so I can handle felting with hot water.}

Dr. Bonner’s liquid soap was added to the wet soap bar. Actually, most soaps will do. At my home I use my liquid dishwashing detergent or laundry detergent, they work as well. Here Christine was rubbing her wet and soapy soap into shape on top of bumpy bubble wrap.

130501 rubbing wet and soapy wet-felted soap into shape on bubble wrap

Gloria had help from little Catherine.

130501 Gloria wet-felting soap with baby Catherine on her lap.

Christine rigorously rubbing her soapy wool on top of bubble wrap to felt it in place.

130501 Christine rigorously rubbing soaping wool roving on bubble wrap

Rachel rubbing wet-felted soap on washboard

13051 Rachel rubbing wet-felted soap on washboard

Rubbing the soap on bubble wrap to felt the wool into place.

Gloria and little Catherine crafting in the garden.

130501 Gloria wet-felting soap with baby Catherine in the garden

After the soaps are semi-felted on the bubble wraps, Rachel and Antoinette applied rigorous rubbings on washboards to further felt them in shape.

130501 rubbing wet-felted soaps on bubble wrap and wash boards

The last step was to rinse the suds off our soap in cold water to shock the fibers in place. We rinsed our soap in the red tub of cold water pictured in the background below. Here are soaps from our first batch of wet-felting.

130501 First batch of wet-felted soap bars

I decided to try a second bar of soap. I wanted to add needle-felted words to this soap.

I started off the same way, as if I was making a regular wet-felted soap. However, I needle-felted my designs on my final layer atop my needle-felting foam board first, before I wrapped up my soap with that needle-felted, final layer.

I wrapped my tea-tree oil soap bar in 2 layers of wool batting. I trimmed off excess wool to make a nice wrap.

130501 process of wrapping wool batting around soap bar for wet-felting

My craft box: I did not want the white to show, so I added a chartreuse layer next.

130501 Jzin's wet-felted soap white batting wrapped in chartreuse colored wool roving on Jzin's craft box

I practiced wrapping my chartreuse green soap with the red roving piece first, to determine if the size of the red layer was big enough for a good wrap. Before I added the red layer to the green soap, I needle-felted the word “love” using white mohair yarn. I wanted to achieve a “glowing” look for my word with the flyaway wisps of  white mohair fibers.

130501 Needle-felting words with mohair yarn onto wet-felted soap project II

Not satisfied with the fuzzy and unclear look of the first (white) yarn writing, I added the word “Love” again, this time using Christine’s thin and flat yellow pencil roving, to the opposite side of the soap.

130501 Christine's fine thin flat yellow pencil roving for needle felting words on wet-felted soap

I fell in love with this yellow pre-yarn. They are awesome for making words and designs on felt projects!

Note: I needle felted on a foam pad in my tiny craft box, and NOT directly onto the hard soap.

130501 front and back needle-felting words added to wet-felted soap

I practiced my cursive writing until I am satisfied, then I wrapped the needle-felted piece of red roving around my green soap.

130501 Jzin's needle-felted word on wet-felted red soap of love

My handwork was intended for my favorite young man…

130210 DXR ENC Nature Center Botanical Garden

My soap moistened with hot water and liquid soap, before subsequent squeezing and rubbings.

130501 Jzin's wet-felt soap with needle-felted pencil roving word

I handled my soap more gently (I did not rub on washboards) to preserve the design. I will carry on my wet-felting fun in the showers at home.

Gloria and Catherine were leaving early and wanted to take their finished soap home. Wanting to include my unfinished “love” soap in the group picture, I placed it on the drying table even though it was wet and not completely felted yet. The loose felt needed some gentle squeezing to get into shape.

130501 Group picture of wet-felted soaps made by Waldorf craft group today

Our wet-felted soaps, some were waiting to fully come into being.

130501 array of wet-felted soaps on table

This craft is also suitable for children. (They will need help with the hot water). The children and I wet felted soap for Anicka’s 8th birthday party recently. Anicka’s soap has a rope for hanging. To make it, you can first tie your soap with yarn as if you are tying a gift. Then, you cover it up the tied soap with colorful roving.

130330 Felting soap with Rama, Nunu and Anicka at Anicka's 8th birthday party 2

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Nuno-Felted Scarves

130501 Christine's brown Nuno-felted scarf on Company of Angels ivy wall

Craft group made Nuno-felted Scarves on April 17, 2013. Wednesday. I was told that the scarves came out beautifully! I missed it that day. I photographed 2 of the scarves made that day (above and below).

130501 Christine's beige nuno felted scarf by ivy wall of Company of Angels store

We are hoping to Nuno-felting again. The next time, we shall make LARGER Nuno felted shawls/ scarves. Please e-mail and let Christine know if you are interested  in doing this project so she can order the silks for it:  newellchristine8@gmail.com. Below are the prices of the scarves you would like to make…

  • 22 x 90 inches  $25
  • 43 x 72 inches $30
  •  11 x 90 inches  $18
  • 14 x 72  inches $18

Here are some inspirations from Pinterest.com…

130501 Pink blossoms smashingdarling.com nuno felting floral scarf

Nuno-felted bag by Beata’s Soul on Etsy, $99.00

130501 cropped floral bag Nuno Felted bag Shabby pink rose Felted Purse OOAK by beatassoul, $99.00

Beata’s Soul on Etsy.com

Judith Dios Three-Dimensional Surface Effects with Nuno Felting. Check out the  works of Judith Dios on her website.

130501 Judith Dios Three-Dimensional Surface Effects with Nuno Felting

source

Baymut Mint felted scarf turquoise teal blue ruffle wool collar weddings fashion aquamarine winter fashion Etsy Ukraine

Source: Baymut on Etsy

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Wet-Felted Bags. Wednesday, April 24, 2013

I missed this day at craft group. May 1, 2013. I managed to photo a tea cozy wet-felted by Rachel Skelly (Rachel is in the background, very much blurred out).

130501 Rachel and her wet-felted tea cozy

Thank you Rachel Skelly for always taking good care of us with teas and biscuits at craft group gatherings! Here is Rachel’s iconic sunshine yellow teapot with her new wet-felted tea cozy.

130501 Rachel Skelly's wet-felted tea cozy and sunshine yellow tea pot at craft group

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“Snow White and Rose Red” Table Top Puppet Show Performance for Miss Tiesha’s Aftercare Last Week.

Thursday 3:30pm April 25, 2013. This afternoon, we performed a homemade “Snow White and Rose Red” by The Brothers Grimm Table Top Fairy Tale puppet show in 7 scenes for Miss Tiesha Hutchins-Utai’s aftercare program at our Waldorf school. It ran exactly 20 minutes with live piano accompaniment by my 8 year old pianists and assistants Nunu (nickname) and Anička. I am so proud of my girls!

130425 logo close up Nunu performing table top puppet show for children

Here, Anička played a lively Lemuan Etude while my girl took the stage to perform a short comedic sequence. I am so grateful for all the smiles and laughter of the children.

130425 little pigtails performing to her rapt audience

Click here to visit the page of photos from that afternoon.

We have also donated a Table Top Fairy Tale Puppet Show to Maple Village Waldorf School’s Under The Stars Annual Gala Event on Saturday, May 18, 2013 in Long Beach. Check it out, you may win a table top puppet show for your next gathering!

Snow White and Rose Red wedding scene. Handmade and homespun puppet theatre by CastleofCostaMesa.com

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Jzin’s Apple Cake Table Top Puppet Set, Sold to Brazil

Hurray! I made and sold a set of dolls to faraway Brazil. It makes me so happy to think that my handwork will live in the happy memories of a group of little Brazilian children so far away! Here are some photos of the dolls I made for this large order. Click here to view page.

121205 Old Woman with a basket of plums in the kitchen firewood stove miniature world

130420 Old Woman giving plums to goose girl. Reef point

130421 The Couple in the garden. Mason Park.

130419 The sad handsome young man. Newport Beach back bay. Logo

130419 Poor woman and her babe and white dog dark valley

130418 Mother gazing lovingly at her babe in arms. Needle-felted woman in white with baby.

121220 Needle-felted old man and little white dog in playgroup yard 2

Click here to view more photos and the crafting process of this large set of Table Top puppet show dolls and props.

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Shop for Gorgeous Treasures and Support Our Waldorf School of Orange County Golf Tournament Fundraiser, May 17, 2013.

Click here to enter our Waldorf School of Orange County DRIVING FOR THE FUTURE – Golf Tournament and BBQ Fundraiser. Some of the gorgeous finds you will encounter on our auction site… Beautiful Fall Needle-Felted picture handmade by my friend and fiber artist, Cathrine Ji. Thank you Cathrine! 130501 Cathrine Ji's needle-felted fall Hansel and Gretel in the woods picture

Cathrine Ji’s breath-taking needle-felted firebird puppet mobile!

130321 Cathrine Ji's needle-felted firebird mobile

Click here to bid on Cathrine Ji’s firebird.

Andrea Hubert’s Handmade Double Necklace of pearls, semi-precious stones, glass beads and silverstone metal accents.

130213 Handmade Double Necklace by Andrea Hubert on palm leaf

Click here to bid on Andrea Hubert’s Double Necklace.

130227 Gisela's Mermaid on Driftwood, Artful Masterpiece

Click here to bid on Gisela’s handmade mermaid above

Julie Fish’s Waldorf Palette Cookbook is also available. Buy one for yourself, buy 20 more as gifts for your friends!

The Waldorf Palette Cookbook by Julie Fish 2012. Square.

The Waldorf Palette Cookbook, compiled by WSOC’s Julie Fish, is full of delicious culinary contributions from WSOC parents. Recipes include Thai Green Chicken Curry, Raw Strawberry Cheesecake, Chocolate Bread Pudding, Bok Choy Shrimp Soup and more! All proceeds benefit our school. Get your copy and support our Waldorf School of Orange County on this link!

121128 Michaela and Christine reading The Waldorf Palette Cookbook by Julie Fish

Get your copy of The Waldorf Palette and support our Waldorf School of Orange County on this link!

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Buy Raffle Tickets for Some Awesome Handmade Love. Support Maple Village Waldorf School in Long Beach, California

130504 Jen's girls checking out Cathrine's Maple Village school raffle playscape set at WSOC Mayfaire 2013

My friend Jen’s sweet little girls happily checking out the actual play set available for this raffle.

The Maple Village Waldorf School in Long Beach, California is selling raffles for a handmade Knitted Blanket AND a handmade Felted Play set for their annual fundraiser. Both raffle items will be shipped, free of charge, to anywhere in the world.

Buy some raffles and support the Maple Village Waldorf School! Click here to go to the Maple Village School Website. Click on pictures below to share this news with your friends on facebook. 130321 Maple Village knitted storyblanket poster

130321 Maple Village School Win Beautiful Needle-felted toys poster

Please give our friends some help. Click below and share this on facebook!

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We have also donated a Table Top Fairy Tale Puppet Show to Maple Village Waldorf School’s Under The Stars Annual Gala Event on Saturday, May 18, 2013 in Long Beach. Check it out, you may win a table top puppet show for your next gathering!

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Peace Fleece Wool Batting Group Purchase

130403 Nunu and Anicka wet-felting playscape. Applied liquid soap on wool

Angela and Jzin are buying some wool batting from Peace Fleece in the East Coast for personal use.  If collectively we spend $100 or more, we can go with the wholesale pricing which is an incredible discount. Who wants in so together we can get their great wholesale pricing?

Why Peace Fleece?

  1. So easy to needle-felt with. It is “sticky” and takes shapes much faster than wool tops. Great for beginners
  2. Wet-felting: Covers wide areas more easily than wool top.
  3. I love the textures
  4. colors are delicious!

Peace Fleece Regular Pricing Catalog: http://www.peacefleece.com/catalog/catalog.php?category=wool_bat

If you want to check out the wholesale pricing, you can leave me a message or e-mail me and I will give you the link to the discounted wholesale prices.

“The Magic Meadow 2” Etsy store also carries them if you want to buy at retail price…(The below pictures were taken from “The Magic Measow 2” Etsy store.)

13505  theMagicMeadow2 Peace Fleece on Etsy yellows

13505  theMagicMeadow2 Peace Fleece on Etsy reds

13505  theMagicMeadow2 Peace Fleece on Etsy purples

13505  theMagicMeadow2 Peace Fleece on Etsy browns

13505  theMagicMeadow2 Peace Fleece on Etsy bluesNot know what to get? You can try out the Rainbow pack of colors either on …

13505  theMagicMeadow2 Peace Fleece rainbow kit

….otherwise, you can think of what you want to make for your next project: e.g. if you are wet-felting a woodland playscape, you can stock up on the browns, greens (Hemlock, Shaba) earth colors. I plan to make an ocean playscape, so I will be stocking on the sand colors and sea colors.

You can also get them at The Magic Meadow 2 on Etsy.

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Christine Newell’s Upcoming Doll-Making Class

Christine’s last doll making class of the year will be held at Hilltop school in Fountain Valley, California.

  • Starting May 13th for  4 consecutive weeks: May 13/20/27 and June 3
  • Time:  7/9 pm.
  • Cost: $90 all materials included.
  • Contact Christine Newell if you are interested:  newellchristine8@gmail.com.

Remember: No experience necessary just a willingness to learn. Happy Crafting! – Christine

Click here to see our 16″ Waldorf cuddle dolls made with Christine.

121107 Kimmy and Luka's 16 in Waldorf dolls on trees

Click here to visit our gallery of craft group projects.

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Visit My Handmade Dolls Page

Click here to view my other handmade dolls. I take custom orders. You can contact me on Etsy. My store name is CastleofCostaMesa. Thank you!

Sleeping Beauty at the window. Square.

Please “Like” Us on Facebook

I giveaway my Handmade Dolls periodically. Please “Like” my facebook page so you will be informed when I announce the next handmade doll giveaway. Thanks!

If you like this page, click here and Like me on Facebook. Shanghai girls Post Pretties. Free and Beautiful resources for learning mandarin chinese, made with love for you. CastleofCostaMesa.Com

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