Circle of Hands Crafts Series
Circle of Hands
with Mindy Upton of Blue Sky Craft Studio
Sundays 12- 2pm Central, September 2025 through May 2026
Bring together the skills of sewing and felting, music and story in this very special handwork circle! This class is designed for teachers, caregivers, and grandparents who enjoy the magic of creating beauty with handwork and natural fiber materials.
It is inspired by Mindy’s many years in the kindergarten and the heartfelt moments spent observing the children playing with the sweet felted mousy, bunnies and dollies lovingly made for them.
Participants will explore handmade playthings along with a seasonal song or story. We will also create characters or animals that will enhance your program’s Nature Garden. Each Circle meets over Zoom once-monthly on Sunday afternoons, 12-2 pm Central. In order to create a lively “in-person” feel to the course, these sessions are not recorded.
Program Details
Each Circle meets over Zoom once-monthly on Sunday afternoons, 12-2 pm Central. In order to create a lively “in-person” feel to the course, these sessions are not recorded.
September 14: Mother Earth Standing Puppet
October 5: Root Children
November 9: Birthday Angel and Boat
December 14: Simple 5-point Dolly
January 11: Dancing Pixie Puppet
February 8: Bunny Marionette and Babies
March 8: Caterpillar and Butterfly
April 5: Peek-a-Boo Rod Puppet
May 17: Felted Trees for the Nature Garden
Meet new friends and join Mindy for a year of seasonal handwork, story and song and fun!
​
Fees
$50 per session or $380 for the whole year (this option)
About The Instructor:
​
Mindy Upton has been teaching Kindergarten for the past 40 years. She feels very fortunate to have been able to share her love of handwork, puppetry and fiber arts in the classroom with the children and families. She worked previously at her school, Blue Sky Kindergarten; and has recently opened Blue Sky Craft Studio in Niwot Colorado where she offers parent/child classes and art classes for children and adults. She has recently formed the “Three Wishes Puppet Troupe” that creates and performs Puppet shows for the Colorado community. This past summer, she was host to the Waldorf Association of Storytelling and Puppetry Arts Summer Conference. She is delighted to meet participants in our course to enjoy the art of handwork together.
Learn more about Mindy and her craft studio at blueskycraftstudio.com.
January 11
Dancing Pixie Puppet
This finger puppet is quite special as it has hands and legs! This puppet has been a favorite in my classroom for leading songs and fingerplays all year long. This is an easy felt pattern for the body and includes a hat and boots! I sometimes made these for birthday gifts and I have had parents make them for the children at a parent night.
​
March 8
Caterpillar and Butterfly
This is a beautiful tale that gives a moving picture of the process of caterpillar to butterfly
We will create a moving caterpillar with wool and rods and a happy flapping butterfly to create this colorful and active butterfly story. Story will be handed out at class.
April 5
Peek-a-Boo Puppet
Children young and old love these puppets. The older children in my class would make these and sing lovely Spanish songs that will be shared in class. We will make the felted “vessel” for the hiding place and a little puppet character of your choice to pop up and down. These are so fun to have in the classroom. I have used them in so many ways- snack time, transition time, birthdays, holiday gifts and puppet shows.
May 17
Felted Trees for the Nature Garden
A perfect time of year to create a Tree of Life for your nature garden or to be used for table puppet plays or your nature garden. My tree is on the nature garden and I’m able to change the leaves from green to yellows and gold when the seasons change. In May I add colored ribbons on it to mirror our May Pole. I have loved putting little birds and nests on the tree in Spring. These trees are such a beautiful addition to every story I tell.