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 18: Dancing Pixie Puppet
February 8: Bunny Marionette and Babies
March 8: Caterpillar and Butterfly
April 5: Peek-a-Boo Rod Puppet
May 10: Felted Trees for the Nature Garden
Meet new friends and join Mindy for a year of seasonal handwork, story and song and fun!
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Fees
$50 per session or $380 for the whole year (this option)
About The Instructor:
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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.
September - Mother Earth Standing Puppet
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We will begin our journey together with creating a Mother Earth standing puppet. My Mother Earth has been “living” on my nature garden for many years and each season I can give her a hat, a cloak or a scarf to flow with the seasons. My standing puppet also helps me with table top puppet shows. Last year she had a little basket of seeds that she gave out to the children for spring. The technique of creating Mother Earth can also be used to make several other kinds of standing puppets.
October - Root Children
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Mother Earth would have to do so much work herself if she didn’t have some helpers. In this class we will make some root children to accompany Mother Earth in her earthly domain. These little helpers are played with all the time in my classroom. They are an inspiration for play and
building and can stand up all by themselves! A beautiful gnome story and song will be shared in class.
November - Birthday celebrations
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In this class we will focus on creating a birthday angel and birthday boat to be used for a birthday celebration. I will share some birthday songs and stories for inspiration for you to create your own.
December - Simple 5-point Dolly
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In this class we will make a simple first dolly.
This class will give you techniques to create a 5 pointed dolly using wool and flannel. A simple molded doll head technique will be taught as well as doll making stitching and embroidery. A wonderful solstice gift for any child.