Well, maybe not technically spinning straw into gold, but the students in Deb Jones’ Beginning Spinning and Rainbow Dyeing class took simple wool fibers and turned them into something equally precious to a beginning spinner, their own handspun and hand-dyed yarns.
By the end of the first afternoon, these beginners were spinners! You can see more photos from the class as Deb has posted them on The Fiber Garden Facebook page. Her next stop, along with other Sievers teachers (Nancy Frantz and Mary Germain), students and friends is the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival from September 7-10.
Spinning is one of the classes that’s been offered at Sievers each year since the start. One of those first classes in 1979 is shown in the black and white photo. Dyeing was added later, using an outdoor fire pit behind the main building (photo from 1986). The Walter Studio, where class was held this past week was not even in the concept stage at the time.
Washington Island is spinning it’s own gold along the roadsides and in the fields and woods.
Perhaps spinning straw into gold is only found in fairy tales, but we’re finding gold all around us!
Enjoyed this piece of news. Pics are great too. Was on Washington Island in October last year.
Happy Fall.
Thank you! Hope you can pay another visit to the Island and Sievers.