In more ways than one, we are transitioning between seasons. The golds and yellows of early fall…
…quickly turned into the browns and bare branches of late fall…
…and as of today, turned even more quickly into a winter scene.
Seeing the photos above, it is hard to believe only 14 days ago our last class of 2018 concluded! Now, the Sievers Shop items are being returned to the artists and we’ll soon begin to work on the 2019 schedule, marking our official 40th anniversary of Sievers School.
This season, we offered 37 classes taught by 31 instructors. The total number of students was 364 and 82% of those enrolled had been here previously. In addition, we had 57 people on waiting lists for classes. One of those waiting lists was for Connie Westbrook’s weaving class, Simply Scandinavian. Due to a cancellation the week prior to class, we ended up contacting all eight people on the waiting list. With only three days to go before class started, the eighth person on the waiting list was able to take the spot.
Some notable stories from this past year include a student who attended Daryl Lancaster’s Garment Construction Intensive class who had only taken one previous class at Sievers, Quilting: Creating Patterns and Designs from Doreen Speckmann in 1981, a 37-year gap! One of Judith Yamamoto’s Twill weaving students had purchased table loom plans from Walter Schutz more than 40 years ago. Her husband made the loom and when visiting Washington Island a few years ago, found Sievers School and attended her first class in July. Another student owns a Sievers floor loom purchased from Walter Schutz 37 years ago. After limited use, the loom was stored in their barn for 35 years. Taking a Beginning Weaving class this spring from Susan Frame, she was re-introduced to the art.
They say burning wood warms you twice. We are warmed twice by you, first when seeing you here at Sievers and then by thinking of you during other seasons!
Happy first snow, friends at Sievers! I hope you enjoy the coming holidays and know how much those of us who take your classes appreciate you. You have enhanced my life greatly over the years.
Thank you! It is lovely. Your words are so meaningful and we can say the same since you and so many others are an important part of our lives!
Thanks for always keeping me up to date on classes and students. I love hearing all of the stories and hope to be back soon, so I can have some new stories, reuniting with old friends and making new friends to share the JOY of Sievers.
I hope you have some time to enjoy the quietness of the school and that magic island. Be well and God Bless. Love, Linda
We miss you Linda and I think you’ve summed up what Sievers is all about! Take care and we will enjoy our quiet time. Love from all of us at Sievers…
Love your newsletters ! Thank you.
Summer before last I got to visit Washington Island, and Sievers. I purchased some wonderful weaving books, one of which is “the Green Book” 🙂 I hope to take my first workshop at Sievers this coming summer, need to make that dream happen.
We’ll look forward to having you in class, Ellen. The “green book” is a classic!
Even though I am so far away, your beautiful photographs and narratives make me feel so close to home. Thank you for all that you do.
Thanks, Carole, for such nice comments!
Dear Friends, I made my way up to Washington Island again this summer with a good friend of mine. We both enjoyed the Tiny Book class Chad Alice Hagen offered. Although the class was good, time on the Island was way too short. Just when we began to relax, it was time to take the ferry back to reality. The Island so, so peaceful , above the tension line, as Walter said. So many things have changed in the years between visits to the Island but I hope one thing will never change – the kindness and warmth of staff of Sievers. Thanks to you all for a wonderful, but all too brief class. I count you among my blessings this Thanksgiving season.
It was so good to see you again, Lee Ann and fun to meet Alice. It had been a long time! Thank you for your lovely thoughts about Sievers and the Island. We are blessed to know people like you!
Beautiful pictures. Something about an island. . . .
We agree, islands are special, whether they are warm and green or cold and white! Here’s to your island!
Beautiful photos. I just love the four seasons, each one offers its own beauty. Thanks for sharing the island with us through photographs. I will be thinking of you all this winter and looking forward to seeing the class schedule in the spring. Wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving.
Thank you, Renee! It looks like we’re in for an early winter with snow starting right away in November. It’s a quiet and beautiful time here. All the best to you and yours! Carolyn