Summertime

For us, Batik with Mary Jo Scandin and Thom Scott together with their students means summertime!  Like all of our classes, it’s one we look forward to long in advance and then while here, the time goes by too fast.  So much is accomplished in those five or seven days. In some cases, clothing is brought to class, ready to wax and dye.  Other projects are created from start to finish in the studio.  A design challenge is part of the week, too, as is the delicious smell of beeswax and freshly ground gourmet coffee!

 

      

A puzzle, perhaps, to read this in reverse, but the message is worth the effort.  I think it’s fair to say the subject was found this week in the Batik studio.

  

  

A mix of students new to batik worked alongside some who have taken this class for years.  That is true for so many Sievers classes.  A quote from Anne of Green Gables (reading it now for the first time…long overdue, I know), seems to tie into that theme: “Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.”

  

During the same week, the looms were dressed with twill patterns in Judith Yamamoto’s Twills, Twills, Twills weaving class.  From sampling twill structures to weaving towels, students had the option to focus on a pattern of their choice with many of Judie’s own pieces as inspiration.

  

       

To see weavers at the loom is always fascinating to those who work in other fiber arts.  The fine threads used, the collaboration of woman (or man) and machine, the intricate designs and finely finished pieces are always sparks for conversation.

        

And, when talking summertime, you have to include a sunset from a warm summer’s night!