We want to share some images from the Sievers Gathering with you, held September 27-29. Starting with two workshops on Thursday afternoon all the way through the “wine-down” on Saturday evening, it was a fun, fiber-filled weekend!
In the Bead Embroidery/Kumihimo workshop taught by Francie Broadie, students added bead embroidery around a cabochon and finished their pendant with a kumihimo braid.
Geri Rock’s students completed two splint-woven baskets in the day-and-a-half Beginning Basketry workshop.
Saturday’s events began with the ever-popular fiber arts garage sale. Thank you to everyone who donated and helped organize all the many items. The garage sale brought in just under $3,600! Some of the proceeds from the garage sale will be shared with the W.I. Rec Center, Trinity Lutheran Church’s Stavkirke parking lot improvements and the W.I. Community Center’s kitchen remodeling. For the next few weeks, the garage sale continues, as we open the doors each day, setting out a can for donations.
Looking ahead, we ask that you please donate any fiber arts-related goods to places and causes in your own community.
The vendors brought their best to the Gathering and we know everyone will enjoy (or did enjoy) the elegant baked goods, Island honey, handmade jewelry, ornaments, cards, photography and wearables, plus try for a chance to win the special Island-themed quilt made by the W.I. Women’s Club.
The Walter Studio was filled with fiber art demonstrations by teachers and students including woodcarving with Jerry Landwehr, tailored garments (and spinning) with Cindy Steinke and Ginnie Killough, a bead “roadshow” with Diane Fitzgerald, looping and netting with Donna Kallner and Japanese Temari with Judie Yamamoto. A knit-in and two different “make and take” opportunities, Door County origami with Nancy Akerly and shrink plastic jewelry with Francie Broadie, were fun additions to the Gathering.
Show-and-tell time featured not only this hooked rug, Quilt of Valor and garments made in class with Mary Sue Fenner, but also handmade jewelry, baskets, knitted sweaters and jackets made in Daryl Lancaster’s class.
After the show-and-tell, many stayed for the Gathering “wine-down” and some continued their evening at a Trueblood PAC benefit concert where Cindra was performing along with many other talented singers. One song she did with Dan Hansen was “If Once You Have Slept on an Island”.
We had requests for a couple recipes from the Gathering. First, one of the cookies I baked for Friday night was a recipe found in a 2011 Good Housekeeping magazine.
Pecan Maple Leaves
2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. butter, softened (no substitutions)
1/3 c. granulated sugar
1/3 c. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup*, plus more for glazing (optional)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 c. pecans, toasted and finely chopped
Decorative sugar (optional)
Beat butter and sugars until creamy. Add syrup and vanilla, beat until mixed. Gradually beat in flour, then pecans, just until blended. Divide dough into two equal pieces. Flatten each piece into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 3 days. Let stand until pliable enough to roll. Preheat oven to 350º. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Between sheets of waxed paper, roll dough to 1/4″ thick. Remove top sheet of waxed paper. Cut dough with a 2″-4″ leaf cookie cutter and place 1″ apart on cookie sheet. Bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. Brush with maple syrup to glaze and sprinkle with decorative sugar, if desired. Let dry 1 hour. Store cookies at room temperature up to 1 week or in freezer up to 3 months. *I used homemade Washington Island maple syrup.
Then, at the “wine-down” on Saturday night, Jo Campbell-Amsler brought this spread which was a big hit:
Apricot-Pistachio Cream Cheese Spread
1 (8oz) pkg. cream cheese (at room temperature)
1/2 c. chopped dried apricots
1/2 c. chopped unsalted pistachios
1 Tbsp. honey
Mix cream cheese, apricots, pistachios and honey in a bowl until well-combined. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Serving tip: Serve with fresh bakery baguettes that have been sliced and lightly toasted in the oven. It’s also good on celery sticks.
I’m not sure how early everyone else was up and about on Saturday, September 29 during the Gathering, but this sunrise at Percy Johnson Park would have greeted them and made an outstanding start to their day (as it did mine)!
Eileen Elertson says
THANK YOU! for sharing the beautiful sunrise picture!!!!!
Loved the Gathering pics too.
Hugs
Eileen
Carolyn Foss says
Thanks, it was a beauty!
Nancy Wheeler says
It was a delightful Gathering! Thank you Sievers folks one and all for putting it all together for us.
Carolyn Foss says
It was so good to see all of you! It wouldn’t be a Gathering without you!
Gerri Barosso says
Fun to read about the gathering after hearing so much about it. Thank you for the post and the sunrise picture!
Carolyn Foss says
Thanks, Gerri! It was a great sunrise.