These were two of our favorite numbers this year! Forty for Sievers School’s 40th anniversary year and forty-one for our 41st season of teaching classes. With the origin of Sievers based on weaving, it was very appropriate that our last two classes were #40, Beginning Weaving with Nancy Adams and assistant, Susan Johnson and #41, Magic Carpet Ride:Rag Rug Weaving with Deb Sharpee. It was the perfect way to finish our 2019 season and mark those two milestones.
From a variety of samples, perfect for beginning weavers, students learned the basics of weaving on a floor loom and were able to finish their first project and then go on to dress the loom and weave a second piece. Most of that is due to Nancy and Susan’s four helping hands along with the mysterious weaving fairies that might come into the studio when all is quiet.
We looked back and counted the number of Beginning Weaving classes offered in our 41 seasons…it totals 190! The very first one scheduled, from June 25-29, 1979 had Mary Sue Fenner as the instructor. Other instructors that year were Barb DePeaux and Judith Jones. Since then, these instructors have all offered a beginning weaving class at Sievers: Barb Guither, Ann Young, Joyce Marquess Carey, Pat Manion, Mary Ellen Johnson, Janet Agness, Lynn Stracka Schuster, Miranda Howard, Lorna Hennig, Judith Yamamoto, Grace Kragness, Charlotte Jirousek, Pat Hilts, Jean Hutchison, Barbara Heike, Sue Ollech, Louise French, Nancy Frantz, Rita Hagenbruch, Nancy Adams and Susan Frame. We’ve had classes last five days, three days, a weekend, on floor looms and table looms and one “for men only”. The most we offered in one year was 13, in 1982. It is humbling to think of all the weavers who got their start at Sievers, including the eight new weavers from this class.
Taking the memories home of a week filled with weaving, learning, new friends and “Island time”.
For a number of years now, Deb Sharpee has taken Sievers out in style. We can’t seem to stay away from the studio, watching the fabrics transform the utilitarian (but colorful!) cotton rug warps into beautiful rugs that will warm any home. Most of the rugs used fabric strips, but one luxurious, soft rug was made with naturally colored alpaca.
That’s one petite weaver wrapped in a very long rug!
Going back to our statistics, this time looking at weaving rag rugs, from 1983-87 a combination “Scandinavian Flat Rug and Rag Rug Weaving” class was offered. Then in 1988, Chad Alice Hagen began teaching Rag Rug Weaving/New Color in Rag Rug Weaving, continuing until 1998. Deb Sharpee has been the instructor for this class since 2000. It’s exciting to see the new rugs she brings each year!
As the sun sets on our 2019 season and with good memories of #40 and #41 in mind we are wondering one thing.
What will #1 be in 2020?
I very much enjoy the written and visual images of Sievers’ classes (especially weaving and sewing) and hope to return for another memorable time on Washington Island. Thanks for all you do, and for beautiful photographs.
Thank you, JoAnne, for staying in touch with us through our posts. We hope to see you back for a class sometime!
How many heddles do the rug looms have?
Well, each Sievers loom starts out with 1000 heddles, 250 on each harness, but through the course of the season they are sometimes added or subtracted by students, depending on their project. Generally, 1000 is good for pretty much any project.
Congratulations on another fabulous year! I am so grateful to be part of the Sievers family. What a beautiful tradition! There’s no place on earth like Sievers!
I can’t wait to see what 2020 brings!
The Sievers story wouldn’t be complete without you! Plus, we love that you talk about meeting Walter and his “I’ll call you for next year” story to your own students!
Such a wonderful place, such wonderful people!
You are definitely one of those wonderful people! Thanks for coming to share the last week of class with us again this year…take care and see you next time!
It was so much fun to get this excellent newsletter a few weeks after our Beginning Weaving class. Our wonderful group enjoyed the skilled and supportive teaching from our two instructors (Nancy Adams and Susan Johnson -thank you!), and felt so welcomed by the whole Sievers community. The experience of working and learning together was delightful.
Not sure when… I just know that I will return!
Thank you, Jeannette! It was wonderful to meet you and see the beautiful projects you completed in class. We look forward to your return, for a class or visit!
Congratulations Ann, Cindra, Carolyn and the whole Sievers staff on your 41st year of classes! I always read your newsletter and marvel at the beautiful work by the students and teachers. As matter of fact, the beautiful sunset in this message is the photo on the home page of my Nook. 🙂 It been a long time since I’ve been able to make the trip, but I am always with you in spirit. Thank you for the special place you have created and nurture tirelessly. Blessings and love,
Kris Stark
We missed you this year Kris and hope a 2020 class will work for you. Thanks so much for your lovely words and I’m glad that an Island sunset is close at hand. Take care and thanks for being part of the Sievers family!
Love following Sievers on-line. It shaped my life and healed me more times than I can remember!
Special words from a very special friend. Thank you Cindy! We miss you!