It was February 27, 2008 when the first “News from Sievers School” blog was posted to our website. It was a bare bones edition with no photos, no email notification of the post and no social media sharing. We’re glad for the changes since then!
The post began by saying, “We are happy to add this news page and share what’s happening at Sievers with you. Look for general news, photos, Island events and more. We plan to post news at least once each month, but I’m sure you’ll find that we’ve added something new more often than that. We hope you enjoy the Sievers News.”
The rest of the post included a note about the “Aquafishy” box design our papermaking instructor, Tom Grade, created for Kimberly-Clark and information about Sievers Scholarships.
Before the online news, a printed newsletter, known as the “FoSS”, was mailed to all students. Here’s the front cover of the first issue from September, 1986. Included inside were notes from Sievers teachers on their activities, a call for bumper sticker slogans, a story about Walter Schutz’s exploration into importing and growing English basket willow on Washington Island, how a focus on creating heirlooms could be a major promotion and theme for Sievers School, that automatic lights were installed on the path to the dormitory, how 1/3 of the students had been to Sievers before and some had already taken 10 classes. The “FoSS” newsletter was sent once or twice a year with the last news issue being Winter 1997.
In that first issue was a photo and story about Sievers quilting instructor, Doreen Speckmann. What was news then is news now, too! Doreen’s quilts are currently being exhibited at the Iowa Quilt Museum in Winterset, IA. On Saturday, March 7th, they are hosting three special events to celebrate Doreen and her impact on the quilting world. Doreen Speckmann Remembered will be on exhibit there until April 5, 2020. From November 19, 2020 through mid-January 2021 the exhibit will be at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts in Cedarburg, WI.
Other news to share today includes our thanks for your response beginning on February 1st to our schedule of classes! We have received 282 registrations so far and more come in each day. It will be so good to see you this summer!
From the Shetland Islands to Washington Island…we now have on hand all 93 colors of the Jamieson and Smith 2-ply Jumper Weight yarn for Fair Isle (and other) knitting.
Sievers Scholarships are available for 2020 classes. We can send along this simple application form upon request. The application deadline is April 1st. Scholarships are available for Sievers alumni or for new students and cover full or partial class fees. Those awarded scholarships will be notified by April 10. For more information or to apply, please email us at mail@sieversschool.com or contact us at https://sieversschool.com/contact/.
From the first Sievers newsletter 34 years ago to today’s post including these Washington Island winter views, we like this quote from Sturgeon Bay native and columnist Doug Larson, “…Good news takes the scenic route.”
Has the Corona Virus affected the Sievers School schedule? I may be able to attend one of the Fall sessions. I can’t register now but the info about late sessions would be really helpful. Thanks Ilene Murphy.
Hi Ilene,
We haven’t made any decisions yet and probably won’t until the last week of April. We certainly plan on continuing with our summer and fall classes. I hope that helps! Take care, Carolyn