“Unleash your creative spirit…” are the first four words in the class description of Ellen Graf’s recent Latest, Greatest Quilt class. Those words were similarly appropriate for the companion class, Japanese Temari: Four Seasons with Kathy Broer and Judie Yamamoto. They could certainly apply to any Sievers class! The quilting students brought their ideas, fabrics or quilts in progress and with Ellen’s guidance and design experience, planned, pieced, pressed and sewed with creative spirit. The “latest and greatest” of Kathy Broer’s Japanese Temari were on display for she and Judie’s class which focused on four stitches as interpreted by the seasons. Herringbone for Winter, Rose for Spring, Star for Summer and Spindle for Fall. The stunning samples of so many […]
In season
Appearing in the woodlands, along the shore and even the roadsides are the lovely, delicate flowers of late spring on Washington Island. From all corners of Washington Island and within, there’s always something in season to explore!
First of the season
For many years now, we have opened our season with an Open Quilt Studio and the same was true beginning on June 2. With a group in each building, all of Sievers was filled with bright, creative, thoughtful and fun quilts and quilters. Each and every one put their hearts into their finished pieces. Bringing ideas or quilts in progress, pre-cutting hundreds of pieces at home or starting from “block one” here at Sievers, the gallery of quilts through the week is ever-changing and inspiring. Stories are told, lessons are learned, gifts are made, friendships are formed, and family, friends and future holders of these quilts are cherished with each stitch. We move from quilting to quilting with Class #2, […]
What’s new and what’s not
The first touches of spring have arrived. Not only do the flower petals begin to open, but Washington Island begins to re-open with the change of season. Each year at this time, we like to share information about new businesses and events or changes to existing ones. Starting with what’s new, there are new owners at Deer Run Golf Resort. Their plans are to open the Washington Island Biergarten, continue operating the golf course and lodging and make improvements on the property over time. Next to the Albatross Drive-In, in a bright red building, the Island Popcorn Barn will feature gourmet popcorn this summer. At the Death’s Door Fuel gas station on the road leading to and from the ferry […]
It is April, isn’t it?
We’re only five weeks away from the start of our 2022 season, beginning with Open Quilt Studio. This spring, it can seem like it’s only been five weeks since classes ended, as we still have days that remind us more of late-November than late-April, including today. On a rare occasion, we captured some blue sky and water and know it’s still there, waiting to peek out again. We’ll be ready! In the midst of our all-day snowfall, a combination air conditioning/heating unit was installed in the Sievers Shop. April or November, it’s all the same to us!
The Sievers Shop
Last time we mentioned that the Sievers Shop at one point was the Jackson Harbor Store, selling groceries among other items. Since 1979, when Walter Schutz established Sievers School of Fiber Arts, the only groceries we’ve “sold” were a jar of peanut butter, a package of tuna fish and some crackers out of our staff lunch cupboard to a hiker who was on his way to Rock Island several years ago, late on a Sunday afternoon when Mann’s Store was closed. In those first years, the former coat room in the old schoolhouse was used to display Sievers Looms along with a very limited number of yarns for weaving. Visitors were greeted within the entry area (marked by the wooden […]
“Our” Grocery Store
Last year we visited Walter Schutz’s Milwaukee neighborhood of the early 1900’s with descriptions from his book It Was Fun Being Young, focusing on his memories of holidays and school days. Once again, we’ll follow Walter as a young boy, this time to the grocery store. He writes, “Our grocery store, Ellenbecker’s, was the largest place of business at the corner of Holton and North. It sold only groceries. You could not buy meat or shoestrings or toothpaste or any articles of this kind – it was groceries only. Back then, there were any number of small shops and stores that served neighborhoods. At Ellenbecker’s, a long, hardwood counter extended down the left hand side of the store. In front […]
Washington Island winter
While it’s still very much winter and with a fresh coat of snow, we’re sharing a few more views of Washington Island before the changeable month of March arrives. From a 1997 Washington Island Archives program titled “What Do You Do in the Winter?”, host Jay Hagen noted that this question is usually asked in three parts. The first is, “Are you an Islander?”, then the second one is “Do you stay here year-round?” and of course, the third one is “What do you do in the winter?” One of his illustrations of life on Washington Island in the winter was this: “If you see a car go by in the winter, you probably know who it is and where […]
