Our last class of the year (where did the 2015 season go?) was Deb Sharpee’s Rag Rug Weaving. Snug in the studio, the weavers could look out at the fall leaves, but one wonders if they did as two, three, or even five rugs came off of each loom to grace other floors and keep feet warm in the coming months. Before the final reveal of all the rugs came the last cut from the work of a students’ hands in 2015… We’re still lucky to be enjoying the fall colors, still on the trees. We won’t quite be hibernating, like this little one, found just the other day by Pat Hewitt in the Sievers parking area, but our […]
Natural Dyes
This week, the colors of nature are all around us. With Donna Kallner’s Natural Dye Retreat in session these past four days, the colors of nature were brought inside the Walter Studio and used on fabrics, yarns and paper. Black walnut husks, leaves, willow, flowers and this indigo plant all provided gorgeous colors for dyeing and overdyeing. The leaves from the indigo plant were harvested and the results were these brilliant blues. With those leaves going to a good cause, the students now will be able to attempt growing their own plant from the cuttings. As an added treat, with some of the materials harvested, someone may want to brew up some homemade Island-inspired bitters! […]
Carving out some time
Two groups of students did just that last week at Sievers! Knitters in the Creative Knitting Retreat led by Sandy De Master and Mary Germain spent so many hours on so many projects, even the “knit clock” couldn’t keep track. Need extra light for knitting at the Red Cup Coffee House? Mary will come to your rescue! There were opportunities for both some outside knitting and some inside “close-to-the-chart” knitting during the week. Overlapping on the weekend, the woodcarvers in the Carving Songbirds class taught by Jerry Landwehr uncovered small birds from basswood blanks. A few simple carving tools and they were ready to take flight. Whether it’s woodcarving, knitting or your own favorite hobby, keep carving out the […]
Color and Weave and Willow and Chairs
While we’re waiting for fall colors (there’s still only a few hints here and there), Judie Yamamoto brought her color-and-weave theories to class last week. The patterns in the woven fabric reflect the light and dark contrasts in the yarn and here are some of the lovely results… It seems willow and chairs go together well at Sievers…literally. Starting on Friday afternoon at 2:00pm with the bundled materials, in just a few short hours, with the help of instructors Ken and Michelle Workowski, the frames for all eleven chairs were ready for the next step. It only took until Saturday evening at 5:30 for the first chair to be done, with the rest finished at about 8:30pm after […]
One class…three words
Playful, colorful, and creative could be three words to describe the Surface Design on Paper class with Lorrie Grainger Abdo. Starting by paste painting large sheets and then working with gelatin printing plates, these beautiful papers were transformed into cards, collages and more. From the plain white papers the students started with to their artful finish, it was three days of fun and experimentation. A book incorporating papers from each of the students and from Lorrie was a great way to take home pages of techniques and memories. It’s hard to believe that soon, we will be closing our own book of 2015 memories. What a wonderful 37th season we’ve had so far! We’re so happy to have seen […]
Crackle and Kringle
Starting last Monday morning, the students in Nancy Adams’ Crackle Weave class spent the past five days weaving lovely shawls, scarves, table runners, towels and even a rug. This group of Sievers alumni have not only had a week with wonderful instruction, inspiration and sharing, but they’ve also been treated daily by their teacher, Nancy, to the fuel that has kept them going – fresh kringle from the Danish Mill. Happiness is Crackle……….and…………….Kringle!
Terrific Towels and Twills
Yes, the towels and twills were terrific, but more importantly this past week was terrific, led by instructors Connie Westbrook and Jeanette Biederman. Many of Connie’s students chose handwoven towel projects based on samples she brought to class. Students in the Twill Basketry class also had many choices for patterns and colors, inspired by Jeanette’s work. It was a week of terrific students having a terrific time making terrific towels and twill baskets!
Back to School
After a few days break over the Labor Day weekend, we are back to school! First with Kay Rashka’s Metalwork Jewelry Boot Camp and then Ruth Manning’s Landscape Tapestry Weaving class. This was Kay’s second time teaching at Sievers and we welcomed Ruth for her first class here. What a wonderful way to find ourselves back in the studios with these talented instructors. The equipment and tools used in the jewelry class were in busy hands for Kay’s four-day class and those busy hands paid off in so many beautiful pieces. The Landscape Tapestry Weaving class took a field trip to Jackson Harbor to sketch and then returned to the studio. Ruth’s own pieces provided so much inspiration. […]
