Oh! like a wreath, let Christmas mirth To-day encircle all the earth, And bind the nations with…love… M. Lindsay For every hearth and home we wish good cheer, warmth and peace this holiday season and into the new year. Happiness and good health to all our dear Sievers friends, Ann, Butch, Cindra, Carolyn, Barb, Kathleen, Patricia and Kirsten
Thoughts, memories, anecdotes and information…
…is how Walter Schutz introduced his collection of childhood rememberances. We heard from a number of you that you’d like to read more his stories from Christmas in the early 1900’s (and more). This, then is a continuation of our Sievers Facebook posts since the last Sievers News was sent out. We’ll do one more focused on New Year’s festivities closer to that time. Walter continues, “A magic set was another favored gift. My brother had taken me to see several matinees at the Bijou where Thurston the Magician was playing. They were amazing and almost frightening experiences and never forgotten. It was only natural that I should try some of the most simple that were shown in a leaflet […]
It Was Fun Being Young
For the past week or so our Sievers Facebook friends have seen a series of posts featuring the childhood rememberances of Christmas from Walter Schutz. Walter was born in 1900 and grew up in Milwaukee on Holton Street, about three blocks from the Milwaukee River. He had a remarkable memory, going back to his very early years. Sharing excerpts (and the illustrations of Marguerite Jewell) from his book, It Was Fun Being Young, is one way of weaving a thread of traditions from the early 1900’s through today. Through December we’ll be sharing more of Walter’s Christmas and New Year’s memories on our Facebook page. He writes, “It was only a week or two before the 25th that children and […]
Keeping it small
As you probably have heard, Saturday, November 28 is Small Business Saturday. This year marks its 10th anniversary, celebrating and supporting small sellers. In that spirit, we’d like to share a number of links that feature handmade fiber arts, yarns, patterns, books, instructions, materials and more from our instructors, both past and present, as well as links to local online shops as listed by the Washington Island Chamber of Commerce and adding to that, two of our past Sievers Gathering vendors. Handwovens, jewelry, baskets, rugs, handmade felt and more from Lynn Schuster. https://www.etsy.com/shop/LynnSchusterDesigns Nalbinding, looping, homegrown indigo and other plant-dyed handspun and mill-spun yarns and scarves from Donna Kallner. https://www.etsy.com/shop/DonnaKallnerFiberArt Zoom classes and gallery of work by Nancy Akerly. http://www.libertygrovepaperarts.com/ […]
Season wrap-up
The last day of our 2020 season of classes was as always, bittersweet. We missed seeing so many of you this year, teachers and students alike. On the other hand, we were grateful for the classes that were able to be held. By early March, we had already registered 305 students. In the end, we had 41 students attend two open studio sessions and six classes taught by five instructors, two of which live on Washington Island. We also rented the studios three separate times to Sievers alumni. Going back, only the first year of classes in 1979 had a comparable number of students…33. That being said, it’s not quantity, it’s quality! And we finished the season in the same […]
Pop-up Shop #6: Holidays and handmade
It’s time for another pop-up shop before most of the items are returned to the artists now that our season is coming to a close. We’ve covered a wide representation of handmade work from our students and teachers earlier, so for this pop-up we begin with a holiday theme. These stockings are made from “tattered quilts with vintage jewelry, laces and linens” and measure about 5″ x 16″. $40 each (Limited quantities on all of the handmade work shown above.) For the do-it-yourself-ers who want to knit or weave their own handmade holiday trimmings, a pattern and yarns for wee elves as well as ideas for gifts made with rigid-heddle, inkle and pin looms are also available. For winter handmade […]
Never enough October
October on Washington Island is definitely a favorite! We can never get enough of the cool, crisp days and colorful woodland views. This year it seems the leaves have glowed more vibrantly and lasted longer than usual. We have savored every moment. In these last few weeks, our studios were rented two separate times. Besides working on weaving, quilting and other projects, relaxation and exploration were part of each day. Soon, more of the leaves will be on the ground than in the trees. We’re seeing the transition already as we begin this last week of October and the last week of our 2020 season. Another plus this time of year are later sunrises. We’ll savor these, too!
Knitting and fall colors
The first week or so of October has traditionally been the time when the Creative Knitting Retreat class with Sandy De Master and Mary Germain is scheduled, along with the Open Knit Studio time. As it turns out, this year was no different…except in many ways. Each group was small in numbers (but not in projects!), with plenty of distance within the studios. The usual non-knitting activities like the fashion show, group dinners and attendance at Columbus Day weekend events around the island were put on hold for another time. We missed seeing so many of our friends, as we have throughout the season, but know that we will see you all again when the time is right. While the […]
