“How long does it take to make that?” is certainly a question we hear often as do many quilters, knitters, weavers, basketmakers, spinners and other makers. As they say, don’t hurry pleasure! Ellen Graf’s Drafting in Quilt Design class demonstrated that it’s not only the time spent sewing, pressing, piecing and finally, quilting, that goes into each unique quilt, it’s the time planning, drawing, experimenting and seeing ahead to what it will look like when finished. As far as we could see ahead, each and every quilt will be a treasure! Ellen always shares her excellent techniques with her students and we look forward to seeing the quilts started in class make a return visit to Sievers. The early summer rains helped produce extra-lush botanicals and the […]
Fiber in common
Do baskets, barks and mittens have anything in common? Yes, especially when they’ve been the focus of recent classes at Sievers School of Fiber Arts! Stacks of baskets were created in Jeanette Biederman’s Splint-Woven Basketry: Independent Study class, with some completely finished and some ready for the final touches at home. Next year, the plan is to take a photo that includes all the baskets made during the week. Might need to stand over by the barn to fit them all in the camera lens! Instead of a stack of baskets, how about class time spent on one perfect Winnebago Picnic Basket? Even Schoolhouse Beach may not be ready for this beauty! Learning the techniques of making Latvian mittens followed by a separate class on Latvian Mitten Design with Sandy […]
Two weeks…three classes
There have been great things to share with you from the three classes that took place through the end of June, Batik with Mary Jo Scandin and Thom Scott, One-of-a-Kind Jacket with Mary Sue Fenner and Knitting on Location with Carol Anderson. Taking advantage of the sun when it appeared, the batik class sometimes had to resort to “inside sunshine” to dry their pieces. Nothing could detract, however, from the artworks these talented students made or worked on during the week. The official title of this class is Batik: Ancient and Modern. We know the “ancient” doesn’t really refer to our early days, shown in a photo from a 1989 class with Mary Jo Scandin (in the aqua sweatshirt), but we wonder now, […]
Gifts given
Many students have said that a class at Sievers is a “gift given to myself”. If the first two classes are any indication, what’s inside those gifts are color, inspiration, learning and sharing as well as new and continuing friendships. It began with the Open Quilt Studio in early June. How fun to see all the fabrics unwrapped and quilt tops created during the week! Susan Hoffmann, one of our instructors, was here as a student in the Open Quilt Studio and presented us with a very special gift which has been added to our Permanent Collection and is on display in the Sophie Studio. “Carolyn’s Woods” was inspired by a photo shared on this blog a few years ago of the daffodils at Sievers. The technique is Landscape ‘Painting’ with Fabric and is the […]
A day in June
“And what is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days;” Here’s our June day on Washington Island. “Whether we look, or whether we listen, We hear life murmur, or see it glisten;” James Russell Lowell A few choice words and a few choice photos are all that’s needed on a day like today!
What’s new here and there
What’s new here… Today we start keeping regular hours in the shop (10am – 5pm) each day through October 31 and the Washington Island Art Association artists just started their five-day Open Workshop this morning, a very green, partly sunny day. So starts our 39th season! For the past 10 years, we’ve been fortunate to have Connie Westbrook as an employee, instructor and friend. She’s decided to step back from the employee role and more fully enjoy retirement time on the Island. No doubt we’ll see her at Sievers more than a few times while classes are in session! One of the new things Connie plans to do is explore all the surrounding islands, bays and harbors by boat with […]
May Miscellany
It’s official! The information packets for Class#1, Open Quilt Studio, were mailed today. On June 5, those students will be the first to arrive of 322 registered so far. We’re already getting the buildings ready as our initial guests will be the W.I. Art Association artists utilizing the Walter Studio starting on May 22. After 20 years, one part of getting the buildings ready meant it was time to sand and then re-varnish the floor of the Sophie Studio, making it nice and shiny again. Many beautiful and special items have already arrived for the Sievers Shop. We will be open daily, 10-5, starting Monday, May 22nd. Until then, as temperatures permit and if we are in the office, we’re happy to greet you. One […]
April Images
For the fifth year in a row on Washington Island, a Quilts of Valor sewing event was held in the Sophie Studio. Coordinated by Ellen Graf, a total of 26 individuals were involved in the event during the last few days of March and early April. From their hands, ten quilt tops were completed, joined by three quilts that had been finished before the event began. They will be on display at the Washington Island Memorial Day Program before being awarded to recipients known and unknown by the Island makers. The Quilts of Valor Foundation is a national non-profit whose mission is to create comforting and healing quilts for service members and veterans touched by war. It’s the time of the year when so many wonderful things are arriving […]
