We are looking forward to the Sievers Gathering, Thursday, September 27 – Saturday, September 29 and are excited to share information on our two workshops! #1 Bead Embroidery Basics with a Side of Weaving – Francie Broadie, Instructor Learn the basics of bead embroidery! If you can thread a needle and sew a straight-ish line, you have what you need to succeed. Students will make a small bead embroidered pendant, then learn kumihimo, a Japanese braiding technique, to create a unique cord to display your pendant. This will be a fun class with room for personalization of the project. For all levels. Workshop Fee $200 1 1/2-Day Class September 27 – 28 (2pm Thursday – 4pm Friday) Workshop fee […]
Sievers Sneak Preview
The days are quickly approaching the February 1st opening of Registration Week. It is such a treat for us to hear from you in the middle of winter, anticipating the time we’ll share when you’re here for class (or for an Island visit). We will be welcoming one new teacher in 2018, Susan Frame. She will open our 40th season teaching Class 1 – Beginning Weaving on a 4-Harness Floor Loom. Susan took her first weaving class in 1982 and has continued learning since, including three classes at Sievers ( in 1988, 1989 and 2012). Since 1989, Susan has had the pleasure of teaching weaving techniques at The Fiber Garden in Black River Falls, WI. She and her husband live in Osseo, WI. Welcome, […]
Beautiful, inside and out
Whether students were gathering willow from outside the Walter Studio to incorporate in their baskets or perfecting seam finishes inside their handmade garments, the finished pieces in both Jo Campbell-Amsler’s and Daryl Lancaster’s classes were beautiful, inside and out. As you can see, the willow in the Sievers patch has grown tall this year. Here, Ann and Stef are pictured in front of the tallest portion, approaching 9 feet. Some of this willow, along with the materials Jo brought for class was used to make a variety of rib-style baskets, trays, a creel and more, inspired by Jo’s own work. Willow basketry is just one beautiful way to bring the outside in! If the inside of your handmade garments are as beautiful as […]
September at Sievers
September at Sievers features classes in four different types of weaving and one each in jewelry-making, garment construction, willow basketry and willow furniture. The month began with the study of color as it applies to weaving in Judie Yamamoto’s Weaving The Rainbow class. From color theory exercises and examples to the opportunity to weave samples for reference along with a project of their choice, Judie shared her excellent understanding and sense of color with the class. In Kay Rashka’s Metalwork Jewelry Boot Camp, although the sheets of copper, silver and brass shine, it’s really the faces of the students showing and wearing the jewelry they’ve made that shine brightest. Whether hand-etched, drilled, stamped, layered or textured (or all of the above), these one-of-a-kind pendants, earrings, bracelets and rings are as riveting as they […]
Adornments
It is always a treat for us when Diane Fitzgerald and her class is here. Each day, she and all her students are adorned in a variety of necklaces, bracelets and earrings showcasing the most wonderful, creative beadwork. Every day of class had a different focus with time afterwards to explore the possibilities. A pre-arranged exchange between students gave them all a chance to share some of their work with the rest of the “flock”. Shrinky Dinks© made for lovely, ruffled flower necklaces, or you could adorn yourself with these crystal flowerets. A definite theme prevailed during the week for the class, where the students are known as the “Flamingo Beaders”. Pink everywhere, ranging from a flamingo tablecloth, paper plates and napkins in the kitchen, to numerous mascots, to […]
Compare and contrast
Intricate designs in Japanese Temari was the focus of Judie Yamamoto’s recent three-day class. Sorted into categories such as “Complex 8” and “Complex 10”, students learned how to create the lush swirls and precise motifs on these elegant Temari. Lines carefully measured and marked across the circumference of the ball provided the starting points for the decorative stitching. At the same time, Stephanie Robertson’s Making Your Mark: A Fabric Journey class was in session. Compare the use of color, the variety of designs and the joy of the process. In contrast, no measured and precise lines while dyeing. Instead, the wonderful gift of experimentation and surprise (generally happy surprise) with each unveiling. If the original concept for the fabric doesn’t appear, there’s always indigo for over-dyeing! […]
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, […]
Wonderful Wearables
After her Inkle Weaving class in the morning, Daryl Lancaster made the transition to her five/seven-day Garment Construction Intensive class in the afternoon, welcoming students for week of sewing, creating jackets and other wearables. There were lovely handwoven and other special fabrics, interesting patterns and ideas…so let the cutting and sewing begin! Some students worked on one garment during the week, new students to this class took a “Daryl Jacket” from start to finish, while others started a number of garments and will finish them at home, getting Daryl’s help with fitting and design ideas. One unexpected, but fun addition to this class was a foray into dyeing silk yardage for linings, creating custom colors to match these custom garments. You’ll be able to read […]
