It’s been three weeks since our last post so it’s well past time to catch up with what’s been happening at Sievers. After a short break in classes over the Fourth of July, Sandy De Master and Mary Germain were here for their Baltic Knitting Extravaganza class. Knitters new to Latvian and Estonian knitting began with a lined, ornament-sized mitten and went on to design their own pair or other project. The hardest part is deciding which of the many great color and motif inspirations to choose! These mittens deserve a hand (and these hands deserve the mittens)! What can we say about Rigid Heddle Weaving with Deb Jones? It’s a fast-paced weaving experience, complete with excellent instruction, beautiful yarns, […]
The latest four
In the past four classes, four separate fiber arts were represented in the Sievers studios. Those four were: surface design (Batik Alumni Studio), weaving (Beyond Beginning: Weaving with Nancy Adams), stitchery (Japanese Temari Techniques with Judith Yamamoto and Kathy Broer) and basketry (Splint-Woven Basketry: Independent Study with Jeanette Biederman). The Batik Alumni Studio was a way for previous batik students at Sievers to return and work outside the formal class structure to share ideas, get feedback from each other and design/wax/dye…repeat. Mary Jo Scandin, who taught Batik classes here for many (wonderful) years, came as part of the Alumni group. Reviewing the warping and weaving process and choosing projects appropriate for next-step weavers was the focus of the Beyond Beginning: […]
Patterns
From the crisp, clean patterns of Scandinavian weaving to the infinite patterns created with Shibori resist-dyeing, to twill patterns for beginning weavers, there have been a multitude of patterns in the first few classes this season. We begin with Connie Westbrook’s Simply Scandinavian weaving class and her beautiful handwoven samples including table linens, garments and home décor pieces she brought to inspire the students. Like the samples, each student’s project was unique and beautiful. Each afternoon Fika was served (should’ve taken a photo of those treats!) and a tour of the Washington Island Stavkirke were both extra-special additions to the class. There is no end to the patterns that can be achieved using indigo and the Japanese technique of Shibori […]
A great start to June
June is off to a great start for many reasons. First and foremost, the studios will be alive all month with creative people who quilt, weave, dye, stitch and make baskets. The Open Quilt Studio started it all off with ten quilters working on a variety of projects and making time to re-connect with each other, Sievers and Washington Island. Also, the start of June brought a change in our practices to more closely follow the current CDC guidelines as they pertain to our classes and to the shop. We are now following their wording which states: “Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing masks or physical distancing.” Therefore, if you are fully vaccinated, you will not need to […]
From the shop (both of them)
Over the past couple months, beside building Sievers Benchwork in the other Sievers shop, Butch and Barb have been demonstrating their craftsmanship by making three blanket chests. One is made from the cherry tree that was at the edge of the deck on the back of the Sievers dormitory/barn. Another is from a Washington Island oak tree and the third, from pine. The cherry and oak chests measure 38 1/2″ long x 19 1/2″ wide x 15 1/2″ high. The pine chest has the same dimensions, except for the height, which is 16 1/2″. Each chest has a clear satin varnish on the exterior, while the interiors are unvarnished. One of their other projects was to build these three-tiered display […]
There’s always something new
Each year we’re delighted to have new items for the shop, both handcrafted artwork by our students and teachers and the wide variety of yarns, books and fiber art materials for makers. The Sievers Shop will officially open on Thursday, May 20 with hours of 10am – 4pm daily through October 31. At this time of year, we like to share information about any new businesses being established and changes to others. The W.I. Souvenir Hut (WISH) and Heart of a Gypsy shops are located side by side on Main Road in the former Island Café and Bread Company. In January, the Café permanently closed, partly due to Covid-19 and staffing considerations. The building was sold and now two shops […]
Counting the days
We’re counting the days (there are only 30) until our 43rd season begins with the Open Quilt Studio from June 2-7! The Open Studios (quilting and knitting) were some of the few opportunities last year that allowed for in-person attendance at Sievers. Working independently at separated tables, students sewed or knitted and learned from each other. We feel much better about what the Sievers experience can and will be this summer and fall, but at the same time recognize that we’re all taking part in a gradual process of readjustment. In less than 30 days, the Sievers Shop will be open daily! Over 80 artists will have their work in the shop and of course we have most of the […]
Keeping up with keps
After a few warm days, we’re back to a typical Washington Island spring, which means temperatures in the 40’s, a northerly breeze and the need to keep our hats and gloves close by. Recently, those who sponsor the annual Shetland Wool Week announced they are unable, again this year, to conduct an in-person event. Today they released their free Shetland Wool Week 2021 hat pattern. Last year’s Katie’s Kep was so well received, they asked the same designer, Wilma Malcolmson, to design the 2021 pattern. It is called Da Crofter’s Kep, honoring the people who work the land and care for livestock in Shetland. We are offering these kits using Jamieson & Smith’s 2-ply jumper weight yarn for Da Crofter’s […]
