Here we are, for the 48th time, marking the first day of the Sievers season of classes! Today was a little unusual, as we’d been notified about a week ago that all of Jackson Harbor Road and areas beyond would be without electricity from 7am-3pm due to the replacement of power poles. Luckily, we had time to tell those in the Open Quilt Studio that they might not be able to start sewing at the usual 2pm start time. By the time the power came on, sewing machines, fabrics and irons were in place and for the next five days the studios will be filled with the special warmth only quilts (and quilters) can bring. Although it’s officially Day 1 […]
Every day something new
Sunsets may signify the end of a day, but at the same time hold promise for the next, new day. Monday’s sunset made us think of the new days to come as we start our season of classes and re-open the Sievers Shop. Also, this is generally the time of year when we focus on what’s new on the Island. Business that have been closed for the winter are now re-opening. That includes the Red Cup Coffee House, Island Time Essentials, Jackson Harbor Soup, Nelsen’s Hall and Bitters Pub, Fragrant Isle, Hotel Washington and Studio, The Weathered Fern and many others which will be opening later in May. At the same time, we love those who have been open year-round […]
Surrounded by water
As an island, by definition, we’re surrounded by water. This past week, many inland areas of Washington Island felt a little like shore property, with water views in fields, across roads, in yards and in basements. Snowmelt from the March blizzard combined with several inches of rain over a few days resulted in the usual low points being filled with water, but no one recalls this amount of standing water for so long, or the wide extent of problems it caused. Today, just over a week later, a couple of these areas are receding. Our hearts go out to the NE Wisconsin communities which are completely flooded. We’re lucky to have a lot of open acreage to absorb the excess. […]
Winter’s little moments
Winter weather on Washington Island has had its ups and downs, but snow and cold have predominated. Since the first snowstorm on November 30, the few brief days with temperatures over freezing haven’t been able to make much of a dent in the snow or ice cover. It does, however, make for good ice fishing conditions as captured in this early morning photo taken on Detroit Harbor a few days ago. One big part of keeping warm these winter days is hearing from so many of our Sievers friends regarding our 2026 classes! Over 275 registrations came in during the week starting February 1. Thank you so much! Seeing your names come through brings back memories and for new students […]
2026 Sievers Preview
February 1st will be here soon! That day, all of our 2026 classes will be open for registration and the class descriptions, along with complete information, will be available on our website. Featured on the cover of the 2026 brochure/flyer is a Boundweave Rug, woven in Lynn Stracka Schuster’s class by Joan Sumkin. Most of our instructors are returning in 2026 and some have returned after a year or more including Jackie Barry (Quilting), Karen Robison (she’s returning after many years to teach “Paper & Book Camp”) and Connie Westbrook (Weaving). Retiring from teaching at Sievers is Nancy Adams. Nancy first came to Sievers as a student in 1986, took 22 more classes and became an assistant instructor with Louise […]
Sending you Season’s Greetings
Don’t we all enjoy handwritten cards and notes from far-flung friends and family, especially during the holiday season? It’s a practice that unfortunately seems a bit of the past. Over the past 17 years, Nancy Adams, former weaving instructor, has sent us a handwoven card, inspired by one of her classmates at Sievers many years ago. (We have some of those as well.) Today we’re sharing them with you. This year’s card is in the center, near the bottom, a red tree within a circle. In the spirit of Season’s Greetings, we’re sending you this handwritten note with an old postcard design chosen by Walter Schutz in the late 1980’s. We look forward to seeing or hearing from you – […]
Wrapping up and preparing
It’s been awhile now since classes ended, but we’ve been busy wrapping up and in some ways, preparing for next season. In a recap of this year, there were 308 registered students. Over 78% were students who had taken classes here before and 65 were new to Sievers. Those new students came from these states: AZ, CA, FL, HI, IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, NM, NY, OH, VA and WI. Four Sievers Scholarships were awarded in 2025 to students (coincidentally) in four different 5-day weaving classes. When the last class finished back in October, the “loom doctors”, Butch and Barb, carefully went through each loom, making or replacing some parts on several of the Sievers looms, ensuring they are ready […]
September elements
The colors we’re seeing lately: gold, copper and silver, have been both outdoors and in the studio, especially during Kay Rashka’s recent Metalwork Jewelry Boot Camp. Starting out in class, designs are etched primarily on copper, brass, nickel silver and sterling silver as components for wearable art jewelry. Students can try their hand at gold foil fusing, setting cabochons into pieces, drilling river stones, hammering decorative “folds” in metal and using the “classical element” fire in soldering. There is constant action in the studio with all the metalsmiths busy hammering, etching, shaping, drilling and filing…it’s a one-of-a-kind here at Sievers. As for the other “classical elements” (earth, water and air), September never disappoints. Although the full color of the fall […]
