Sievers School of Fiber Arts

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Carving out some time

September 26, 2019 By Carolyn Foss

Carving out some time, or in Walter Schutz’s words, “doing something nice for yourself” is often mentioned at Sievers class introductions and graduations. It’s an old-fashioned interpretation of today’s self-care. In literal terms, students in Jerry Landwehr’s Woodcarving class were able to carve out some time working on a Nuthatch or carving a face into a walking stick. One bird migrated back from a previous class and there were others that kept watch over the students as they worked. Practice blocks allowed the opportunity to create just the right expression on the students’ newly carved companions. Doing something nice for themselves is what Jeanette Biederman’s students have done in class together more than once (or twice). Renewing friendships, making baskets […]

Filed Under: Basketry/Furnishings Tagged With: Basketry, Jeanette Biederman, Jerry Landwehr, Woodcarving

One of a Kind

July 15, 2019 By Carolyn Foss

“Just” another week at Sievers…two fashion shows, daily potluck class lunches and a dinner, more than 66 one-of-a-kind garments made by Mary Sue Fenner and at least 22 of Jeanette Biederman’s baskets for inspiration. Plus, at the end of the week, the students went home with the new garments or baskets they made. Wow! An impromptu invitation from the Red Cup Coffee House quickly evolved into the first fashion show of the week. You can see a selection of the garments on our Facebook or Instagram pages, some of which were made by the students and some by Mary Sue. (There are basket photos there and more from the final class fashion show, too!) Using their own handwoven, hand-painted, hand-dyed […]

Filed Under: Basketry/Furnishings, Beading/Stitchery/Wearables Tagged With: Basketry, Jeanette Biederman, Mary Sue Fenner, sewing

The Sievers Gathering – September 27, 28 & 29, 2018

July 27, 2018 By Carolyn Foss

The Sievers Gathering is set for September 27-29!  This is a great way to keep in touch with each other, meet Sievers instructors and it’s also an opportunity to return to Washington Island and share of sample of what happens at Sievers School with a friend.  All visitors are welcome and all events are open to the public.  Here’s what’s waiting for you… Workshops – Two workshops are scheduled during the Gathering.  These one and one-half day sessions begin on Thursday, September 27 at 2 pm and end on Friday, September 28 at 4 pm.  They are: Bead Embroidery Basics with a Side of Weaving taught by Francie Broadie and Beginning Splint-Woven Basketry taught by Geri Rock.  There are limited […]

Filed Under: Sievers School Tagged With: Basketry, Beadwork, Sievers Gathering

Sievers Gathering Workshops

April 2, 2018 By Carolyn Foss

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 […]

Filed Under: Basketry/Furnishings, Beading/Stitchery/Wearables, Sievers School Tagged With: Basketry, Beadwork, Sievers Gathering

Fiber eclipse

August 29, 2017 By Carolyn Foss

Although we witnessed a darkening of the sky (some of it due to general cloud cover and a small rain shower) during the total eclipse on August 21, it turned out that these crescent shadows were our most visible evidence of the event at Sievers.  With one of the definitions for eclipse or eclipsing being “to surpass; outshine”, we felt that for us, the classes held that week joined our other 37 classes in their own “fiber eclipse”. Watching the baskets in Jeanette Biederman’s Independent Study Splint-Woven Basketry class come together is always inspiring.  Sunrise to sundown, busy hands were weaving colorful patterns.  Luckily, there’s no need to hide your eyes from this kind of eclipse!             Not to be outshone, students in Daniel Essig’s two classes, Tools of the Trade […]

Filed Under: Basketry/Furnishings, Book Arts/Paper Arts Tagged With: Basketry, Book Arts, Daniel Essig, Jeanette Biederman

Fiber in common

July 17, 2017 By Carolyn Foss

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 […]

Filed Under: Basketry/Furnishings, Dyeing/Knitting/Spinning Tagged With: Bark and Roots Basketry, Basketry, Jeanette Biederman, Karen Tembreull, Latvian Mitten, Mary Germain, Sandy De Master

Our Fair Isle

July 18, 2015 By Carolyn Foss

What’s better than one Fair Isle knitting class?  Two Fair Isle knitting classes!  Last week, Sandy De Master and Mary Germain taught a class in Fair Isle Techniques followed by Fair Isle Design with Janine Bajus, who we welcomed for the first time as a Sievers instructor.  What made it even better was to have our Beginning Basketry class in session at the same time with Kay Normann and Drew Tibbetts sharing three fun and busy days with their students. Teddy had plenty of sweaters to choose from while modeling for the techniques class.  Students learned construction techniques by knitting this small sweater. Then it was time to continue our Fair Isle theme and focus on the concept of design.  By using photographs to develop […]

Filed Under: Sievers School Tagged With: Basketry, Fair Isle Knitting

What’s important

July 2, 2015 By Carolyn Foss

With books and with baskets, generally it’s what’s held inside that may seem the most important feature.  This week at Sievers, both the inside and outside are equally important.  Daniel Essig taught two classes in book arts, Reliquary: Window and Niche and Greek & Centipede Stitch Book.  At the same time, Jeanette Biederman’s Splint-Woven Basketry class has been in session. Treasures used in the making of these books represent family, Island and Sievers memories and no doubt, similar memories are woven into all the baskets this year and in so many past years during “basket week”.                     While class was in session, Ann Young and Connie Westbrook awarded a Quilt of Valor they had made to one of the students in the basketry class.  Penny Newton, Air […]

Filed Under: Sievers School Tagged With: Basketry, Book Arts, Daniel Essig, Jeanette Biederman, Quilts of Valor

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