Sievers and willow have a long history. We begin by going back to 1980, our second year, when Char TerBeest-Kudla offered the first class in basketry at Sievers. Focusing on willow, the class description read in part, “You will use natural materials found right here on our rustic, beautiful Washington Island. What you learn you put to use wherever you are.” Four students that first year quickly grew to 12 in 1981. One of those 12 students was Jo Campbell-Amsler, who became the Beginning Willow basketry instructor in 1991 and has continued to offer classes in willow since then. In Jo Campbell-Amsler’s 1993 Beginning Willow class, two of her students were Donna Kallner and Jacki Bedworth. 1993 Beginning Willow Basketry […]
Weaving Rugs, Part II: Rag Rugs
With a flourish, we finished our last class of the 2014 season. Deb Sharpee’s Rag Rug Weaving class wove wonderful and colorful rag rugs (one eight-footer!), runners and placemats. From recycled sheets to new batik pre-cut strips, the fabrics shone through in the finished projects. The magic carpet ride lasted all week… An extra special addition to the last week of class was the arrival of willow harvesters Jo Campbell-Amsler, Jacki Bedworth, Donna Kallner and Lee Zieke Lee. Thanks to them, the willow patch is ready for hibernation until next spring. After today, we will miss the sound of students’ footsteps…what we’ll have instead is the sound of the remaining leaves falling on the paths to the studios […]
The Sievers Gathering – Day One and a Half
We’ve had a great start to our 18th Gathering weekend! Two workshops, “Landscape ‘Painting’ with Fabric” taught by Susan Hoffmann and “Surface Design on Paper” with Lorrie Grainger Abdo started Thursday afternoon and continue on through Friday afternoon. The groups took time to visit each others’ studios. Come along with us… Each of the nine workshop students are working with the same fabrics, but are able to design their own touches. The Walter Studio was set up with several stations to try different surface design techniques on paper. Jacki Bedworth’s three-hour workshop this afternoon had students leaving with a small Willow Garlic Basket. Garage sale volunteer sorters and organizers were kept busy Thursday and today with […]
Sievers Gathering-Save the Date
Save these dates for the Eighteenth biennial Sievers Gathering – September 25, 26 and 27! The Gathering is a weekend of workshops, evening programs, demonstrations, vendors, a fiber arts garage sale and celebration of student and instructor-made fiber arts. The entire event is open to the public with most events taking place on Saturday, September 27. New this time will be two workshops that begin on Thursday at 2pm and run until Friday at 4pm, “Surface Design on Paper” with Lorrie Abdo and “Landscape ‘Painting’ with Fabric taught by Susan Hoffman. These will be joined by a Friday afternoon workshop from 1-4pm, “Willow Garlic Basket” with Jacki Bedworth. Our Friday evening program will feature Daryl Lancaster speaking on “Parallel Threads that Parallel Life”. Saturday’s […]
