When the schedule is set for the season, we immediately begin to wait (with great anticipation) for the classes to begin and to see all of you! That certainly applies to the Batik Alumni Week, led by Mary Jo Scandin. Mary Jo first taught Batik here in August 1982. The last line of her biography in the Sievers brochure that year read, “Her work and products are outstanding and her students learn so much.” These words were added the following year, “Her enthusiasm about the art makes learning the batik process a delight.” How time flies! Here we are forty years later having the great pleasure of so many batik classes either taught or co-taught by Mary Jo, who now […]
Technique & Design
Although those words were incorporated into only one of the class titles this past week, they certainly apply to all three that were in session! In the first class, Landscape ‘Painting’ with Fabric with Susan Hoffmann, students worked with fabrics to create a woodland scene. Basic art techniques were covered as they apply to these textile landscapes. Although the designs of the finished products are similar, each person interprets their view differently, some incorporating birds or other background elements. As an added bonus, students had time to work on four-season fabric postcards. At the same time, in the second session, Open Quilt Studio, there were so many techniques and designs between the quilters, many of whom were working on more than one project, that I’ll […]
Happiness is…
…a colorful quilt. ….being inspired by nature. …warm woolens. …wildlife in the backyard. …watching clouds and sunsets (especially the ones on Washington Island). As promised last time, the Open Quilt Studio “challenge quilt” border fabrics were on before class was over. Everyone likes…a colorful quilt. In Susan Hoffmann’s Landscape ‘Painting’ with Fabric class, students worked with the same set of fabrics. Although they all started with the same theme, there were as many variations as students, each person creating a unique woodland scene and …being inspired by nature. The Spinning Art Yarns class taught by Deb Jones used a variety of fibers and combined them into special and fanciful yarns by using the drum carders, picker, spinning wheels and plying in order to have some one-of-a-kind…warm […]
Through July
It’s hard to believe we are approaching the half-way mark of our classes, but we’ve found ourselves there. Bringing us through the end of July were three classes which overlapped a day or two on each end, Lynn Schuster’s Boundweave Rug Weaving, Deb Jones’ Spinner’s Color Workshop and Susan Hoffmann’s Landscape ‘Painting’ with Fabric. We started with Boundweave Rugs and the gorgeous wools and colorful designs created by each of the students. One person was able to finish two rugs in class…a first in our recollection. (Some late hours were definitely involved. We wondered if she wove after the 2 a.m. timer on the outdoor lights went off. As some weavers know, that would not be a first!) While […]
Lovely Landscapes
Last week, both classes focused on landscapes. For two days, Susan Hoffmann led students through Landscape “Painting” with Fabric using one of her own designs as the class project. Although the elements in each were similar, every finished landscape “painting” reflected an individual style. At the same time, for four days, Donna Kallner and her students took field trips around the Island, taking digital photos they then printed onto fabrics for wearables, jewelry and small art pieces. Starting with Island materials and inspirations, their local color landscapes incorporated eco-printing and eco-dyeing. You can’t get any more local than these two landscapes!
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 […]
