It’s been a month since our last post. A month that seems such a long time ago now, even as the news and circumstances seem to speed up more each day. We are now taking turns coming in to the office, checking phone messages and emails, in line with the latest Wisconsin guidelines. Our first class of the season is set to begin on June 1. At this point, we plan to continue with the schedule as it stands. Of course, if there are any changes, we will let you know right away and as always, if Sievers were to cancel a class, students receive a full refund of all fees paid. We’ve been receiving new things for the shop […]
Winter-lude
As we prepare for the upcoming season of classes, we are enjoying the beauty of the quiet season that surrounds us. An all-day gentle snowfall makes for a perfect opportunity for a drive around Washington Island where you can basically stop the car in the road and walk here and there to take photos. Winter scenes also make for great views from our desks in the Sievers office (even if they’re not quite like these). Starting February 1st, it will begin to feel like spring, summer and fall combined and we will be warmed by hearing from you via our website and telephone! As Walter Schutz wrote in the very first Sievers School brochure, “You will create new friendships here […]
It’s December
December certainly made itself known, including here on Washington Island, with at least 10″ of snow, strong winds, power outages and disrupted ferry trips. Sunday may have been the day to stay indoors, but Monday morning offered the opportunity to capture some pristine woodland scenes and evidence of continued high water levels. December finds us in the office, putting together all the details for the 2020 Schedule of Classes since in less than two months, it’s registration time!
A Washington Island week
We’re taking this opportunity to share Washington Island with you sending along some end-of-June scenes and happenings. We hear over and over again that time spent on Washington Island is an important part of the experience when attending a class at Sievers. So, here are some recent north, east, west, south and in-between scenes. After taking in the views, for those who are on Washington Island this week, there are a number of events on the calendar. On Saturday night Cindra performed “If Once You Have Slept on an Island” with our friend Dan Hansen at the TPAC in Julian Hagen’s Washington Island Musical History program. This week is the Wisconsin Council of Churches Forum, the annual Grilled Whitefish Dinner […]
Island Spring
How do we know it’s springtime? First, the calendar tells us it started a week ago. Second, ice is starting to break up along the shoreline. Third, even though the feet of the willow trees are still in snow and ice, their buds open in the bright blue sky. Fourth, it’s Quilts of Valor time! 2018 marks the sixth consecutive year a Washington Island Quilts of Valor event has been held in the Sophie Studio. Co-ordinated by Ellen Graf, this year six teams of two worked in the studio, along those who came for a day to make the presentation cases for the finished quilts. In addition, several individuals sewed at home and one team worked long distance from Arizona. The teams were formed using the “Under […]
Summer & Winter & Fall
Inside the studio recently, the focus was on Summer & Winter (weaving), but outside, it’s all about a different season. First things first…weaving. Summer & Winter has reversible areas of pattern and background on both sides with the “summer” side predominately showing the lighter colors and the “winter” side, the darker ones. Lynn Schuster’s handwoven samples, some using fine 10/2 cotton, some using Brown Sheep’s Lamb’s Pride Worsted, gave a real variety of choices for students in planning their own projects. The last morning of class, strong winds knocked power out to the studios. Finishing up, looms were moved a little closer to the windows and cellphones were taped to the task lights to use the flashlight feature so that the […]
Fall views from the roadsides
It is still uncharacteristically green here on Washington Island and it sounds like this is true in many places across Wisconsin. We keep looking for trees in full fall foliage, but so far, there are only branches here and there that have begun to show color. So, we’re finding fall views from the ground up, starting with wildflowers and wildlife from the roadsides. We’ll share again as more golds, oranges and reds appear. We can’t wait!
March Ramblings
March is proving to be contradictory, as usual. There have been snowstorms, windstorms and thunderstorms along with sunshine and alternating warm or cold temperatures. We have yet to see a herald of spring but know we’ll be hearing new birds and seeing some green in the next couple of weeks. The water and ice around the Island remind us to be patient. We are in the midst of ordering yarns, books, patterns, fabrics and more for the upcoming season, including some new yarn additions from West Yorkshire Spinners, Baa Ram Ewe and Rowan. Today we counted 277 registrations. It will be so good to see each of you and “catch up” since your last visit! The last few days of March and first few days of April have been set aside for this year’s Quilts of Valor event, coordinated by Ellen […]
