As the thermometer is reading 42° at this afternoon and the bright sun is creating a cascade from the eaves, it seemed time to send along a few winter photos of the Island, before much of the snow is gone (temporarily, we’re sure). From the east side of Washington Island to the west side and from the harbors to the ferry passage through “the Door”, the ice will last longer than the snow but it may shift depending on wind direction. It’s not all barren landscape! Shore birds and ducks find resting places and fisherman create their own village out on Detroit Harbor. From the cold light of a February moon to the promise of warm sun for a good maple sap run, we embrace each season!
From our nest to yours
Our warmest greetings go out to you over the holidays and as winter begins. Whether you are like the winter birds, staying home and finding ways to keep warm or if you have left your nest for a southerly location, we look ahead to the day your wings bring you back to our neck of the woods. Ode to Winter …While a world drifts to sleep Leaves curl and flowers bow Birds take flight to a further place A touch of frost creeps in Stealing the landscape of its colour Soon all shall be held motionless In the still of a winters season Now in all its changing The beauty and perfection of life Is left open to be […]
Beach Scenes
There’s no place like the beach…even in December. Before the snow falls and changes the scenery, covering the patterns found in the rocks along the Lake Michigan side of Washington Island, it was time to see what could be discovered, up close and afar. A speck in the distance from the photo below revealed the fish tug Seediver heading south. These geese and swans could be on their way south, too. We’ll be here, “up north”, enjoying the winter beach scenes!
Serenity now…Island style
Today is a good day to remember the quiet scenes from this fall captured these last two weeks on Washington Island. And sunsets… before, during and after. Take time for your own quiet moments, today and everyday, wherever you are!
Fall reflections
Before the leaves are gone, we want to share some of the views around the Island of the trees, dressed in gold. There could be a photo from every road and path on Washington Island with the same beautiful colors. (That would be a lot of photos!) They came into peak a little later than usual this year and have stayed a little later, too. How lucky we are to be surrounded by beauty in each direction! With strong winds today and more predicted, the colors will soon be blanketing the ground, in preparation for winter. We’ll be sorry to see them go. It’s not all gold, red, brown and orange in October, there are all the colors of […]
Local Color
For the first few days on a walk over to the studio and finding no one there, the question was… where is Donna Kallner’s Local Color to Wear class going next? Off on field trips to Percy Johnson County Park, the Stavekirke, Jackson Harbor Ridges and more, students found in all those places the local color and photographs used in their class projects. The basis for learning, experimentation were their own photos, ones taken on the Island (like the bracelet above with the image of the Stavekirke roof as background), natural dyes, sun and thermofax screen printing on fabric. Combined with found natural materials, beads and stitches, the pieces took shape. A lavender-filled sachet, book covers, bracelets, pins, bookmarks and small art pieces, along with […]
First class of 2016
We are well into the first class of our 38th season, Open Quilt Studio. Twenty quilters are still sewing on a variety of new and “continuing” projects, including one from a Doreen Speckmann class in 1993! It all started with moving sewing machines, special tabletops, swivel chairs and a quilt frame (not to mention fabrics and threads) into the studios. Let the quilting begin! [intense_row padding_top=”0px”] [intense_column size=”6″ medium_size=”6″ small_size=”12″ extra_small_size=”12″] [/intense_column][intense_column size=”6″ medium_size=”6″ small_size=”12″ extra_small_size=”12″] [/intense_column][intense_row] So many designs, fabrics and creative ideas are part of this week, they don’t all fit in this one newsletter! Look for more photos on the Sievers Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest pages. [intense_row padding_top=”0px”] [intense_column size=”6″ medium_size=”6″ small_size=”12″ extra_small_size=”12″] [/intense_column][intense_column size=”6″ medium_size=”6″ small_size=”12″ extra_small_size=”12″] [/intense_column][intense_row] And […]
Ice Music
It was cold enough overnight to make ice on some of the Island’s harbors, including Detroit Harbor. I thought a photo contrasting the ripples on the open water with the thin, clear ice might be interesting, but as soon as I got out of the car, the sound of the ice breaking up on the rocks due to the current underneath caught my attention.
