Sievers School of Fiber Arts

Learn, refresh and reflect

  • Home
  • Specifics of Enrollment
  • Housing
  • Travel Info
  • About Us/Our Shop
  • Blog
  • Contact

Sievers willow family tree

September 24, 2021 By Carolyn Foss

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 […]

Filed Under: Sievers School Tagged With: Char TerBeest-Kudla, Donna Kallner, Jacki Bedworth, Jo Campbell-Amsler, Nalbinding, Willow Basketry

A Natural Combination

August 20, 2018 By Carolyn Foss

It’s hard to imagine a nicer combination than combining willow and driftwood to make a basket!  In Jo Campbell-Amsler’s class they did just that.  These one-of-a-kind baskets took some planning, determining the best use of the driftwood depending on it’s size and shape and how it should be featured in the finished piece.           With many options to explore, each student had the opportunity to create more than one basket during the four-day class (some went home with two or three baskets, plus prepared frames for more).       Washington Island is blessed with many of nature’s gifts…willow and driftwood among them.  We love the late-August wildflowers along the roadsides and in the fields, just one of those many gifts given.  May […]

Filed Under: Basketry/Furnishings Tagged With: Driftwood, Jo Campbell-Amsler, willow, Willow Basketry

Beautiful, inside and out

September 19, 2017 By Carolyn Foss

Whether students were gathering willow from outside the Walter Studio to incorporate in their baskets or perfecting seam finishes inside their handmade garments, the finished pieces in both Jo Campbell-Amsler’s and Daryl Lancaster’s classes were beautiful, inside and out.      As you can see, the willow in the Sievers patch has grown tall this year. Here, Ann and Stef are pictured in front of the tallest portion, approaching 9 feet.  Some of this willow, along with the materials Jo brought for class was used to make a variety of rib-style baskets, trays, a creel and more, inspired by Jo’s own work.  Willow basketry is just one beautiful way to bring the outside in!           If the inside of your handmade garments are as beautiful as […]

Filed Under: Basketry/Furnishings, Beading/Stitchery/Wearables Tagged With: Daryl Lancaster, Garment Construction, Jo Campbell-Amsler, Willow Basketry

Simply September

September 12, 2016 By Carolyn Foss

As we get closer to the middle of September the first notes of fall have started to appear.  Simple changes in the ways the clouds look, a few leaves turning, flowers reaching for the last bit of warm sun and more deer by the roadsides are all clues that in just a few weeks, we’ll be surrounded by glorious reds, yellows, golds and browns.  Before that happens though, we plan to fully enjoy September!           We’ve been “back to school” for several days with Betty Carlson’s Navajo Rug Weaving and Jo Campbell-Amsler’s Natural Fiber Baskets classes.  The students are using simple elements of authentic wool yarns and gathered willow to create not-so-simple pieces.    A version of this is posted in the Navajo Rug Weaving studio and we hope you […]

Filed Under: Basketry/Furnishings, Sievers School, Weaving Tagged With: Betty Glynn Carlson, Jo Campbell-Amsler, Navajo Rug Weaving, Willow Basketry

Class Categories

  • Basketry/Carving/Furnishings
  • Jewelry/Stitchery/Wearables
  • Paper Arts
  • Knitting/Spinning
  • Open Studios
  • Quilting
  • Surface Design
  • Weaving
Sievers Newsletter
Subscribe for Free!
We do not send spam or share your email address with third parties

Share Sievers School with Friends

FacebooktwitterpinterestmailFacebooktwitterpinterestmail
FacebookpinterestrssinstagramFacebookpinterestrssinstagram

Copyright © 2022 Sievers School of Fiber Arts · 3W · Log in