Navajo Rug Weaving with Betty Glynn Carlson from May 20 – 25

Open Studio (No Instructor) from May 29 – June 2

Halvdrall and Monk’s Belt with Rita Hagenbruch from June 3 – 8

Quilting: Symmetry in Design with Ellen Graf from June 3 – 8

We’re looking forward to another great year!

From the photo above and looking left you are a stone’s throw from this view of Little Lake:

From the same vantage point and looking right, you are another stone’s throw from the bay:

Along the way, there were trilliums, mayflowers, violets, songbirds and shorebirds AND lots of fresh air and sunshine!

We recently received notice from Heidi Gilbertson, Island Bread Company Owner and Artisan Baker, that she is moving Island Bread Co. to a permanent home in the Red Cup building (inside the red double doors).  She plans to start baking there by the middle of May.  In order to expand Island Bread Company’s capacity to produce up to 500 loaves per day, the least expensive and most fuel-efficient means is to construct a wood-fired brick oven.  Because it “takes a village to raise an oven”, Heidi has turned to Kickstarter.  There are some fresh-out-of-the-oven rewards for contributing, too.  The link is http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1502447120/it-takes-a-village-to-raise-an-oven-we-knead-you?ref=email

(Photo of Birdseed Bread  from Dick Purinton’s Ferry Cabin News Blog, June 2011 Posting)

A new event on the Island this summer is the Death’s Door Barbeque.  This is a Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned competition with $5,000 in prize money awarded.  The date is set for August 25.  A kick-off event, the Door County Backyard Bash will be held on June 2 for Door County entries.  All the details on the event is at http://deathsdoorbbq.com/

Last but not least, we are getting ready too, for the opening of the shop in mid-May and our first day of class on May 20^th.  Here we are “before”… you’ll see the “after” when you are here!

For the weavers we have more of the 8/2 tencel, in more colors (including variegated) and we have a sampling of some 8/2 bamboo.  For the knitters, we are ordering some of the beautiful Sublime cashmere-merino-silk yarns, plus there will be plenty of other new items.  We always like to get your suggestions as to what yarns, books or fiber art supplies to carry in the shop.  Let us know about your favorites!

Included in these spring-like thoughts are events coming up in May.  The Sievers Shop will open on May 15th and our first class will begin with an introduction on Sunday evening, May 20th.  That weekend of May 19th and 20th are two events with a number of Sievers connections, Fiber Facets and the Door County Shepherds Market.  Scroll down to read more!

Fiber Facets at Bleating Heart Haven in New Holstein, WI:   www.bleatinghearthaven.com

HomeFiber Facets – May 19 & 20, 2012: Art Fair on the FarmFiber Art Shop – Open 4th Sat. of the monthClasses Offered at Bleating Heart Haven for 2012Artisan Festivals we’ll be at 2012Fiber Arts Shop On-lineFarm BlogA Fiber Farmer’s YearArt Fair PhotosDyeing DayFarm PhotosContact & A Bit About Us   Fiber Facets – May 19 & 20, 2012: Art Fair on the Farm   Artists, products and demonstrations at Fiber Facets, Art Fair on the Farm, May 19 & 20, 2012 Fiber Facets: an “on the farm” experience—see the fiber animals, view the process from sheep to shawl (carding, spinning, felting,and weaving), purchase designer yarns, accessories,  garments, and handmade willow furniture. Meet the artisans and purchase: silk batik, handwoven rugs, wool socks, basketry, quilted bags and accessories, beaded jewelry, fused glass jewelry, metal garden art, soaps, totes, and more.  Sample great “eats” and buy organic and naturally grown beef, lamb, chicken, and turkey from local farmers.        Jeff Pockat, Celtic harpist, performing on Saturday & Frank Schwahlbach on banjo Sunday Demonstrations:    Sheep shearing  at 11:00 a.m. and 1p.m. (John Rezachek)                            Wool carding in between sheep shearing. (John Rezachek)                            Reed basket making- day long (Dawn Nelson)                            Socks being “hand cranked” on a machine – day long (Diane Bass)                            Single strand lap loom weaving – day long (Patricia Herman)                            4 harness floor loom weaving – day long (Connie Westbrook)                            Needle felting with alpaca – day long mini classes (Julie Feider)                            Spinning with a spinning wheel -day long (Cindy Ellenbecker)                            Of cute lambs, kids, alpacas, and Angora bunnies – day long . 2012 Featured Artisans:  (23 in all!) Bleating Heart Haven www.bleatinghearthaven.com  (handpainted mohair yarn, knitted, felted, & woven items, nuno-felted scarves, mohair socks, handmade buttons, hand-bent willow furniture, grain drill flower planters) Custom Beaded Purses LLC www.nancyalison.com  (handknit and crocheted beaded purses, made using the same techniques that were used to make beautiful Victorian beaded purses. Finished purses, books, and kits for sale Fiber Creations (is all about texture, design and color —hand-dyed silk scarves, bamboo socks, hand made buttons, purses, unique jewelry and other treasures for the discriminating buyer)) Fine and Funky Art  www.artoncentermanitowoc.com   (African flair gourd art using stains, fibers, papers, twigs and carving, burning, etching, painting and more.  Masks, shard ornaments, and vessels created by artist Laurel Schleis in her gallery) Hidden Hollow Garden Art www.HiddenHollowGardenArt.com(wide array of whimsical birdhouses, unique metal art and wonderful home and garden decorations that are sure to bring a smile.) Hidden Valley Woolen Mill www.hiddenvalleyfarmwoolenmill.com (quilt batts, sheep pelts, handpainted yarn, and luscious roving) Indigo Crochet www.indigocrochet.etsy.com (Amanda Wilhite offers crochet and Amiguraumil (Japanese crochet) baby gift sets, toys, shoes, and more. Jeff Pockat Gaelic Harpist CDs www.gaelicharp.tripod.com     CDs available as well as wedding and event bookings Julie’s Alpaca Angels - alpaca roving and needle felted angels (kits available with instructions). All you need to add is your time and love Karen’s Quilting - (qulited items for you and your home including table runners, toppers, candlemats, and more.  A variety of pieced and appliqued items will be available.) Mary Schuler Bags (handcrafted handbags, totes, purses, make-up bags, jewelry travel bags, and more) Natural Directions/Green Valley Organic (offers grassfed, organically raised beef, Holsteins and registered Murray Greys, chicken and turkey.  Also a selection of aromatherapy, using quality essential oils, formulas: bath salts, lotions, sprays/spritzers and more) Patricia’s Handwoven  www.patriciashandwoven.com (promotes continuous strand weaving and creating one of a kind and unique wearable art clothing; quality hand built looms and fiber accessories for sale as well) Pigeon Lake Studios (finely crafted hand woven wool and decorative rugs; batik designed scarves and wraps–all hand-dyed) Reflective Impressions  www.reflectiveimpressions.net  (graphic artist Connie Schultz shares her creativity with business cards, brochures, websites, and more–you small business can be look professional at an affordable cost) Sarah Birschbach Jewelry (One-of-a-kind fused glass jewelry: pendants, medallions, earrings, bracelets.  Mixed media jewelry including fused glass, pearls, gemstones, leather, and fiber.  Fused glass for fiber artists.) Sattler Farm Lamb (fresh lamb cuts from locally and naturally grown lamb) Schuh Soaps  (cold process hand made soaps in delightful scents with healing additives; milk based made with organic oils; milk has been heralded throughout the ages as as a skin softener even the most delicate skin types can trust) Socks to Di For (hand cranked socks made on an antique circular sock knitting machine by Diane Bass of Lodi, WI. Pamper your feet with the ultimate luxury with these handmade wool socks.) Terra Verde Coffeehouse www.TerraVerdeCoffee.net (delicious fresh roasted coffee, beverages, pastries, and sandwiches) Teztlaff Totes – Pocketed totes; Rope totes each bag is one of a kind work of art, fun to own and fun to use. Vessels by Dawn (hand woven basketry and hand felted containers) Westbrook Woven Inspirations (handwoven clothing and home accessories from silk, bamboo, tencel, cotton, and other blends)     Enter supporting content here   Bleating Heart Haven  • W1993 Thede Road • New Holstein, WI 53061 • Phone: (920) 286-0971, (920) 286-0972

Also on May 19th and 20th is the 18th Annual Door County Shepherds’ Market, this year at a new location, the Woodwalk Gallery just south of Egg Harbor:    www.dcshepherdsmarket.com

This page last updated: 12 March 2012

Mark your calendars!

It was in the winter of 2009 that this same group (a total of 12) wove the pieces that later were incorporated into a date book,  Woven Images of Washington Island.  Proceeds from the first printing were donated to the Art and Nature Center, W.I. Art Association, W. I. Medical Memorial Fund and the W. I. Community Health Program.   A second printing last year was a fund-raiser for the W. I. Community Health Program.

With the days getting longer and the first day of Spring approaching, we are anticipating our first class of the season, only 75 days away!

Over 2,000 brochures were mailed on Saturday and Monday (has yours arrived yet?), then several large envelopes and boxes were sent to our teachers today and these envelopes to the shops will go out at the end of this week. Gone are the days when we eagerly anticipated the first registration to arrive by mail.  Now, with the wonder of websites and email, we eagerly anticipate hearing from you the second you press the “submit” button!

In the first week of March, the Island Weaving Study Group will be in the Sophie Studio.  The focus this year is on lace weaves.

Between now and then, our printed brochures will arrive and as quickly as they come in, they’ll be labeled, stamped and delivered to the post office for the return trip across the ferry!

Then there are some things you can’t knit…unless you use a photo for inspiration, as Sandy De Master and Mary Germain have done in the Fair Isle sweaters that they have designed and are currently knitting (we were lucky enough to get a sneak preview).   A Washington Island sunset could make a beautiful sweater:

From the Door County Advocate, February 2, 2012:

 Washington Island’s community newspaper is under new ownership.

A group of local investors has agreed to purchase the assets of the Washington Island Observer newspaper. The name of the new company is Washington Island Community News LLC.

In a statement, the 15 families who will be the new owners said they are committed to producing a high-quality newspaper that will focus on the news and issues of Washington Island. The group pledged that any profits the Observer generates will be donated annually to local civic, charitable and nonprofit organizations.

The current publishing schedule of 30 issues per year will be maintained, and walk-in photocopying and printing support services will still be offered at the newspaper office at 1253 Main Road on Washington Island.

The first issue to be published under the new ownership will be dated Feb. 16, 2012.

The newspaper was founded by Lorel Gordon in 1981. Gail and Robert Toerpe had owned and managed the Observer since 1992.

The board of directors of the newspaper is comprised of Joanne Jessen, Warren Marik, Brian McDonald, Lucia Petrie, Pete Petrie, Rich Walker and Marsha Williams. The editorial committee – Daniel Brandel, Barbara Greenfeldt, Richard Purinton, Rich Shereikis and Melissa Walker – will set and refine editorial goals and standards.

Lori Goodwin and Evie Walter will continue to staff the office; they will be joined by Mary Marik as managing editor.

The new owners said they plan to maintain the newspaper’s membership in the Wisconsin Newspaper Association and adhere to the code of ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists.

According to the news release, the Observer “will strive to offer its readers a mix of news of interest to residents, part-time residents, frequent visitors as well as newcomers to Washington Island. It will report on meetings of town boards and committees, significant activities and achievements of Islanders, upcoming events and the culture and history of Washington Island. It will also provide a forum for readers to exchange views and may occasionally take editorial stands on local issues.”

In Sievers news, as of this afternoon, we have 214 registrations for our 2012 classes.  Wow!  We can’t wait to see all of you this summer and fall!

Today we also said goodbye to the tree growing through the deck on the east side of Jackson Studio, our main building.  After years of struggle and losing its leaves early due to its location and because we will be replacing the deck this year, it came down this morning before we arrived.   To the best of our recollection the tree was planted in the spring of 1980.

   You can see what our winter looks like from these last two photos…mostly green!

Now for a happier sight, last night’s sunset:

Here are some of the classes being offered in 2012:

 Navajo Rug Weaving w/Betty Carlson- May 20-25

 Halvdräll & Monk’s Belt w/Rita Hagenbruch-June 3-8

 Exploring Weave Structures w/Robyn Spady-June 17-22

 Batik w/Mary Jo Scandin-June 17-24

 Beyond Beginning:Weaving w/Nancy Adams-June 24-29

 A Wearable Extravaganza w/Daryl Lancaster-June 24-July 1

Digital Fabric w/Donna Kallner-July 1-6

Book A Day w/Daniel Essig-July 5-10

 Felt Scarves w/Chad Hagen-July 6-8

 My Latest, Greatest Quilt w/Marianne Fons & Ellen Graf-July 15-20

 Peyote Patchwork Necklace w/Lynn Schuster-July 20-22

 Hexagonal Paper Basketry w/Jackie Abrams-July 22-27

 Weave, Cut & Sew w/Mary Sue Fenner- July 22-27

 Adult/Child:Willow w/Jacki Bedworth- July 27-29

 Adult/Child: Polymer w/Judith Yamamoto-July 27-29

 Basket Weaving for Beginners w/Kay Normann & Drew Tibbetts-July 29-Aug 1

 Beg. Quilters Boot Camp w/Mary Fons-      July 29-Aug 3

 Buttons, Simply Buttons! w/Diane Fitzgerald-Aug 3-5

 Make Your Mark:Silk Screen & Printing w/Stephanie Robertson-Aug 5-12

 Papermaking w/Tom Grade-Aug 12-17

 Painting Warp, Weaving Scarves w/Heather Winslow-Aug 12-17

 Paper Mosaics & Paste Painting            w/Lorrie Grainger Abdo-Aug 17-20

 Spinners’ Retreat w/Deb Jones-Aug 20-24

Viking Knit Jewelry w/Barbara Heike-         Aug 24-26

 Knitting Potpourri II w/Carol Anderson-      Aug 26-29

 Beg. Weaving:Floor Loom w/Nancy Frantz-Aug 26-31

 Japanese Hexagonal Baskets w/Flo Hoppe-Sept 2-5

 Mixed Metals Jewelry w/Mary                     Hettmansperger-Sept 3-6

 Holiday Handwovens w/Connie Westbrook-Sept 9-14

 Mixed-Media Scarf w/Anita Luvera Mayer-Sept 14-17

 Creative Knitting Retreat                      w/Sandy De Master & Mary Germain-Sept 18-23

 Basic Willow Basketry w/Jacki Bedworth-Sept 23-27

    Sievers Gathering- Sept 28-29. Workshops, Vendors, Demonstrations, Speakers, Fashion Show, Banquet, Music and Fiber Arts “Garage” Sale.  More information on this site in late summer.

 Boundweave w/Lynn Schuster-Sept 30-Oct 5

 Beginning Twill Basketry w/Jeanette Biederman-Oct 7-11

 Independent Study in Weaving w/Judith Yamamoto-Oct 14-19

 Rag Rug Weaving w/Deb Sharpee-Oct 21-26

 Willow Harvest & Weave w/Jo Campbell-Amsler-Oct 24-28

Here is the complete schedule, listed by category/subject:

Sievers Class Schedule Chart 2012

You can also view it in chronological form:

Sievers Class Schedule Chronological 2012

Registration will open on February 1st on our website, www.sieversschool.com.  Sorry, we cannot take any registrations before February 1st!

Seventeen students are spending this weekend making Cat Head Baskets with Jeanette Biederman, Rich Prange and Drew Tibbetts.  It’s a group of Island residents and three first-time Sievers in Winter students (including some of our summer basket students here for an Island winter adventure).  And yes, they did take a moment to look out and see the sunset while weaving their baskets.

  Betty Glynn Carlson

  Mary Fons grew up around Sievers and has many heart and family connections to Washington Island.  She co-hosts PBS’s nationally aired Love of Quilting program with her Mom, Marianne, giving a voice to “junior varsity” quilters everywhere and is creator, co-producer and host of Quilty, an online show for rookie quilters.  (Visit www.heyquilty.com to learn more.)  Mary is also Creative Director of Quilty magazine, set to launch in May of 2012.  Last summer she rented space in the barn studio with her Mom and Ellen Graf, while working on this quilt:

Mary will be the first “second generation” Sievers instructor to offer a class at Sievers and we’re excited to have her teach Beginning Quilter “Boot Camp” this summer.

  Robyn Spady is a fiber artist and master weaver who has been weaving for many years.  In 2004 she completed the Handweavers Guild of America Certificate of Excellence.  She teaches throughout the United States and Canada and has authored many articles and publications.  (Visit Robyn online at www.spadystudios.com.)  Robyn has been recommended to us by many teachers and students and Carolyn was able to meet and speak with her at the Midwest Weavers Conference in Houghton/Hancock, MI last June.  We are eager to welcome Robyn to Sievers where she will teach a weeklong class on Exploring Weave Structures with a Single Warp.

Jeanne Pfister first came to Sievers as a student in 2002 for a quilting class with Ann Fahl, but had been quilting for over 30 years, beginning with traditional quilts and designs and gradually moving toward art quilts. Many of her quilts have been seen and received awards at national quilt shows.  She uses a variety of techniques to express her thoughts in fabric, often embellishing her quilts with decorative machine quilting, stitching and beads.

Starting in 2007,  Jeanne offered eight classes here, one with her good friend Ellen Graf.  Jeanne is pictured below with a student in her Machine Quilting class.

  Jeanne had donated this wall quilt to Sievers to be used to raise funds for the Sievers Scholarship Fund, which many of you saw or heard about during our class introductions last summer. A total of $500.00 was given to the Scholarship Fund, thanks to Jeanne and to all who contributed.

Natalie Sewell initially studied traditional quiltmaking techniques before developing her landscape style, which reflects her love of trees, flowers and humble nature scenes.  Leaves, foliage and flowers are ”cut-outs”, machine appliquéd onto a background fabric with fabric paints, oil pastels, etc., applied before, during and after to enhance the colors and add detail and dimension.  Then, each piece is machine quilted “within an inch of its life”, using free motion stitching.  Many of Natalie’s quilts have won awards in national quilt competitions.   She co-authored three books with her friend Nancy Zieman, Landscape Quilts, Landscape Quilts for Kids and The Art of Landscape Quilting (the cover of which is a quilt made from a photo taken at People’s Park here on Washington Island).

Natalie began teaching at Sievers in 2003 and offered eight classes in Landscape Quilting.

Natalie (front and center) with one of her Landscape Quilt classes.

Natalie graciously donated this landscape quilt to the Sievers Permanent Collection which now hangs in the Sophie Studio:

Thanks to Jeanne and Natalie for sharing their love of quilting and so much more with many students in their time here at Sievers!

We have a number of instructors returning to teach classes in 2012 after one, two or even eleven years “on sabbatical”.  We welcome back Mary Curran, Marianne Fons, Barbara Heike, Mary Hettmansperger, Flo Hoppe, Anita Luvera Mayer, Stephanie Robertson and Heather Winslow.

New teachers at Sievers in 2012 include Betty Glynn Carlson (Navajo Rug Weaving), Mary Fons (Beginning Quilting) and Robyn Spady (Weaving).  Look for more about our new teachers in a future post!

only the wind and waves yesterday help us remember that we really are in the season of winter.  (It will certainly make for an easier Polar Bear Plunge at Schoolhouse Beach on January 1st.  Lucky folks!)  Strong Northwest winds swirled the seagulls in Jackson Harbor,

pounded the shore of Washington Harbor,

and polished more stones at Schoolhouse Beach.

Little Lake is spring fed and covers about 640 acres.  It is an area rich in history, back to the time of the Pottawatomie.  Recently, the Door County Land Trust added an additional piece of property to its Little Lake Nature Preserve.  This is taken from their website:

Recent Purchase Completes Land Protection Work at Washington Island’s Little
Lake

May 2010- The Door
County Land Trust announces the purchase of property on Little Lake, located
on the far northwest side of Washington Island. This 1.38-acre parcel adds 200
additional feet of protected shoreline to the Door County Land Trust’s Little
Lake Nature Preserve. This purchase is significant in that it completes the Land
Trust’s immediate land protection goals for the Little Lake area. With the
recent purchase, the Land Trust has protected a total of 33 acres and 5,546 feet
of shoreline at the Little Lake Nature Preserve.

Karen Yancey, chair of the Door County Land Trust’s Washington
Island Committee, explains, “This is very exciting news. Little Lake is the
island’s only inland lake and it is a favorite spot not only for islanders and
visitors, but also for wildlife. This is truly one of the island’s magical
places. I feel good knowing that my children will be able to bring their
children here someday and find the same serene place.”
Little Lake is fed by
groundwater springs and surface run-off water and has a maximum depth of 5.5 – 7
feet. The present lake level is three feet above that of Lake Michigan. It
supports a productive population of perch, rock and smallmouth bass and is part
of a wetland complex that hosts a variety of rare boreal-rich plants such as the
northern bog sedge, showy-lady’s slipper orchid, lesser fringed gentian, and
dwarf lake iris. It also hosts old growth white cedars and stands of hemlock and
provides critical habitat for a large number of migrating and nesting birds
including bald eagles, white pelicans, osprey and great blue and black-crowned
night herons. Its location provides an ideal resting point in the annual avian
migratory trip to Canada from points south.

Terrie Cooper, Land Program Director for the Door County Land
Trust, explains, “Few places in Door County can outshine Little Lake for its
scenic beauty, ecological importance, and cultural and historical significance.
By preserving the land surrounding the lake, the Door County Land Trust hopes to
protect the health of the Little Lake ecosystem far into the future. We are
thankful for the help we’ve received from willing landowners and from granting
agencies such as the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund, the Natural Resource
Damage Assessment Fund and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s Coastal Wetlands Grant
program. Critical support also came from private individuals who support our
work and have made private donations.”

The Door County Land Trust is a local, non-profit organization
supported by over 2,000 contributing members. Its mission is to preserve,
maintain and enhance lands that contribute significantly to the scenic beauty,
open space and ecological integrity of Door County. Since its inception in 1986,
the Land Trust has protected over 5,200 acres throughout Door County and over
700 acres on Washington and Detroit Islands. Many of the lands owned by the Door
County Land Trust are open to the public for hiking, hunting, birding, skiing
and other low-impact recreational and educational activities.

Wind and Water

Although the Door County Land Trust’s work at Little Lake began
less than a decade ago, Mother Nature’s story goes back much further. The
formation of Little Lake began five to eight thousand years ago with the
collision of wind and water. These forces eroded portions of the massive 200-ft
vertical limestone bluff now known as Boyers Bluff causing it to shed small
pieces of itself into the turbulent waters of Lake Nippising below. The waves of
Lake Nippising, now known as Lake Michigan, tumbled the rocks until they became
smooth, baseball-sized cobblestones. Eventually, these cobblestones were pushed
southward, closing off the opening to a small bay and creating what we now call
Little Lake.

When H.R. Holand wrote his history of Door County, “Old Peninsula
Days,” he recognized the unique character and beauty of Little Lake. “The little
bay became a little lake, and the stormwrought belt of beach stones that closed
it in became a dense belt of woodland. Now the little lake lies peacefully
embosomed by steep hills…Among all the scenic delights of Door County this
little lake is well toward the top.”

Native Americans and a Famous Economist

In addition to its ecological import, the Little Lake area has
significant historical value as well. It was once home to a large village of
Woodland era Native Americans and hosts a Native American burial ground. It was
also the site of early French missionary efforts. The Jens Jacobsen Museum on
the southwest end of Little Lake showcases a large collection of artifacts found
in the area dating back some 3000 years. An Archeological Preservation Covenant
with the Wisconsin State Historical Society protects the integrity of the
village site.

More recent events add another layer of cultural significance to
Little Lake. In 1915, Thorstein Bunde Veblen (1857-1929), one of American’s most
famous economists and social theorists, purchased the property just acquired by
the Land Trust. Veblen is perhaps best known for his treatise, “The Theory of
the Leisure Class,” and for coining the phrase “conspicuous consumption.”
According to “Washington Island’s Thorstein Veblen,” written by Islander Esther
Gunnerson, Veblen first visited Washington Island in the early 1900s to learn
and speak the Icelandic language with its inhabitants. He soon fell in love with
its quiet beauty and purchased the Little Lake property for $300 in 1915 for use
as a summer retreat. Older residents of the Little Lake area recall Veblen
rowing across Little Lake with his stepdaughters each morning in a homemade
skiff to purchase milk and butter from a nearby Icelandic farm. Veblen’s
step-daughters inherited the Little Lake property upon Veblen’s death and
eventually sold it in 1943. A study cabin built by Veblen was recently moved
from its original site on the west side of Little Lake to the grounds of the
Jens Jensen Museum by the Washington Island Heritage Conservancy. Renovation
efforts are underway.

Donna made this from a photo that she took at Kathy Sorensen’s farm (just down the road from Sievers) during the Local Color class she taught here a couple of years ago.  There are a number of different techniques on the piece, including looping.

Donna wrote, “At the verge, a new adventure begins with a few steps in any direction.”  “…(Sievers is) a place where people can take those steps and begin those adventures.”

We are so pleased to have this piece join the Permanent Collection.

Sievers in Winter 2011-2012 Schedule of Classes

We just held our “Moravian (or Ingrid’s) Star” class on Saturday, December 3rd when 7 students (including Cindra) made these simple, yet elegant paper stars.

Next on the schedule is Judie Yamamoto’s one-day Creative Bookbinding class on Friday, January 6.

There’s at least eight newly decorated tables on the Island tonight!

Note below that only one side of the cedar tree next to the fireplace was burnt.

The colors may not be as bright and varied as they are in other months, but November is great for subtlety.

The majority of the Island’s visitors at this time of year don’t need to take the ferry!

Yes, it’s Halloween on the Island and the trick or treaters should be out soon.  Last night and tonight, Gibson’s West Harbor Resort is hosting their version of a haunted house with proceeds going to the 7th and 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C.   This “haunt-er” appears ready to pounce on the next visitor.

Even trees can look creepy at this time of year. 

Now, a treat for one lucky person!  The winner of Jeanne Pfister’s wall quilt, which was a season-long Sievers Scholarship Fund-raiser, is Brooke Luteyn.  Brooke was here for Lorrie Abdo’s Paste Painting and Paper Mosaics class and has long time Island ties.  The total amount raised was $491.00! Thank you to everyone who entered the drawing to win the quilt and/or made a donation to the Scholarship Fund.  

  Brooke’s new quilt!

From the beginning and continuing to this day, Cindra registers students, corresponds by email and regular mail with all the students and teachers and prepares class and supply lists and information packets that she mails to all students and teachers.  She also expertly edits and writes copy for the Sievers School website and brochure.  Cindra considers herself the lucky person who works with all the consignment artists and handmade items for the shop.  She processes the paperwork for the Sievers Model Railroad Benchwork orders and corresponds with all those customers as well.

Now all of that consists of the day-to-day tasks inherent in her job.  It doesn’t begin to touch on all the other talents Cindra brings to Sievers, including her sense of humor and fun, her good ideas, her smile in welcoming all the students and teachers and her friendship with them, her signature Sievers graduation song, “If Once You Have Slept on an Island” (a poem set to music by Dan Hansen), and as Walter would say, “and much, much more”!

All summer, students have been signing and writing good wishes into two resist-dyed hand felted books that we purchased from Chad Hagen as keepsakes for Cindra.  Today we held an open house in the shop and saw dozens of Islanders, including family and friends stop by to congratulate her. 

Here’s to many more years!

Inside the studio, two soups were simmering for supper on Saturday night.

Then, time to work on baskets:

Thank you everyone for a great 2011 season!

After graduation this morning, the Sophie Studio will be quiet until we start our Sievers in Winter classes.

On Saturday and for the second weekend in a row, the Island experienced strong winds.  No power outages of note, but the ferry made only one trip in the morning.  Here are views from People’s Park on the west side of the Island.

On Sunday, driving back to Sievers for our introduction with Deb Sharpee’s Diamond Rag Rug class, the sun was going down:

On Monday, eight students began warping their looms to weave rag rugs:

]

On Tuesday, blue sky and clouds mixed over some of the trees still holding onto their colors:

Inside the Sophie Studio, Lynn Schuster’s Boundweave students are creating their own color palette in their rugs.

Debbie (on the far right) finished her Boundweave Rug in time for the class photo!

(Don’t let the white wicker lounge furniture deceive you.  There’s been no lounging in this class!)

But there’s more to see…Judie Yamamoto has eight weavers exploring twills:

Sandy De Master and Mary Germain have fifteen knitters working on a myriad of projects.  Some knitters even “took it on the road (and boat)” today by spending some time knitting at the Red Cup and some time on Rock Island.

Once aboard, it didn’t take long to start knitting!

The highest winds were Thursday night, but sustaining NW wind continued through the daylight hours on Friday.  The Fire Department and Town Crew assisted the Electrical Co-op with tree cutting and removal.

These photos were taken yesterday and this morning, showing some of the downed trees, “leftover” wave action and Fall colors.

We didn’t have power, but we had this sunset.

The rainbow was an unexpected and added treat!

What’s next?  Smaller needles with Karen Buell’s Layered Stitching and Crazy Quilt Bead Embroidery classes and then Jeanette Biederman and Kathleen Morris will be teaching Stained Glass Sweater Vests and Coats before we return to weaving and knitting.

Meanwhile, in the Walter Studio, Joyce Krueger is teaching the basics of rug hooking:

As always, the weekends go by too fast!

Across the road in the Walter Studio, it’s all about “new school” with Donna Kallner and her Digital Fabric class.  This is the first class at Sievers where everyone brought a laptop and digital camera and has used them each and every day to create fabric collections based on photographs.

This fabric is based on a photo of Washington D.C.’s cherry blossoms:

This is a dyed silk scarf that has been photographed to create the fabric printed in the foreground:

If using American cheese singles to print on fabric isn’t new, what is?

Donna’s own fabric for the Jackson Harbor Maritime Museum:

From “old school” to “new school”, the journeys at Sievers continue…

Pat’s first day was September 1st and she will continue working in the shop through October.

As Pat arrived, Lydia Foss was leaving for her (senior) fall semester in Chicago.  Lydia attends Lawrence University, but applied and was accepted into the ACM (Assoc. Colleges of the Midwest)- Chicago/Urban Studies Program.  She will be living in Hyde Park and will have an internship during the semester as well as a seminar, a “Chicago Core” course and more.  Classes are held on State Street in downtown Chicago.

Connie Westbrook is ready for her upcoming class on Rag Tote Bags and later, a trip to Italy with her husband Dan and friends.  She’s also weaving items for a holiday show in Appleton, WI and looking at blueprints of  remodeling plans.

Kathleen Morris will be joining Jeanette Biederman to teach the Stained Glass Sweater Vest/Coat class and continues to quilt at Trinity Lutheran Church making quilts that are donated around the world, within Door County and to high school graduates on Washington Island.

Here’s what Judy Hasheider’s quilting students are working on, known as the “Quodlibet” quilt:

The basketmakers just happened to visit the quilters at their Show-and-Tell time.  What luck!

The Red Cup location was followed by a stop at the Stave Church and then lunch at Fiddler’s Green (Mediterranean Plate, anyone?) with the rest of the afternoon in the studio.

Meanwhile, in the Walter Studio, Lorrie Abdo’s Paste Painting and Paper Mosaic class was making many “tiled” mosaic sheets of paper:

“On the road” or in the studio, a lot can happen in one day at Sievers!

or swimming.

But,  they are dedicated knitters (in Carol Anderson’s class),

and weavers (in Nancy Frantz’s class).

Time on the beach or time in the studio, it’s all good!

In the Walter Studio, Jackie Abrams and her students were weaving, too.  Weaving baskets of heavy watercolor paper, first painted with acrylic paints.

Either way, weaving is great!

The spinners are busily carding, spinning, dyeing, steaming:

It’s just another wonderful weekend!

You can see the progress they’ve made during the past few days:

But, there’s still time for Burger Night at Karly’s!