Sievers School of Fiber Arts

Basketry/Furnishings/Woodcarving

17A Independent Study in Basketry (July 13-18)
Class Fee $ 400

Jeanette Biederman This class is designed to allow you to work at your own skill level on projects of your choice, with assistance, advice and encouragement from the instructor. Projects may include ribbed baskets, traditional round bottom and market baskets or twill-woven baskets. Basketmaking materials will be available for purchase in class by prior arrangement with the instructor, or you may bring your own. Expect to spend $20-35 per basket, depending on your choices. Basic basketweaving knowledge and experience is necessary: you must have previously taken a beginner-level basketry class.

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17B Independent Study in Basketry: Extended (July 13-20)
Class Fee $ 520

Jeanette Biederman This class offers a 7-Day version of Jeanette’s weeklong (5-day) class. See Class No. 17A for description.

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22 Hexagonal Weave: Paper Basketry (July 22-27)
Class Fee $ 400

Jackie Abrams Create baskets inspired by an ancient Asian technique, the openwork hexagonal weave, using hand-painted heavy cotton paper as your weaving material. You’ll begin by painting, stamping or sponging color onto the cotton paper, then cut it into strips and weave the first layer in the hexagonal weave (similar to that in Shaker cheese baskets). This will be used as a framework to interlace second and third layers, or for layers of random weave and color. If you choose, you’ll also make covers for your baskets. During the week you’ll be able to experiment with the many possibilities of form, size and color design. Materials fee of $65 includes heavy cotton paper, paint and acrylic mediums, varnish, waxed linen, as well as use of various tools for surface design and cutting. Previous basketmaking experience will be helpful.

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24 Adult/Child Class: Willow Weaving "For The Birds" (July 27-29)
Class Fee $ 220/120

Jacki Bedworth In honor of Sievers founder Walter Schutz and his love of bird watching, we’re “going to the birds” with this class! Using willow, gourds, Daylily leaves, and pieces of last year’s Christmas tree, we’ll weave up a bunch of easy-to-make bird feeders, birdhouses, and even a rustic bird sculpture. Other activities will include cooking up tasty bird food treats, discussing proper installation and maintenance of houses and feeders, and gardening for the birds. Materials cost of $25 per person for materials, tool usage and handouts. Child range of 10-16. Great beginners’ class!

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25 Basket Weaving For Beginners (July 7-August 1)
Class Fee $ 300

Kay Normann & Drew Tibbetts Learn the art of basketmaking while creating functional baskets for your home. The focus will be on Round Bottom Baskets, using natural and pre-dyed flat and round reed. You will learn the basic skills, including attaching rims and handles, and how to twine and control the shape, as well as lid construction, curl designs and pattern weaving. With these skills you will then go on to make round bottom baskets of your own design. You can expect to complete 3 to 5 projects in class. Materials will cost approx. $20-40 per basket, depending on your choices. Geared for beginners with little or no experience.

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27 Willow Garden Art (August 2-5)
Class Fee $ 300

Jo Campbell-Amsler A variety of basket weaving techniques, using sustainable gathered materials of willow, grapevine, and found objects, can work beautifully to create sculptural shapes for the garden. In class you will create 5 to 6 pieces, ranging from Garden Globes and Living Topiaries to Willow People. Much of the material used in class will be gathered from Sievers’ willow patch and from wild grapevine growing on the Island. You’ll learn about gathering and preparing these, enabling you to harvest and create your own designs, once you are back at home. Materials fee of $55 includes willow, soil, pots, gourds, project connecters, and related miscellaneous materials, plus handouts and use of tools. For all levels.

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34 Woodcarving Workshop (August 17-19)
Class Fee $ 220

Harvey Stahl Spend a relaxing and creative weekend, carving wood with simple hand tools. Geared for both beginning and intermediate carvers, this class will offer students a chance to work on a variety of projects. Beginners will start by learning the basic techniques of the art: the use of simple handcarving tools and the procedures needed to create a small, finished wildlife figure from a butternut wood blank. The needed tools will be provided for your use, and $10 covers the materials for the beginning project, a songbird. Then, time permitting, you may go on to a second project of your choice. Intermediates may wish to bring a work in progress, a pattern or piece you would like to try, or to get project ideas and materials such as for shorebirds or decoys, from the instructor. A variety of additional wood blanks will be available for purchase at a cost of $10-50 per blank. Regardless of your level, all will enjoy gaining and sharing knowledge in this creative, historic art form.

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42 Japanese Hexagonal Weave (September 2-5)
Class Fee $ 300

Flo Hoppe Japanese Hex Weave is so much more than a six-sided hole. There are many variations, and in this class we will explore some of them. Projects will cover shaping a Hex Weave basket, weaving a Star-base basket, learning how to lace other elements through the hexagonal grid in a Snowflake or Mad Weave pattern, and weaving several different kinds of borders and rims. You can choose to make samples of the weaves and/or use the various techniques to make a basket or two. Materials fee of approx. $35 for cane and flat reed. For weavers with a basic knowledge of basketmaking, including hexagonal weave experience.

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48 Playing With Sticks: Basic Willow Basketmaking (Sept. 23-27)
Class Fee $ 360

Jacki Bedworth Transform willow rods into European-style wicker baskets! Working up from a pre-drilled wooden base, you’ll use traditional stake-and-strand techniques to weave a sturdy willow clothespin basket. You’ll learn to stake up, wale, rand, control shape, and border down. Then, you’ll go on to create a medium-sized gathering basket for garden use, or a larger basket with side handles, perfect for hauling your laundry out to the clothesline! Show-and-tell sessions will include basket history, traditional basket styles, and willow preparation. You can expect to complete two ample utility baskets, plus get a good start on another. Materials cost of $75 for prepared willow, wooden base and wrought iron handle for clothespin basket, tool usage and handouts. Some basic basket weaving experience is preferred and some hand strength is necessary.

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52 Bent Willow Chair (October 5-7)
Class Fee $ 220

Ken Workowski Willow furniture making is an age-old craft that allows the builder much freedom to explore various designs and building techniques. You will learn to make a classical, sturdy and beautiful chair. Using basic tools, each student will build their own chair, constructed entirely with willow, approximately 40” high, 32” wide and 30” deep. Materials fee of $95 includes handouts, willow, hardware for assembling your chair, and use of tools not on your supply list. Geared for beginners (some experience with hammer and drill will be helpful).

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53 Beginning Twill Baskets (October 7-11)
Class Fee $ 360

Jeanette Biederman This class is designed for the student who has had some basketmaking experience and now wants to take the step to learn twill weaving. Emphasis will be on understanding twill patterns, with plenty of examples to see. For students who have already done beginning twill projects, more advanced weaving choices will be available. Dyed and natural reed, handles, etc. will be provided by the instructor. Materials will cost approx. $20-25 per basket, depending on your choices. Basic basketweaving knowledge and experience is necessary.

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58 Willow Harvest & Weave (October 24-28)
Class Fee $ 360

Jo Campbell-Amsler Fall is harvest time and the willow patch at Sievers will be ready to cut! With expert rib-style willow weaver Jo, you and fellow students will help harvest the patch and at the same time will learn all the steps of processing willow for basket use, from the cutting, stripping and sorting, to storage methods. The gathered material will be divided among the class, to use for making into frames, as weavers for basket construction, or made into cuttings for your own home willow patch. Finally, using the freshly harvested willow, you will weave a traditional Gypsy Melon Basket, a classic style made by gypsies traveling along the river corridors of the Midwest in years past. Materials fee of $25 includes frames for the basket, various supplies, tool usage and handouts. For all levels.

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