APPRENTICESHIP SUMMARY
This fiber-based apprenticeship will do a deep dive into the foundation of textiles. Apprentice artist Jieun wants to learn about, and take part in all phases of creating a final woven product; from how the fleece is collected, cleaned, dyed, carded, blended and spun, and then woven into a finished garment. Jieun will also repurpose prior woven twill swatch studies to make a variety of finished products which she will design, cut, and sew into smaller utilitarian objects. Lastly, she hopes to create key pieces of clothing and/or a wall hanging piece that show a cohesive theme and tell a story. She will accomplish this through 100 hours of guidance with mentor artist Alice Seeger and extensive in-studio training at Belfast Fiberarts in Belfast, Maine, a retail shop & weaving studio.
MENTOR
Alice Seeger (Belfast, ME)
Alice Seeger has been creating Textile Arts for over 50 years. Alice received a degree in Art and Design from Bennett College, Millbrook, NY. and continued pursuing studies in Weaving, Spinning, and Natural Dye from nationally known authors and instructors. Weave Structure with Peg Osterkamp, Color theory with Nell Znamerowski, Dyeing and Spinning with Rita Buchannan, Natural Dying with Palmy Weigle, and Comprehensive Handspinning with Celia Quinn, among others.
Alice developed technical skill and hands-on experience working as a production weaver for 18 years for Martha Zimiles, Haute Couture. She opened Woodland Ridge Spinning and Weaving in Rhinebeck, NY where she offered workshops, plus equipment, books and supplies for sale.
As a Teaching Artist she presented historical weaving workshops to elementary schools throughout New York and Connecticut, and later founded a 501(c)3 Hands On History Inc. researching, developing, and presenting long-term Arts-in-Education residencies, funded through NYSCA. Her program, “Threads of Civilization” enabled Alice to travel for to research in places where weaving is still an active part of indigenous peoples’ daily life. She spent some time living in a hogan on the Navajo reservation, and climbing mountains in Peru to meet Andean women weaving on Backstrap looms.
Alice and her husband Nick love to sail, which is how they arrived in Belfast by way of Penobscot Bay. She owns and operates Belfast Fiberarts, a Community Weaving Studio, Maker Space and Fiber Arts Consignment shop located on High St in Belfast.
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Jieun for more than a year as my studio intern. Jieun grasps new ideas quickly and sees solutions to challenges. She has a wealth of experience from working in the fashion industry, now she will explore raw materials and ancient skills used to produce textiles. Scourcing fiber directly from the farm, creating color with botanical dyes, and spinning yarn appropriate for the intended use provides Jieun with micro-decisions that will affect the final product.” – Alice Seeger
APPRENTICE
Jieun Park Stehly (Searsport, ME)
I was born in Seoul, South Korea. Driven by the pursuit of a brighter future, my family immigrated to the United States when I was 11 years old. After a brief sojourn in Denver, CO, our journey led us to the vibrant city of Los Angeles, California. At Otis College of Art + Design, I delved into the realm of Fashion Design, where my fascination with textiles, colors, and clothing flourished.
Post-graduation, I pursued my career in New York City, initially as a determined young designer at Natori, N Natori Sleepwear, and a Japanese brand ICB NY. I loved being part of the creative process and participating in NYFW, but designing came with creative blocks. Shortly after I transitioned away from design to work at a high-end womenswear brand Colovos as a product development/ production coordinator, where I got to see how a small business was run. I worked in the garment district, visiting factories, vendors, and producing small production runs in NY, LA, as well as a few overseas factories. My innate drive propelled me through various departments—I was a technical designer at G-III for Tommy Hilfiger sportswear and currently work as a technical designer at Dana-co, an intimate apparel company.
During my time in NY, I encountered the diverse ecosystems and cultures of New England, a stark departure from my urban upbringing. Nature’s allure did not come naturally; instead, it unfolded through personal exploration—camping, backpacking, and hiking along the challenges of the Appalachian Trail. This connection deepened during the pandemic when I took a reflective journey inward. Fueled by newfound courage, I returned to my roots, diving into the intricate art of weaving. Uprooting myself for
the third time, Maine now resonates as a forever home. The pivotal moment came when I crossed paths with Alice, and everything fell into place. Drawing from my unique experiences in the fashion industry, I am determined to explore innovative approaches to preserving Earth’s resources. Mindful of the consequences of excess, I firmly believe in the power of the individual to instigate change.
“Alice is a great teacher. Alice has so much knowledge related to fiber arts and pro tips that I won’t be able to learn from anyone else. Her unique experiences help me envision my work and so far it’s been an outstanding collaboration. Alice has been a great influence on getting my creative juices flowing. I am excited to see what I can create with her guidance!” – Jieun Park Stehly