• Feb 1 (Wed)  Comfort Quilts: North Salem Ambulance Corps
• Feb 4 (Sat)  Longarm SIG: Diane Linker’s home
• Feb 11 (Sat)  The Sticklers SIG
• Feb 14  (Tue)  Board Meeting
• Feb 15 (Wed)  Comfort Quilts: North Salem Ambulance Corps
• Feb 21 (Tue)  General Meeting: Member Presentations
• Feb 24 (Fri)  Newsletter submissions due
• Feb 25 (Sat)  Super Saturday

President’s Letter | Winter Programs | Super Saturday | Programs | Membership
Education | Hospitality | Quilt Show | Charitable Activities | Guild Challenge Members’ Marketplace| Find us Here | Area Shows | Advertisers

 February Thoughts

Here I am wondering where the first month of the year has gone.  I think most of you can relate to the speed at which our days go by.

Working with our Nominating Committee will be one of my areas of focus this month.  Fran Osinoff, who has agreed to be our chairperson, will lead this effort.  Committee members will be Vicki Cohn, Carol Sterk, Mary Cannizzaro and myself.

As we begin the selection process, I ask that each of you consider how you might use your talents to help the Guild continue to be strong and enjoyable for ourselves and within the community.

Another item I hope you will consider is nominating a charitable organization to receive the proceeds from our 2013 Raffle Quilt.  Please feel free to ask questions about the process and what’s required of  you and the organization.  It may seem intimidating or more than you can commit to, but the reward definitely is worth it!  Barb Tatera and I would be glad to speak with you.

Finally, the Lancaster Trip still has openings!  I missed not going last year and eagerly await this year’s trip.  It’s such a great time — and after the brief daylight hours of winter,  Lancaster welcomes the spring with abounding energy!  Please consider joining your fellow guild members on the trip.  If not having a friend to travel with is holding you back, I can attest that this should not be a worry!  Once everyone is on the bus, it is all for one and one for all.  Come along and make some new friends, shop, and see many wonderful quilts and exhibits!  And yes, I cannot wait to have a Whoopie Pie.

Patti Calautti, President
President@Northernstarquilters.com

January and February meetings provide an opportunity to learn from NSQG’s multi-talented members and to become better acquainted with one another.  Members will conduct small-group presentations on a variety of techniques and processes.

January’s program, Tips and Techniques for Traditional and Contemporary Quilters, was a terrific success.  Many thanks to Deirdre Abbotts, Susan Fasnacht, Don Gough, Denise Isherwood, Diane Linker, Maxine Oliver, Linda Ostrander, Mayann Weinberg, Maria Weinstein, and Susan Wilterding for preparing their informative and engaging demonstrations!  Information about the products and techniques demonstrated will be posted online as it becomes available.

In February, we look forward to Journals and Notebooks – Part of the Quilting Process.  In this session, members will share the variety of journals and notebooks that they keep to inform their quilting and/or facilitate the creative process.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Jane Eyes, VP Education
Education@Northernstarquilters.com

Workshops resume in March!   There are still a few seats available for our March and April programs.

Please note: The date of April’s workshop has changed and now will be on Tuesday, April 17 (rather than Monday, April 16).  If you’ve already registered but cannot participate on the new date, please let me know.

Sat, March 24
Jane Dávila will teach a “Surface Design Sampler.”  This class will give you the chance to explore and experiment with a variety of surface design media including Paintstiks, water-soluble pencils and pastels, TAP, heat moldable stamps, discharge paste, glitter sprays, and a few more.   Sign up for a fun day of playing with creative media.  All quilters, including beginners and experienced art quilters, are welcome!  Additional $20 materials fee required.  (9 am at the JFK High School)

Tue, April 17 – new date!
Froncie Quinn will teach a hand-appliqué class using historical patterns from the Shelburne Museum in Vermont as inspiration.  Come and learn hand appliqué, or improve your skills, under the guidance of an expert.  (9 am at the North Salem Ambulance Corps)

All workshops are $50 - cash or check payable to NSQG.   To register, please contact me.

Barbara Sferra, VP Programs
Programs@Northernstarquilters.com

Sonhild Rodney has been a member of NSQG for just over a year. Sonhild’s skilled hands have been creating useable works of art since her first knitting project when she was just seven years old. It took a friend to get her to try quilting, something she’d never understood the appeal of.  Sonhild thought, “Why on earth should I cut up material just to sew it together again?” A class in 1984 got her hooked, however, and she’s been quilting ever since.

Sonhild takes a traditional approach to quilting, finding peace and comfort in hand piecing, hand appliqueing and hand quilting. She typically makes quilts for use on beds rather than walls, giving most of what she makes away to friends and family.

One of Sonhild’s favorite pieces is a whole-cloth, hand-quilted white quilt, on which she spent 175 hours. She typically has had one or two quilting projects on her hands ever since that first class. Currently, she’s working on her 90th quilt.

Diane Linker, VP Membership

Special Interest Groups

Longarm – The next meeting of the Longarm SIG will be on Saturday, February 4th from 10-12 at Diane Linker’s home. If you’d like to join this group, please contact Diane Linker.

The Sticklers – Several Sticklers met at Diane Linker’s home in January for a small, but mighty, gathering. They had Show and Tell and also discussed appliqué techniques.  The group selected a difficult group of five blocks for our next meeting: J5, I10, D11, M3 and H11 for members to think about.  At our next meeting, we’ll discuss the various ways of tackling these… Inset seams, Appliqué, Paper-piecing?

If you’ve already done some of the blocks, or are inclined to get started, go ahead. But as long as you’ve “thought” about the blocks, you’ll be fully prepared for our next meeting!  How painless is that?  Sat, Feb 11 at Ellen Belson‘s home.  Please contact Carolyn Finn for more information.

Landscape – At our last meeting, we discussed options for translating an idea into a quilt and developing its composition.  We also discussed how to enlarge a rough drawing, and how to create a foundation for the individual pieces to be applied to. Some members shared and discussed ideas for quilts and quilts in early stages. We also passed around some new products for landscape quilters.

Next month, we will continue with the construction process, including selecting individual pieces and fusing. Don Gough will show us a quick way of making a landscape quilt for members who do not want to jump right in to a photo-realistic quilt. This process, developed by Karen Eckmeier, is called Accidental Landscapes. Contact Don Gough if you are interested in joining the group.

Art Quilts - Many thanks to Mayann Weinberg for demonstrating her interesting gallery-hanging methods at January’s meeting!  Lynda Long will be doing the demo in February. Everyone: Please bring your work for Show and Tell — even if it’s still in progress!  What are you up to these slow winter months?  Please share your ideas and inspire the rest of us! Please contact Debbie Bein for more info.

Hand Appliqué – At our February meeting, Carol Sterk will demonstrate how to make colorful three-dimensional flowers using silk ribbon.  As always, please bring in projects you have questions about or any completed work for Show and Tell.

Jane Eyes, VP Education
Education@Northernstarquilters.com

If your last name begins with the initials M, N or O, it’s your turn to share a snack. Don’t forget to pick up your ticket for the monthly raffle.

Thanks so much to members who bring “finger foods” and their own travel mug for coffee or tea. We’ve been successful in cutting down on the purchase and disposal of paper products. If you can assist with set up, serving, or clean up we certainly would appreciate the helping hand!  Please send me an email with your choice.

Meg Mooar, Hospitality

Your “Design Source” –
Who Needs to Seek Permission?

If your quilt is a completely original design, not based on anyone else’s patterns, photographs, or artwork, you do not need to worry about getting anyone’s permission before displaying your quilt.  If your quilt is strictly for your own use and enjoyment, and will not be displayed publicly, used commercially, or sold, you also do not have to seek any permissions.  However, if you use someone else’s pattern, artwork, photography, or even another quilt as the basis, starting point, or full source of your design, it is important that you ask for and receive that person’s permission before displaying your quilt publicly.  Even though the quilt and the hard work are all yours, the design is the intellectual property of its creator.  Your quilt, even if the design has been altered, is considered a derivative work of their original design.

The above paragraph (along with additional guidance) is found on the AQS website. Based on this information, I looked for the designer of a quilt I recently had made based on her pattern. I found her information on the Internet, then emailed her to ask permission to exhibit my version of her quilt in our Quilt Show. She responded that she was thrilled I wanted to show my quilt and hoped I would send her a photo. It’s that easy!

So, when you get to the “Design Source” line on the registration form, just complete that line. That’s all there is to it!

Small Quilts

Keep those beautiful Red and White quilts and your Silent Auction quilts coming!  Super Saturday is this month … maybe a small quilt will come out of your participation in one of the workshops — just waiting to be adopted by someone else in May.

Build-a-Block

Cathie Billings tells me she has enough fabric and batting for this year’s Build-a-Block event and thanks everyone for their generous support.

Happy stitching through the winter!

Caryl Castellion, VP Quilt Show
QuiltShow@Northernstarquilters.com

Ronald McDonald House
Block-of-the-Month Project

NSQG was pleased to present 13 finished quilts to the Ronald McDonald House associated with Westchester Hospital Center in Valhalla.  The new house is lovely and the hand-made quilts will add a wonderful personal touch.

2013 Raffle Quilt

Thank you to everyone who picked up a block kit for the 2013 raffle quilt!  If you’re finished with your blocks, please return them to Susan Fasnacht at the February meeting.  Blocks also will be accepted at the March meeting.

Nominations are now being accepted for the charity to receive the proceeds from the 2013 Raffle quilt.  Click here to access the 2013 nomination guidelines and nomination form online.

Comfort Quilts

Breaking News!  A reporter visited the Comfort Quilters at work on February 1, which resulted in a terrific article (including three photos!) about the Comfort Quilters in several local online publications, including the Daily North Salem and the Daily Somers.  Click here to read!

Upcoming Meetings:
February 15
March 7 and 21

Comfort quilts meets at North Salem Volunteer Ambulance Corp., 14 Daniel Road, North Salem.  Dates are subject to change.  Please verify the date if you have a question with Carol Auer or Karen Carlson.

2012 Raffle Quilt

Raffle tickets will be available for you to pick up at the February meeting.  Please stop by the table and pick up your tickets.  Thank you for your support!

Barb Tatera, Charitable Activities

2012 Guild Challenge

If you’re an early-bird and your quilt is complete, congratulations!  We’ll eagerly receive it at February’s meeting.

Otherwise, we’ll look forward to collecting your 2012 Challenge Quilt at our March meeting.

In April, the quilts will be displayed and guild members will vote for their favorites in each category.

Please check our website for the specifications and guidelines.

 

Carolyn Finn, Challenge Coordinator
Kelly Lockwood, Special Events

 

Brief summaries are provided here. Visit Members’ Marketplace on our website for additional details.  Have something you’d like to post? Please send a brief description to News@Northernstarquilters.com.

See NSQG Members’ work in Mt. Kisco!
A Quilt Display to Celebrate “American Girl Month” will be held in the Community Room of the Mount Kisco Public Library.  Through February 29.  NSQG Contact: Carolyn Langevin or Mary Cannizzaro.

Help a Breast Cancer Survivor!  
Make a heart pillow, as part of the Heart Pillow Project, to ease recovery post-surgery.  NSQG Contact: Nancy Hantman.

Fabric Sale!
Victoria & Albert Museum - 50% off cut-to-order fabrics.  Online only; while supplies last.  NSQG Contact: Nancy Hantman.

Another Fabric Sale
Fabrication Quilt Shop, located in Hudson, NY (about an hour north of Somers) is holding a going-out-of-business sale.  All fabrics currently 35% off; further markdowns to come.  NSQG Contact: Nancy Hantman.

Call for Entries – “The Many Faces of Jerusalem”  
This international quilt exhibition is among several events to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Israel Quilters’ Association.  Entries due May 15, 2012.  Click here for more information.  NSQG Contact: Tamar Drucker.

 

Carolyn Finn, VP Communications

Debbie Bein‘s quilt, Oh Say can you Cell (inspired by the cell tower-laden landscape she observed during a road trip along I-80) was juried into “Lay of the Land: The Landscape of the 21st Century,” an international online exhibition featuring the work of 20 artists in a variety of media.  Debbie was subsequently honored further with the Founder’s Choice Award for her work.

In another exciting development, Debbie’s Roots (from her Genome Series) is included as page 28 in Sandra Sidler’s new book, The Studio Quilt (no. 6): State of the Art, a compendium of recent art quilts by 60 fiber artists from around the world.

In addition, quilts by Margaret Phillips and Mayann Weinberg are included in the Jewelry Quilt Project, a special exhibition on view at Quilt Fest of New Jersey in early March.  The Jewelry Quilt project is an international, invitational challenge that interprets jewelry within 30 different cultural categories. Margaret’s and Mayann’s quilts, inspired by Inuit and Central/South American culture, respectively, are shown here.

Congratulations, All!

Shows Featuring NSQG Members

 

American Girl Quilt Display.  Mt. Kisco: Mount Kisco Public Library.  Through February 29, 2012.

“Lay of the Land: The Terrain of the 21st Century.”  Infinity Art Gallery.  Online: www.infinityartgallery.com.  Through March 1, 2012.

“The Quilt Fest of New Jersey VIII.”  Somerset, NJ: Garden State Exhibition Center.  March 1-4, 2012.  Jewelry Quilt Project (special exhibit).

“Form, Not Function.” New Albany, IN: Carnegie Center for Art & History. Through March 3, 2012.

“Quilt National.”  San Jose, CA: San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles.  February 14 through April 29, 2012.

Other Shows of Interest

 

New American Wing Galleries.  New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art.  New galleries reopened January 16, 2012.

“Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival XXIII.”  Hampton, VA: Hampton Roads Convention Center.  February 23-26, 2012.

“Painting with Fiber: Florals.”  New York: ArtQuilt Gallery.  Through March 4, 2012.

AQS Quilt Show and Contest.  Lancaster, PA: Lancaster County Convention Center.  March 14-17, 2012.

“Campaigns and Commemoratives: Quilts for Presidents.”  Lowell, MA: New England Quilt Museum. Through March 24, 2012.

International Quilt Festival.  Cincinnati, OH: Duke Energy Convention Center.  April 13-15, 2012.

AQS Quilt Show and Contest.  Paducah, KY: Paducah Expo Center.  April 25-28, 2012.

Cape May Quilt and Fiber Show.  Cape May, NJ: Museum Village Welcome Center.  June 23-24, 2012.

 

Many thanks to Nancy Hantman for researching and compiling this list

• Jan 4 (Wed)  Comfort Quilts: North Salem Ambulance Corps
• Jan 7 (Sat)  Longarm SIG: Karen Carlson’s home
• Jan 10 (Tue)  Board Meeting
• Jan 14  (Sat)  The Sticklers SIG
• Jan 17 (Tue)  General Meeting: Member Demonstrations
• Jan 18 (Wed)  Comfort Quilts: North Salem Ambulance Corps
• Jan 20 (Fri)  Newsletter submissions due
• Feb 4 (Sat)  Longarm SIG: Diane Linker’s home

Happy New Year!

Thank you, Guild members for your accommodating spirit at the December meeting.  On short notice we changed up our normal routine and had yet another great meeting, member showcase, show and tell and guest speaker.

The food drive participation was a beautiful sight to behold.  We should be very proud that NSQG has made a difference in the lives of our neighbors. The Guild has planned a great next six months.  I know that with your participation and enthusiasm, each month will be memorable.

Here are some quick highlights:

January
• Meeting: Tips and Techniques for Traditional and Contemporary Quilters (member demonstrations)
• Volunteer sign-ups begin for Quilt Show
• Pick up your 2012 raffle tickets
• 2013 Raffle Quilt block kits will be distributed

February
• Meeting: Journals and Notebooks – Part of the Quilting Process (member presentations)
• Super Saturday

March
• Guest speaker: Jane Dávila
• Workshop: Jane Dávila
• Lancaster trip
• Nominations due for charity for 2013 Annual Raffle Quilt
• 2013 Raffle Quilt blocks due
• Challenge quilts due
• Quilt registration deadline

April
• Guest Speaker: Froncie Quinn
• Workshop: Froncie Quinn
• Vote on Challenge Quilts

May
• Quilt Show!
• Workshop: Bonnie Hunter
• Annual Meeting
• Guest Speaker: Barbara Barrick-McKie

June
• Salad Supper
• Proceeds from 2012 raffle quilt presented to the SADS Foundation

May your stitches be plentiful and your ripping be negligible!

Patti Calautti, President
President@Northernstarquilters.com

January and February meetings provide an opportunity to learn from NSQG’s multi-talented members and to become better acquainted with one another.  Members will conduct small-group presentations on a variety of techniques and processes:

January
Tips and Techniques for Traditional and Contemporary Quilters
Members of the Art Group, the Hand Appliqué Group, and Comfort Quilters will demonstrate a variety of techniques

February
Journals and Notebooks – Part of the Quilting Process
Members who use journals and notebooks to inform their work will share their notebooks and describe how they use them in their work

Join us for these fun and interactive sessions, and learn first-hand from fellow Guild members!

Jane Eyes, VP Education
Education@Northernstarquilters.com

Coming Soon!
February 25, 2012

Debby Brown spoke at December’s meeting and gave a comprehensive overview of machine quilting.  In addition to explaining her progression from simple designs to more complicated feathers, wreaths, and “ribbon candy,” Debby described the kinds of thread she uses, and why she generally prefers wool batting over bamboo, cotton and polyester.

Workshops

Workshops resume in March 2012.  Sign up now for a great class!

Sat, March 24

Jane Dávila will teach a “Surface Design Sampler.”  This class will give you the chance to explore and experiment with a variety of surface design media including Paintstiks, water-soluble pencils and pastels, TAP, heat moldable stamps, discharge paste, glitter sprays, and a few more.

Sign up for a fun day of playing with creative media. Additional $20 materials fee required.

All quilters, including beginners and experienced art quilters, are welcome!
(9 am at the JFK High School)

Mon, April 16

Froncie Quinn will teach a hand-appliqué class using historical patterns from the Shelburne Museum in Vermont as inspiration.  Come and learn hand appliqué, or improve your skills, under the guidance of an expert.  (9 am at the North Salem Ambulance Corps)

Mon, May 7

Bonnie Hunter, our Quilt Show speaker, will show us her ingenious ways of using up her scraps, while we make one of her machine-pieced scrappy quilts. Bonnie finds new ways to adapt traditional patterns and will share some of her time-saving techniques.  (This class is currently full – but why not add your name to the waiting list? — You never know!)  (9 am at the North Salem Ambulance Corps)

All workshops are $50 - cash or check payable to NSQG.   Please check your calendars carefully, as workshop fees are not refundable.  To register, please contact me at Programs@Northernstarquilters.com.

Barbara Sferra, VP Programs
Programs@Northernstarquilters.com

Goodwill is part of our fellowship — let’s share it amongst ourselves!  Please let me know when a Guild member needs a little sunshine!

Whether it’s an illness, condolence, marriage, baby, or just a need for encouragement, please drop me a note.

April Russell, Guild Secretary

The Membership Booklets are now available.  If you haven’t already picked up your copy, please do so at the January meeting.  They will be at the membership table when you sign in.

Diane Linker, VP Membership

For many years, NSQG volunteers have helped first graders at Katonah Elementary School make quilts for Friends of Karen.  We need volunteers for the three following activities:

Block Party at Katonah Elementary School  (4-5 volunteers needed)
Tuesday, March 13  (9:15 – 11 am)
Help children learn how to hand-sew sashing to a block, print their names with fabric markers, and decorate their blocks with hand prints.

Quilt-Piecers — Sew Quilt Top  (2 volunteers needed)
Stitch the children’s blocks and sashing, as well as the quilt’s inner and outer borders.  Directions and materials provided. Finished tops will be passed to the quilt volunteers (below).

Quilters — Quilt and Finish the Children’s Quilts  (2 volunteers needed)
Layer, quilt the sashing and border, and attach binding. All materials will be provided. Finished quilts are due at the NSQG May meeting.

Please contact Melanie Darensod for more information or to sign up.

Special Interest Groups

Longarm - The January meeting of the Longarm Group was held on January 7 at Karen Carlson‘s house.  The next meeting will be Saturday, February 4 at Diane Linker‘s home.  New members are always welcome.

The Sticklers –  Our next meeting will be Saturday, January 14 at 10 am.  We’ll conduct the “sit and sew” session we’d planned for December. Bring some hand-piecing or appliqué blocks that beg to be finished — or tackle a new block in the company of friends!  For blocks that require an extra step or quick seam, a sewing machine, iron, and cutting mat will be provided.  We’ll also discuss meeting topics for 2012.  Newcomers always welcome!  Please contact Carolyn Finn for details.

Art Quilts – The Art Quilters had a rip-roaring December meeting with the fabulous SAQA Trunk Show and a marvelous demo by our new member Christine Wilhelm.  We welcomed two new members, Peggy Smith and Cheryl Kosarek!

On the agenda for January: Mayann Weinberg will demonstrate her innovative gallery hanging method (and if any members have their OWN way of hanging works other than with a sleeve, please bring a sample and show us!)

The registration for our FORMS OF A DRESS challenge is extended another month to the January meeting. We hope to have at least thirty works to display at this year’s quilt show. Happy New Year!   Please contact Debbie Bein, group leader, for more information.

Hand Appliqué – This month Diane Linker and Chana Brody will demonstrate the use of bias makers to make stems or vines.  We also will discuss the use of vines in appliqué quilts.  In addition, please bring show-and-tell items so we can share in the progress of your projects.

Landscape – Six eager landscapers met for the first time in December. They decided to share their process and techniques and will begin to look at different ways of creating a cartoon and handling perspective. The group will meet at 6 pm in the cafeteria before the monthly meeting. Please contact Jane Eyes at Education@Northernstarquilters.com if you’d like to join the group.

Jane Eyes, VP Education
Education@Northernstarquilters.com

Thank You!

Many thanks for your overwhelming response to the Holiday Food Drive!  You generously donated more than 600 pounds of food for our neighbors in need!

Carolyn Finn, my partner in this endeavor, delivered half our haul to the Food Bank for Westchester; my stash went to the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County.

Carolyn Langevin helped with the collection and the always reliable Joan Citron coordinated the Hospitality table with April Russell’s assistance.

Your generosity spilled over to the Hospitality table where, once again our members shared their favorite Holiday treats.

For January, we ask those whose last names begin with the initials J, K or L to provide snacks for our members.  If you are able to help us with set-up, serving or clearing, please email me to volunteer.

Meg Mooar, Hospitality

Quilt Show Registration is Open!

Registrations will be accepted through March 31.  The Registration Form and Rules and Instructions are available on our website.  Diane Linker, Quilt Registrar, looks forward to receiving your on-line or snail-mailed registrations. (Contact details are on the form.)

It’s going to be another beautiful show thanks to all the creative quilters in Northern Star Quilters’ Guild and interested outside quilters.

Caryl Castellion, VP Quilt Show

Comfort Quilts

Last month, the Comfort Quilters made a generous donation of 45 quilts to the children at the Behavioral Health Center in Valhalla.  The quilts bring a lot of smiles to the children and are very much appreciated.

Thank you to members who pick up CQ kits at Guild meetings and return the completed quilts!  We were pleased to receive 5 or 6 quilts at the last meeting!  Giving your time and talent helps to brighten the days of many people in need of comfort. New kits are being made each month, so stop by and pick one up.

Raffle tickets will be available for you to pick up at the January meeting. Please stop by the table and pick up your tickets. Thank you for your support!

Susan Fasnacht will have block kits available for pick-up at January’s meeting. All blocks will be due in March (but you can bring them to February’s meeting if they’re ready)!

Nominations for the charity to receive the proceeds from the 2013 Raffle Quilt will begin this month and are due March 20.  Click here for guidelines and nomination forms.

Barb Tatera, Charitable Activities

• Dec 3 (Sat)  Longarm SIG meets at Barb Tatera’s home
• Dec 6 (Tue) Board meeting
• Dec 7 (Wed)  Comfort quilts meets: North Salem Ambulance Corps
• Dec 13 (Tue)  General meeting at JFK School.  Guest speaker: Debby Brown
• Dec 16 (Fri)  January newsletter submissions due
• Dec 17 (Sat)  The Sticklers SIG meets
• Jan 4 (Wed)  Comfort Quilts meets: North Salem Ambulance Corps

Letter from the President  | Programs | Membership  | Hospitality | Library | Education  Charitable Activities  | Super Saturday   | Guild Challenge  | Trips  Quilt Show | Communications  | Find us Here  | Area Shows  | Advertisers

December is upon us and we have had three busy guild months. Our November Boutique was a nice success.  I would like to thank Stephanie Santangelo for coordinating the evening and for her assistance in obtaining items for the Somers Library Display.

I also would like to thank each of you for your attendance at the guild’s meetings, lectures, classes and other activities.  It is wonderful to see everyone participating and it encourages our board to keep planning great events for the future!

As many of you begin to travel to warmer climates for the winter, please remember to stay in touch with the Guild.  Class registrations and Super Saturday sign-ups can be handled through the mail.  Just send your request via email to the respective coordinator and your check by mail and you’ll be set to jump back into the guild excitement upon your return.

There is nothing like a walk in the cold crisp fresh air of winter to help invigorate your creativity. After a warm beverage, use that energy to create a piece for our Guild Challenge, Reach for the Stars.  This challenge is friendly to all types of quilters and all levels of quilting.  The Challenge theme will be sure to keep your positive creative energy flowing during the winter season!

Happy Holidays to each of you!

“Take Time to Breathe Deeply and Enjoy”

Patti Calautti, President

In November, local quilt artist Leni Wiener taught a terrific workshop on how to turn a photo into an art quilt.  Leni’s method is simple and doesn’t require an art or drawing background.  All of the participants left with the start of a terrific quilt.

Later that day at our General Meeting, Leni’s lecture, “Color, Value, and Fabric” gave all of us — traditional quilters, art quilters, and everyone in between — fresh insight into how to make these tools (color and value) work for us in our own quilts.

In December, Debby Brown brings her long-arm quilting expertise to her lecture on December 13th.  Debby will not limit her talk  to long-arm machines; rather, her topic, “Finely Finished: Choosing Quilting Designs to Grace Your Quilt” will address the strengths and weaknesses of long arm machines and domestic machines.  There will be something in her lecture for all of us!

No workshop in December because of the Holidays — and remember, our December meeting is a week earlier than usual!

As you’ll read below, the Education Committee has lined up terrific programs for our January and February meetings. Programs returns in March with another successful local talent, Jane Dávila. If you have a project to share from our September, October, or November workshops, please bring it to Show and Tell in December.

Barbara Sferra, VP Programs

Thanks to everyone who reviewed their info for our membership booklet. Thanks to the efforts of Deirdre Abbotts, we hope to have the booklets ready very soon.

Quilter-of-the-Month Program

In December, our featured Quilter-of-the-Month is Jean Degl. Keep reading to learn more about Jean’s quilting and to see some sneak previews of the quilts she will be showing.

We are still looking for Quilters of the Month for February, March, April and May. If you would be willing to share your quilts with the Guild at one of those meetings, please let me know as soon as possible. It doesn’t involve much effort and we all learn so much about quilting and one other by looking at our quilts.

December’s Quilter of the Month

Jean Degl, who has been a member of Northern Star for two years, is our Quilter of the Month for December. Jean started quilting in the mid-eighties. She was mostly self-taught, learning from books, until she found Claire Oehler and started studying with Claire (as so many of us did!).

Quilting was a hobby that Jean was able to do just for herself, squeezing it in wherever she could while raising a family and having a career. As Jean says, “I am inspired by way too many things and love the challenge of a new idea or technique.” Jean says that she loves being part of the Guild and is eager to show her quilts as a way of demonstrating how much we all learn from one another.

Jean’s work runs the gamut of different styles and shows her evolution from early hand work to her current efforts on her new longarm. We hope you enjoy looking at Jean’s quilts in the cafeteria before the December meeting.  Jean will be available to answer any questions you may have.

Diane Linker, VP Membership

Wow!  If your last name begins with the letters G, H, or I give yourself a big pat on the back!  You treated our members and impressed our November guests with your generous contribution of snacks both sweet and savory.

As a reminder, in December we’ll dispense with the alphabetical order and ask each of you to share a favorite Holiday snack food. Cookies, dips and spreads are always welcomed. Once again, please pre-cut food into single-serving sizes and bring a travel mug so we can cut down on waste.

Food Drive

This year, we are replacing the December meeting’s Holiday gift exchange with a Food Drive to support our local food banks, The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County and the Food Bank for Westchester.  Please click on the links for information about these organizations and the immediate need within our community.

My partner for this project is Carolyn Finn.  On the evening of Tuesday’s meeting, we’ll be available in the parking lot to receive your donations of non-perishable food items. (We’ll park near the right turn into the parking area.)

Grocery store gift cards and checks will be gratefully accepted. (If you do bring a check, please write it directly to one of the two Food Banks; not to the NSQG!)

Some Suggestions:

• Mashed potatoes
• Whole-grain, low-sugar cereals
• Instant oatmeal
• Pasta; boxed macaroni and cheese
• Crackers
• Canned tuna/chicken
• Soups
• Carnation® Breakfast Essentials™
• Peanut butter/grape jelly
• White or Brown rice (2 lb. bags)
• Spaghetti sauce
• Dried beans
• Canned vegetables (corn, green beans)
• Rice milk (shelf-stable boxed/powdered)
• 100% fruit juice: boxes, cans, or plastic

Thank you all very much in advance.  I know you’ll be generous.

Finally, could I get a few “elves” to volunteer this month? I’ll need help at the hospitality table as well as the parking lot.

Meg Mooar, Hospitality

Winter Programs

Since the weather can be iffy in January and February, the Guild traditionally has enlisted members to give small-group demonstrations at the winter meetings, rather than engage a professional speaker. Members rotate around the cafeteria to view the various demonstrations and ask questions.

Tips and Tricks for Traditional and Contemporary Quilters (January)

Guild members from the Art Quilt Group, the Hand Appliqué Group and Comfort Quilts will present a variety of demonstrations for new and experienced quilters. You are sure to go home with new techniques to take you through the winter quilting season.

Journals and Notebooks – Inspiration for Traditional and Contemporary Quilters (February)

Several members have offered to share the journals or notebooks that help to inform their work. Including detailed notes and diagrams for each completed “Dear Jane” block; color notebooks; plans and notes for new pieces; samples of new techniques for art quilts, and inspiring mixed-media journals. Come see how many of our talented members use notebooks and journals in their quilting lives.

Special-Interest Groups (SIG’s)

Longarm – The next meeting is December 3rd at Barb Tatera‘s house and Barb will be doing a feathery demonstration. Dates for next year’s meetings will be posted on the website in the near future. Contact Diane Linker for details.

Art Quilts – Registration continues for our challenge, “Forms of A Dress.”  (If you can’t attend the meeting, Melanie Hulse can work with you via email.)  Bring your “Text on Sheers” experiments so we can all see what you did! (Kendell Storm demonstrated the technique at our October meeting.)  Kristine Wilhelm will demo her “tiny pieces and tulle” technique.  Show N’ Tell.  Our usual chatter and fun.  Contact Debbie Bein for details.

Hand Appliqué – Our December meeting will focus on various methods of making skinny stems. In addition, please bring show and tell items so we can see what you have been working on since our last meeting.  We also will discuss plans for future meetings. Contact Denise Isherwood or Kathy Kaplan for details.

The Sticklers – In December, in addition to “show and tell,” we’ll also spend time working on our blocks – an opportunity to squeeze in some extra sewing time during the busy holiday season.  Bring some hand-piecing or appliqué blocks that beg to be finished.  For blocks that require an extra step or quick seam, a sewing machine, iron, and cutting mat will be provided.  Newcomers welcome!  Please contact Carolyn Finn for details.

Kids Can Quilt! – Contact Jane Eyes for details.

*New* SIG! Landscape Techniques - Several members have expressed interest in a Landscape Techniques SIG. An organizational meeting will be held at 6 pm before the December meeting to discuss what members have in mind for this group.  If you’re interested, but unable to attend the organizational meeting, please contact Jane Eyes.

Jane Eyes, VP Education

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who donated books and magazines to the Library for our mini sale last month and a big thank you to everyone who made a purchase!

Please remember that suggestions for new books and DVD’s are always welcome.

And this month we have our first book review by Roxanne Lasky. Thank you Roxanne!

Book Review

May, Merry and Hahn, Linda J.  An Insider’s Guide to Quilting Careers.  Holley, NY: Quiltwoman.com, 2009.

Whether you are thinking about owning a quilt shop, making custom quilts or teaching on cruises, Merry May and Linda Hahn’s Insider’s Guide to Quilting Careers has defined possible opportunities in the quilting industry that fit almost any personality.

But the book is firmly ground in reality, thoroughly outlining the most essential considerations of quilting entrepreneurship.

Insider’s Guide to Quilting Careers emphasizes the importance of organization, record keeping and policy making as the foundation for success. The book focuses on the basic issues of setting up your business, from business plan outlines to insurance and credit card processing. It emphasizes the importance of networking and saves the reader valuable time by providing reproducible business forms for many career scenarios.

A valuable resource! — Roxanne Lasky

Jackie Fowler, Library

2013 Raffle Quilt

The 2013 Raffle Quilt, Double Duty, designed by Carrie L. Nelson, is being coordinated by Susan Fasnacht.  The quilt is made of log cabin and flying geese squares in a variety colors.  It’s cut from fat quarters using light colors (off-whites, beiges, light tans) and dark colors (red, blues, greens, browns, etc.) –  in what generally could be called “autumn” tones.

The Comfort Quilts group has given us a head-start by providing some of the fabric. Please check your stash to see if you can contribute to the cause! Any size works; the construction uses mostly 1-1/2 inch strips.

All donations will be appreciated, but here’s our greatest need:

• Off-whites, beiges, or light tans: ideally with a small pattern or motif
• Greens: dark green and fir tree colors
• Purples: dark purple and plum colors

Please bring your fabric to the December meeting.  If you have any questions, please contact Susan Fasnacht.

2012 Raffle Quilt

Thanks to our members who picked up their raffle tickets at the November meeting.  Tickets also will be available for pick up at December’s meeting.  Please let me know if you need additional tickets.

Ronald McDonald Block of the Month

A total of ten quilts are complete at this time.  Many thanks to everyone who made blocks!  Also a special thanks to the members who have given their time to quilt and bind these quilts!  Well done!

Comfort Quilts

Upcoming Meetings:
• December 7
• January 4
• January 18

Notes:
• All meetings will be held at the North Salem Ambulance Corps
• Dates subject to change.  If in doubt, please contact Carol Auer or Karen Carlson.
• In the event of inclement weather, an update will be posted to our home page.

Barb Tatera, Charitable Activities

Guild Members will Vote and Award Ribbons in these Categories:

• Best interpretation of the theme: Push the Limits in London…Reach for the Stars
• Best representation of the place – London, UK
• Best use of color
• Most inspiring quilt
• Best of Challenge

Submission and Exhibition Information:

• Click for detailed specifications and requirements
• Quilts that do not meet all of the specifications will not be accepted
• All quilts are due on or before the March guild meeting
• Quilts will be exhibited at a local venue in addition to our show (details TBD)
  

Carolyn Finn, Challenge Coordinator
Kelly Lockwood, Special Events

The Quilt Show Committee extends to all best wishes for a happy holiday season. May your quilting projects bring peace in the quiet hours between celebrations with family and friends.

Quilt registrations and volunteer sign-ups will begin in January.  The 2012 Quilt Show Poster can now be found on the website.

Caryl Castellion, VP Quilt Show

Attention Bloggers!

Do you have a quilt-related blog or website?  If so, we’d love to include a link on our website.  If you’d like to send a photo that represents your work, we can include that, too.

As always, please submit all information to news@northernstarquilters.com.

Carolyn Finn, VP Communications

Abbreviated summaries are provided here.  For additional details, please visit Members’ Marketplace on our website.  Have something you’d like to post?  Please send a brief description to news@northernstarquilters.com.

Do you have a quilt that evokes an historical era?  Participate in the American Girl exhibition at the Mount Kisco Library in February!  Please contact Carolyn Longevin or Mary Cannizzaro for more information.

Call for Entries – “The Many Faces of Jerusalem”  This international quilt exhibition is among several events to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Israel Quilters’ Association.  Entries due May 15, 2012.  Click here for more information.  NSQG Contact: Tamar Drucker.

Bird Fabrics Sought!  Cobb Stewart seeks fabrics with images of birds that are identifiable by type (e.g., robin, bluebird, etc.)

Vintage sewing machines available at the Deer Hill Thrift Shop of the First Congregational Church of Danbury.  Contact Betty Buccino.

Carolyn Finn, VP Communications

Margaret Phillips has received the Award for Machine Workmanship at “Quilts=Art=Quilts,” a juried exhibition at the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center in Auburn, NY. The exhibition is on view through January 8, 2012.

Two NSQG members are among the award-winners at Houston’s International Quilt Festival in early November: Terri Gavin won Third Place in the “Digital Imagery” category for her New York Scenes – John Jay Park in Winter; Ellen Yamaguchi won Second Place in the “Embellished” category for her Starring Beads.

Debbie Bein‘s Allele has been accepted into the annual juried “Form, Not Function” show at the Carnegie Center for Art & History in New Albany, Indiana. The show runs January 6 through March 3, 2012.

Finally, Marie Sugar‘s Colors of Life was awarded First Place in the “Wall Hangings” category at the 25th Annual “Northeast Quilts Unlimited” exhibit, sponsored by View at the View Arts Center in Old Forge, NY.

Congratulations, All!

Shows Featuring Guild Members

“Reflections: Familiar Stories/New Forms.” New Rochelle, NY: Lazarus Gallery.  Through December 12.

“Material Witnesses: New Work from the Manhattan Quilters Guild.”  New York, NY: The Art Quilt Gallery at the City Quilter, New York.  Through January 7, 2012.

“Quilts=Art=Quilts.” Auburn, NY: Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center.  Through January 8, 2012.

“Form, Not Function.” New Albany, IN: Carnegie Center for Art & History.  January 6 through March 3, 2012.

Other Shows of Interest

“Pocketful of Posies: Salley Mavor.”  Storrs, CT: Thomas J. Dodd Research Center Gallery, University of Connecticut.  Through December 16.

“Uncommon Threads: A Survey of Contemporary Quilts.” New York, NY: Kathryn Markel Fine Arts.  Through December 17.

“Fiber Futures: Japan’s Textile Pioneers.”  New York: Japan Society.  Through December 18.

“Superstars.”  New York, NY: American Folk Art Museum.  Through December 31.

“Patience to Raise the Sun: Art Quilts from Haiti & Their Power to Change Women’s Lives.” Lowell, MA: New England Quilt Museum.  Through December 31.

“Patchwork from Folk Art to Fine Art” and “The Global Art of Patchwork: Asia and Africa.” Newark, NJ: Newark Museum. Through December 31.

“Unfolding Stories: Culture and Tradition in American Quilts.”  Cooperstown, NY: Fenimore Art Museum.  Through December 31.

““Renaissance Velvets: Textiles for the Nobility of Florence and Naples.” New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art.  Through January 12, 2012.

“The 9/11 Peace Story Quilt.” New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art.  Through January 22, 2012.

“Collecting California.” San Jose, CA: San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles.  Through February 5, 2012.

“Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival XXIII.”  Hampton, VA: Hampton Roads Convention Center.  February 23-26, 2012.

“The Quilt Fest of New Jersey.”  Somerset, NJ: Garden State Exhibition Center.  March 1-4, 2012.

Many thanks to Nancy Hantman for researching and compiling this list

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