Sandra Lee Workshop

We had a fun day, cutting up quilts! Anxiety-producing at first (who cuts up a favorite quilt!!?) but the results were stunning.

Sandra helped us to visualize where the simple jacket pattern pieces could go, for maximum effect, considering the best use of color, design and sense of movement. Each participant brought a quilt that characterized a focus on the relationship between pattern and color that was pleasing to them, and that relationship was truly transformed as the jacket took shape. It was a new way to look at our quilts!

We went through the steps to fit the pattern pieces to our bodies, how to place them on the quilt, how and when to sew seams and how to finish it all off with binding the edges. While we didn’t finish the jackets in the workshop, we were equipped with the knowledge of how to do it at home.

It was an inspiring day, and hopefully we can organize a fashion show at a future NSQG meeting to show our stunning results!

Betty Moulton

It’s that time of year:  The Quilt Show raffle tickets are here!

Every year Guild members generously support a worthy charity by selling tickets to their family, friends and neighbors for a chance to win our beautiful Guild quilt. This year the quilt is the stunning “Supernova” and the charity is Mt. Tremper Outdoor Ministries.  Mt. Tremper runs the Herrlich Camp in Patterson, New York, providing an outdoor educational experience for underprivileged children from the five boroughs of New York City.

When you sign in at the November Guild meeting, your raffle booklets will be waiting for you!  Please remember to pick up your envelope.  Selling the tickets is an opportunity to support a wonderful cause and to spread the word about our Guild and our Quilt Show.
We’ll also have a limited number of this year’s show pins available for $5.

Thank you!
Anne Chehebar, charitable@northernstarquilters.com

Show and Tell – Wear your coat from the Sandra Lee workshop!

Tie Challenge – Keep working on your TIE CHALLENGE, which is due at the March Guild meeting. Rules and parameters are listed on the  NSQG website.
Questions? Contact Debra at doaks@mac.com.

Ugly Fabric Auction – “Ugly Fabrics” will be collected at Guild meetings and at Comfort Quilts.
Questions? Contact Liz at BT97mail@gmail.com.

Salad Supper & Demos – In addition to our Salad Supper, the June 2025 meeting will include exciting learning experiences, to be taught by our own talented members.
— We will need 3-4 members to teach a skill for 15-20 minutes.
— Would you be willing to organize the demos?
Questions? Contact Rona at ronaquilter@gmail.com.

Super Saturday – will take place on February 1, 2025 (Snow date will be February 15^th)
Check out proposed classes HERE and get ready to sign up!!
Questions?  Contact Kathy at kathytuttle9@gmail.com.

Spring Quilting Retreat at Mariandale – Friday-Sunday, March 21-23, 2025.
Questions? Contact Jody at jodysull@optonline.net. 

Rona Spar, activities@northernstarquilters.com

Hi everyone,

As I write this report, the days are getting shorter, and the guild is in full swing. Joanne and I ask you to join us in welcoming our three newest members, Lynne Foley of New City, Cory Ethridge of Garrison and Rose Schleupen from Yorktown Heights and returning member, Mayann Weinberg of Stamford, CT.  Our membership currently stands at 219. With the influx of many new members, Joanne and I have decided to reinstitute the NEW MEMBER TABLE hosted by a seasoned member of the guild where newer members can meet each other, ask questions and, most importantly, feel comfortable. If you and a friend would be interested in participating on our Welcome Team, please let us know!

The 2024-2025 Membership Directory will be available for pick up at the Membership Table when you sign in. The online version of the directory will be emailed to you following our November guild meeting. Please watch for it in your inbox. Hint: try not to forget to download it to a file for future reference.

It’s never too late to send in your photo for the online version of the directory. Joanne updates the online directory in February/March and, again, right after the quilt show. It’s always nice to be able to connect a name with a face!

Wishing you a Happy Halloween (and just enough leftover candy!
Carol Sterk and Joanne Visovsky, membership@northernstarquilters.com

Northern Star Quilters Guild welcomes David M. Taylor on November 20 and 21.  He is an internationally recognized, award-winning art quilter currently residing in Fort Collins, Colorado. His art quilts hang in many private collections worldwide and are highly sought-after.  For the rest of 2024 he is presenting at the Quilt Festival in Houston, and the League of Northern Colorado quilters. Upcoming in 2025 (so far) he is conducting workshops in Colorado, California, Wisconsin, Maine, and New Hampshire. He has taught his fascinating workshops around the world.  From sewing his own Halloween costume at the age of 10 on his mother’s Sears Kenmore machine, to a part-time job at a fabric store, and through his career as a computer graphic artist, his stunning and intricate art quilts today are a result of David’s journey as he creates quilts that are often mistaken as paintings. His works are adapted from photographs, and his technique evolved from his love of jigsaw puzzles.

Questions? Contact Jo Thomas, programs@northernstarquilters.com.

You can always check out our upcoming lectures and workshops – see our Calendar.

In light of the recent hurricanes in Florida and North Carolina, Kate Longo and Shelley Lounsbury would like to collect quilts for survivors of natural disasters.  Depending on how many quilts we receive and how much money is donated for shipping expenses, we will choose one or both of these options:

1. Sending the quilts to Wrap the World with Quilts through Christie’s Quilting Boutique in Norwak, CT;
2. Sending the quilts directly to the Western North Carolina Quilt Guild in Henderson, North Carolina, located near Asheville.

Both organizations need new quilts and blankets of all sizes.  They can be traditionally quilted, tied, made with cotton, fleece or flannel.

Christie’s Quilting Boutique in Norwalk, CT is currently collecting quilts for Wrap the World with Quilts (http://hellocottons.com), a humanitarian organization in Utah that Christie has worked with in the past to deliver quilts to people in the aftermath of natural disasters in the U.S.A. and around the world.  For $20.00, a box weighing up to 50 pounds can be sent via United Parcel Service (UPS) to Wrap the World with Quilts using their pre-paid label.  If we send our quilts through Christie’s Quilting Boutique to Wrap the World with Quilts, the quilts will not be individually registered with QR codes (as described on the organization’s website), and we will not know exactly where our quilts will be distributed, but we know from Christie’s experience that this is a reliable organization to distribute our quilts to people in need, and that the shipping expense will be very reasonable.

Regarding our other option, the president of the Western North Carolina Quilt Guild says she is  delivering quilts to people in Asheville and the surrounding area.  We could ship quilts directly to her, but the shipping expense via UPS may be too high to send all of them there.

Shelley will be collecting quilts and monetary donations for this project at the Comfort Quilts meetings on November 6th and 20th, and at the guild meeting on November 20th.  She will keep a record of all monetary donations and make sure they are used for shipping our quilts.  The quilts will be packed and hopefully shipped before Thanksgiving.

If you have any questions, or have a quilt that Shelley can pick up, please contact her.
Many thanks for any contributions you choose to make!
Shelley Lounsbury, shlounz@gmail.com

For those of you who weren’t able to attend the last Guild meeting, here is a photo of the Raffle Quilt for 2025 which was on display for the first time.

A huge thank you to Barbara Allen who brought her quilting and organizational skills to bear over this past year to put this gorgeous quilt together.  Barbara based the quilt on the design “Supernova” by Jacquie Gering, and the name perfectly describes this wonderful quilt with its starburst of color.

Thanks also go to Angela Vertucci, who quilted the top so beautifully, and to the other members of the Guild – too numerous to mention individually — who helped to piece and bind the quilt.

The recipient of the raffle proceeds this year will be Mt. Tremper Outdoor Ministries.  Mt. Tremper runs a sleep-away and day camp in Putnam for underprivileged children in the five boroughs of New York City, currently serving around 5,000 children. In 2023, it provided $130,000 in scholarship funds to campers.

Tickets for the Raffle Quilt will be distributed to Guild members towards the end of this year. We hope that you will all support the Guild’s Raffle for this very worthy charity that provides enriching summer experiences for children in need.

Anne Chehebar, charitable@northernstarquilters.com

Lancaster Trip 2024

All About SIGs (Special Interest Groups)

SIGs are small groups of NSQG members who meet to explore quilting ideas.  If you have an idea for a new SIG, please organize and invite other members to join you.  SIGs are a great way to meet other members in a small setting.  Present SIGs are as follows:

• Scrappy SIG – Meets on 1^st Tuesday of the month at 9:30 AM via Zoom.   Contact person is Jennifer Larrabee,  jeneric829@optonline.net
• Skill Building SIG – For beginners and those who want to enhance their quilting skills.  Meets at 5:00 PM at the Fox Lane HS cafeteria before each NSQG guild meeting.   Contact person is Francine Jacobson,  FJacobson12@gmail.com
• Improv #1 – Presently full.  Meets twice a month, once on Zoom and once in person at a member’s home.
• Improv #2  – Meets online.  Contact person is Rita Romeu, ritabell2555@gmail.com
• Improv #3 – Presently 3 members are forming a new improv group. Contact person is Janet Wright, janetwright@gmail.com

Quilters Retreat

Our scheduled retreat at Mariandale November 5-7 is almost full.  If you haven’t signed up but want to go, please email Jody Sullivan (jodysull@optonline.net) sooner than later.  Those staying over pay $250 and commuters pay $130.  For those who already signed up but have not yet paid, checks should be made out to the guild and sent to Jody Sullivan.

Tie Challenge

There is a lot of buzz about this challenge.  The ties on the give-away table were scooped up quickly by members.  See the rules on our website Challenge page.  Only one entry per person and maximum of 80” perimeter or circumference.  Questions?  Contact Debra Oaks, doaks@mac.com

Ugly Fabric Auction

Fall Cleanup?? Bring your excess fabrics to a Guild meeting or to Comfort Quilts.  In mid Westchester, contact Rona Spar, ronaquilter@gmail, who will also arrange to accept your fabric,
Save your Selvages – We need them to tie up the fabric bundles.  Bring your long selvages to a Guild meeting or CQ.  Questions? Contact Liz Titus, BT97mail@gmail.com, chair of Ugly Fabric Auction.

Super Saturday

Plans are under way for this February event in which members teach members quilting and sewing skills and enjoying lunch together.  Schedule and class registration will be available soon.  Contact person is Kathy Tuttle, kathytuttle9@gmail.com.

Rona Spar, activities@northernstarquilters.com

Hi everyone,

Autumn is upon us, and this means the deadline for renewing your membership in time to be included in the paper version of the NSQG Member Directory is almost here. The deadline is October 5^th!  If your membership renewal is late, it will be included in the online version of the directory. Given the ongoing influx of new members, Joanne and I have decided to wait and roll out the online directory in early to mid-November. Any time is a good time to email us your photo at: membership@northernstarquilters.com.

Since the September newsletter article was written,  two returning members and six new members have joined NSQG. The returning members are Suzanne Sunday of Bedford and Debra Katz of  Danbury .  Please join us in welcoming our newest members, Elizabeth Marriott of Port Chester, Katie O’Brien of Hastings-0n-Hudson, Natalie Reeves of Norwalk, Sharon Goldberg of Cortlandt Manor and Karen Karlik of Briarcliff Manor. We are especially delighted to introduce our first junior member, Elizabeth Harman of Carmel!    Most of you remember what it was like when you first joined the guild and didn’t know anyone. Please make an effort to introduce yourself or invite a member who is new to our group to join you and your friends at your table.

The 2024-2025 Membership Directory will be available at the October meeting. You can pick up your copy at the Membership table when you sign in.

Wishing you a beautiful Autumn and many hours for quilting!
Carol Sterk and Joanne Visovsky, membership@northernstarquilters.com

Remember to check out our upcoming lectures and workshops – see our Calendar.

Questions? Contact Jo Thomas, programs@northernstarquilters.com.

• AQS Show Trip
  Kudos to Christine Bunke for all her hard work in organizing our trip to the AQS show this month.  Thirty-seven members and guests will
  enjoy the bus trip, visits to several fabric shops, local food, welcome rest at a fine hotel and the AQS Quilt Show in Pennsylvania.  Thank you, Christine!
• Quilt Retreat Signups
  Our first retreat for this new year is November 5-7 at the Center at Mariandale.  Quite a few of you have already signed up, but there are a few openings for others who may be interested.  The “overnighters” will receive 6 meals, snacks, own room, wonderful work space and lots of fun for $250.  The “commuters” will receive 4 meals, snacks, wonderful work space and lots of fun for $130.  Checks should be made out to NORTHERN STAR QUILTERS GUILD and sent to me: Jody Sullivan, 74 West Lane, Pound Ridge, NY 10576 (or hand to me at CQ or meeting).  If you haven’t signed up but want to go, email Jody Sullivan,  jodysull@optonline.net.
• Super Saturday
  Plans are underway for another wonderful mid-winter get together.  Guild members have volunteered to share their knowledge in a full day of learning and camaraderie.  Stay tuned for more details.  Questions, contact Kathy Tuttle at kathytuttle9@gmail.com.
  
• Quilt Challenge
  

Jo Thomas shared this tie quilt image from a Joe Cunningham workshop.  Does this wonderful quilt give you any ideas for our 2025 challenge?
Check online for all  the parameters for our Tie Challenge 2025.

Here’s a funny tie story from Rona:  I went to a charity fabric store in Auburn, NY and bought a bunch of batiks and other stuff.  As I was checking out, I asked the volunteers if there was a Salvation Army or Goodwill store nearby.   I told them that I was looking for ties.  One lady, MaryBeth, said, “Just stay right there, I’ll be right back.”  Off she went and returned with a carton of old ties that she was thrilled to give away.  Those ties will be on the ‘give away’ table at the 1^st Guild meeting.
Questions, contact Debra Oaks at doaks@mac.com

Congratulations to those who participated in our 2023 Challenge ‘Card Tricks’, winner of this year’s AQS Ultimate Guild Challenge, with thanks to April Russell for shepherding our entry thru the process.

• Ugly Fabric Auction
  Liz Titus will begin to collect Ugly Fabrics at the September Guild meeting and at Comfort Quilts.  Start your Fall cleanup by donating fabrics to the auction, which will take place in the spring.  If you live in central Westchester, you can also drop off fabric at Rona Spar’s house in Mount Kisco (email first at ronaquilter@gmail.com).  Questions, contact Liz at bt97mail@gmail.com

Hi everyone,

Joanne and I want to welcome you to the start of a new guild year filled with opportunities to learn, get involved and renew old friendships. With the addition of over 70 new members this past year, there will be many unfamiliar faces in the room. We encourage each of you to help us by introducing yourself to at least one new member of the guild.  Please join us in welcoming our four newest members: Roberta Sutherland (Larchmont), Joanne Ferretti (Somers), Jazmine James (Brewster) ad Amy King (Mahopac).

If you haven’t renewed your membership and would like to be included in the hard copy of the Membership Directory for 2024-2025, this is the time to do it!  The Membership Directory will be delivered to the printer on October 5, 2024

Three ways to renew:

• Renew online right now! nsqg.formstack.com/forms/nsqg_member_registration_cc
• Bring your registration form and check to the next Comfort Quilts meeting or to the September 18th guild meeting. 
  
• Send your registration form and check for $45 to NSQG, PO Box 232, Somers, NY 10589
  Please note that checks sent to the PO box are picked up by a board member about once per week and are then passed along to the membership team. If you would like to be included in the hard copy of the Membership Directory, remember to allow at least a week for processing.

Photos for the Membership Directory
Pictures will be postage stamp size and cropped to include only your face. Use a selfie, favorite recent photo, special event photo, professional shot, …
JoAnne Hochstein has offered to take pictures of members at the September guild meeting for inclusion in the membership directory, should you prefer not to do it yourself or text your photo to Joanne Visovsky at 914 548-2310.

See you in September!
Carol Sterk and Joanne Visovsky, membership@northernstarquilters.com

*** SHIBORI WORKSHOP – WAITLIST ONLY ***

*** QUILT JACKET WORKSHOP ***

Quilt Raffle Booth – Many thanks to Dee Plouffe for overseeing the guild’s charitable efforts and raffle for 6 years, baton now being passed to Anne Chehebar! Go Anne!

And many thanks to the rest of our Board members who will be continuing on next year, listed HERE.

Raffle Quilt Winner – Claudia Milne

CONGRATULATIONS to the winner of our quilt ‘Parfait’, Claudia Milne, who resides in Stamford, Ct. She purchased her ticket at our Quilt Show.

CONGRATULATIONS to the North Salem Volunteer Ambulance Corps, they will be receiving a very generous check at our June Salad Supper.

THANKS again to all our members for supporting our yearly charity raffle.
Dee Plouffe’,  charitable@northernstarquilters.com

*** SHIBORI WORKSHOP – WAITLIST ONLY ***

*** QUILT JACKET WORKSHOP – WAITLIST ONLY ***

• Sign Up for the Lancaster Trip, ASAP
  Seats and rooms are filling so don’t miss out.  The trip is open to non-members.
• Quilt Retreat Signups
  Limited space left!  Come sit and sew, Tuesday Nov. 5 – Thursday Nov. 7 at The Center at Mariandale, Ossining NY.  Cost of retreat is $250 for two nights and six meals and $65/day for commuters with 2 meals a day.  To sign up, contact Jody Sullivan at jodysull@optonline.net
• Super Saturday – If you want to teach at Super Saturday 2025, please contact Kathy Tuttle,  kathytuttle9@gmail.com
• Volunteer(s) needed to run the 2025 UGLY FABRIC AUCTION
  If you or a group of friends wants to run the Ugly Fabric Auction for May, 2025, please contact Rona Spar at activities@northernstarquilters.com.  It is really a lot of fun to see what others consider ‘ugly,’ and to get an early preview of what has been donated.  This year’s auction raised about $1000 for Northern Star.  Please step up to help.

TIES AND SCARVES

Format:

• Maximum perimeter is 80” (any shape you choose that fits this size is acceptable, i.e., square, rectangle, hexagon, circle, star, etc.)
• Primary fabric should be neckties or dress scarves. Fabrics should  be recognizable as such.  The idea of the challenge is to utilize neckwear fabrics retired from the workplace, ties or dress scarves that people used to wear to work before the business casual era.  Note: woolen scarves and outerwear are not appropriate for this challenge.
• Neutral background and enhancement fabrics may also be used, but the focus should be the fabric of the neckties/scarves.
• Embellishments may also be used.
• Use any technique: piecing; paper piecing; applique; collage; etc.
• The quilt must have a label with the maker’s name and, if you wish, a quilt name.
• The quilt must have a quilt sleeve or other hanging mechanism.
• Normally, a quilt should have 3 layers: top, batting and back. To accommodate our fiber arts members, this rule can be adjusted to meet your artistic viewpoint.
• This challenge is open to NSQG members ONLY.
• Questions, contact doaks@mac.com

There is NO Show N Tell and NO Free Table at the May meeting since we have so much going on – our annual voting meeting plus our regular business reports, the charity raffle drawing, and  the ‘Ugly Fabric’ Auction.
Save everything for next time, thank you.

• Ugly Fabric Auction
  Helpers needed to fold the fabrics on Friday, May 10^th, at Jean Degl’s house in Mahopac.
  Contact Linda Finegan, linfin612@gmail.com
• Super Saturday Chairperson Needed for 2025
  Contact: Rona Spar ronaquilter@gmail.com
• Sign Up for the Lancaster Trip, ASAP
  Seats and rooms are filling up fast!

• Retreat Signups
  Our first retreat for next year is scheduled for Tuesday November 5 – Thursday November 7 at the Center at Mariandale, Ossining NY.  It’s a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in what you love and be surrounded by others who love the same.  A two night, six meal stay costs $250.  There is also an option to be a “commuter” and forgo the overnight and receive two meals a day for $65 each day.  To sign up, contact Jody Sullivan at jodysull@optonline.net.

LAST CALL for returning your raffle tickets… the drawing is coming soon at our Guild meeting, Wednesday May 15^th.

THANK YOU to our Guild members, their families, and friends for supporting this year’s charity, the North Salem Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

Thank you Carol Auer and Karen Carlson for coordinating this project and  to our Guild members for the beautiful hand quilting.

Dee Plouffe’,  charitable@northernstarquilters.com

1.  Thanks to all who have registered quilts.   It’s going to be an amazing display! Quilt number labels and drop-off information letters should be received by the week prior to Dropoff, Saturday, April 27.  Contact Karen Carlson, registrar@northernstarquilters.com, with any questions.

2.  We still need volunteers – click HERE.  Please pitch in – there’s a job for everyone!  Specific volunteer job instructions will be sent to you by that area’s coordinator prior to the show. Any questions, contact the job coordinator or showvolunteers@northernstarquilters.com

3.  Bring your Raffle Baskets and any donated items to the April guild meeting.  Donations of empty baskets in good condition are welcome.   Contact Shelley Lounsbury, Rita Romeu or Kathy Tuttle with any questions.

4. Bring quilt and craft books (no magazines) for the quilt show book sale.   Contact Patricia Loquet with any questions.

Challenge Coordinator(s) –  Do you have an idea for the 2025 NSQG quilt challenge?   If your challenge is chosen by the board, you will be responsible for informing the members of the challenge, collecting the quilts in March, organizing the voting in April and displaying the challenge quilts with ribbons at the Quilt Show.  Share the job with a friend if desired.  Send your idea along with proposed rules and parameters for your suggestion to activities@northernstarquilters.com.

Super Saturday Coordinator(s) – Encourage members to teach at Super Saturday, make arrangements with the church in Yorktown, coordinate with the Hospitality about lunch and snacks.  This event takes place during February.  Share the job with a friend if desired. Willing to take on this activity?  Contact activities@northernstarquilters.com.

• Black and White Challenge
  Vote for your favorite Black and White Challenge quilt at the April 17^th Guild Meeting.
• Ugly Fabric Auction
  Last chance to bring in those ‘Ugly Fabrics’ for our May auction.
• September Lancaster AQS trip
  Bring a check and signup!  Check the details on our website Trip event page  or contact coordinator Christine Bunke, chrisme214@aol.com.
  
• Fall and Spring Mariandale Quilt Retreats
  Sign-up for the very popular Mariandale Quilt Retreats will start in May.  The Fall retreat will be Tuesday 11/5/24-Thursday 11/7/24. The Spring retreat will be Friday 3/21/25-Sunday 3/23/25.  Questions: Jody Sullivan jodysull@optonline.net.

NSQG Workshops

• April – Pictorial Whole Cloth Quilts, Christina Arcenegui Bono
• May – Dancing with the Wall, Irene Roderick

Questions? Contact Jo Thomas, programs@northernstarquilters.com