FREE BONUS WORKSHOP – Carolina Cuevas will be offering a free Zoom workshop on Saturday, September 11th,  2-4 pm.  You will learn to make dyes and dye paste from organic and accessible materials to produce beautiful designs and patterns on fabric. Participants can watch Carolina go through the process or participate along with her in your kitchen.  Additional details to be emailed separately and a supply list will be sent to all participant’s after signing up for the workshop.

Sign up for the workshop with Kathy Tuttle – Kathytuttle9@gmail.com.  There is no fee for this workshop but please register beforehand if interested and membership must be current.

The Global Quilt Connection has scheduled another online All Star Sampler Platter for October 2nd and 3rd.  We will be registering the guild and sending current members more information and the Zoom sign in link when available.

COMING WORKSHOPS

Giucy Giuce (online) is our first meeting lecturer, Modern Quilt Photography via Zoom, September 21st.  His Zoom workshop is September 22.  The Vintage Quilt Revival is the topic of the workshop.  This is a great design opportunity if you are interested in designing and planning your quilt.

Julia McLeod (online) October 19th and  20th will lecture on “Everything But Cotton” with a next day workshop “Starting with Silk”.

Sarah Nishiura (online) November 16th will lecture on “Home”. Her workshop date will be later, Wednesday December 1^{st,  “}Deconstructing Design”.

Click HERE  for more details on the lectures and workshops or check our website, signup anytime.

Emails with details and reminders about workshops as well as any extra events are sent regularly, be sure to watch for them.

Zoom lecture links are sent out a couple days beforehand, recording links for those lectures that can be recorded are sent out a couple days after.   Workshops are not recorded.

Contact Kathy Tuttle, programs@northernstarquilters.com, with any questions.

September Workshop Description

Vintage Quilt Revival Workshop:  Giucy Giuce – September 22

What’s old is new again! Contemporary quilt designers are reaching back to vintage quilts to draw inspiration for their new quilt patterns. But how do you turn a dusty old quilt in the attic into a new and exciting design? Join Giuseppe Ribaudo from Giucy Giuce as he demonstrates how to deconstruct the elements of a vintage quilt and turn it into something new. Giuseppe will share his personal experience working with Mary Fons to redesign a vintage quilt for QuiltFolk magazine. He’ll then share his tips and tricks for dissecting old quilts of your own and give you the tools you need to design your own new quilt pattern!

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Comfort Quilts

Some Comfort Quilts from our August get-together

Comfort Quilters have been stitching away even though we have met infrequently!  We plan to continue with some in-person meetings thru the fall.  Right now the dates planned are Wednesdays, 10am-2pm – Sept. 22, Oct. 6 & 20, Nov. 3 & 17, and Dec. 1 & 15.  Vaccination required, masks still by personal choice, no lunch table setup, eating either outside or at your table spot is fine.

The NSQG Comfort Quilts’ distribution list, recorded by Pat Julian, in the past year has exceeded 507 quilts.  thanks to our wonderful group of Comfort Quilters who make these donations possible.  You can view the distribution summary Here.

All members are welcome to contact comfortquilts@northernstarquilters.com to join in making Comfort Quilts quilts or to make any charity quilt requests or any fabric donations.

2022 Raffle Quilt “Bright Star”

NSQG runs a yearly quilt raffle whose net proceeds benefit a not-for-profit charitable organization. This year’s recipient will be Friends of Karen. For 43 years, Friends of Karen’s mission is to provide emotional, financial and advocacy support for children with a life-threatening illness and their families in order to help keep them stable, functioning, and able to cope.

This year’s quilt, Bright Star, was coordinated by Judy Gignesi and a group of Guild members.  It was quilted by Angela Vertucci.  The quilt will be displayed at the September Zoom Guild meeting.

Dee Plouffe’,  charitable@northernstarquilters.com

Dear members,

September brings the start of a new guild year and the 40^th anniversary of Northern Star’s first open meeting following its founding in May, 1981. We’ve come a long way from making sampler blocks using self-made plastic templates to producing increasingly sophisticated quilts in a variety of styles! This is a good time to stop and reflect upon all that the guild continues to offer us and to celebrate friendships that have been made along the way and continue to be made as we come together to learn, grow and share our knowledge and passion for quilting.

Membership Update –
As of now, 109 people have renewed their membership for 2021-2022, and we have 2 new members for a total of 111. Please welcome Shari Lanay of Chaska, Minnesota and Alona Harman of Carmel, NY.
92 people have sent in pictures for the NSQG Member Directory. If you would like your photo included, email it to:  www.membership@northernstarquilters.com

 If you haven’t done so, I invite you to renew your membership now. 

Dues are $45.
The links for a registration form and payment are below, just pick and click.

Renew by credit card
or
Renew by check and mail

*****************************************************************************

*Please note that if you are having difficulty registering online, it may be that you have already done so. There is a check in the system that prevents duplicate registrations.

*We will continue sending reminder notices to members who have NOT registered for 2021-2022.

See you in September!

Carol Sterk and Joanne Visovsky, membership@northernstarquilters.com

REMEMBER – the Guild always likes to reach out to members with a get-well or sympathy card when it would be welcome and to acknowledge donations and gifts with a letter of thanks.   Please let me know if there is a member in need of a little Sunshine or a note of appreciation.
Thank you,
Fran Jacobson, Secretary@northernstarquilters.com

Get a preview of next season’s lectures and workshops on the website and signup anytime.

Emails with details and reminders about workshops as well as any extra events are sent regularly, be sure to watch for them.

Zoom lecture links are sent out a couple days beforehand, recording links for those lectures that can be recorded are sent out a couple days after.   Workshops are not recorded.

Elizabeth Eastmond
Criss Cross Quilt Workshop

Using a sashed four-patch and a Lattice block from the 1930s, this quilt makes up fun and fast, especially if using Layer Cake precuts. It’s also a good scrappy quilt, if kept to limited palette of colors.

June 16, 2021, 9am-3:30pm – online via Zoom

Followup one hour zoom – June 23, 2021, 10am

The cost of a workshop for NSQG members is $50.00, non-members are welcome (based on availability) for a fee of $70.

Class confirmation and supply list will be emailed when payment is received.

Questions can be sent to programs@northernstarquilters.com.

The Criss-Cross Quilt pattern is required;
a downloadable pdf may be purchased for $10 HERE or contacting programs@northernstarquilters.com.

Feel like just doing a whole bunch of sewing, without fussing with tricky patterns? Then this is the class for you! We make sashed four-patches, and slashed diagonals, mixing up the pieces to create a lively quilt.

The class will meet together for the first two hours (Synchronous Instruction), where we’ll trouble-shoot technology, get everyone set up to sew and to access the instructional videos.

The next ninety minutes are Asynchronous Learning, which allows students to sew and work at their own pace. It can also be a time for lunch break, but the focus is still on the workshop and its content. It can be a good time to review the class videos or download any class instruction sheets as well. This is roughly 11-12:30 p.m.We return for more Synchronous Instruction, addressing issues in late-stage construction, quilting ideas (if needed), and, if a lot of progress has been made, a group discussion where we talk about any challenges in the day’s work. This runs roughly 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Then solo-sewing by students on Zoom in the company of their guild friends. This has been quite popular as it allows for social interaction, sort of like a group sewing experiences. This end time block can be adjusted to individual Guild needs, but runs until to 3:30 p.m.

One Week Later:
10-11 am: Follow-up Class to show off your quilts! If you send me a photo the day before, I will put them into a Show and Share Slide Show which can then be forwarded to your Guild for their Online Guild Meeting.

Supply List:

• Purchase pdf pattern.
• In addition to the downloadable pattern, basic sewing supplies are all that are needed:
  sewing machine, fabric, rotary cutter/mat, larger square ruler (10 1/2 or similar), thread, needles, access to a computer or hand-held digital device (one per student), sense of humor, iron and ironing surface.

2021 Raffle Quilt –

Congratulations to SHORE/ ICARE…this years charity raffle raised $9000 and a check will be presented to them at our June Guild meeting. Thank you to everyone that sold tickets to support this great cause. Special thanks to Pins and Needles for sending their customers an email that resulted in additional sales.

Comfort Quilts

All members are welcome to contact comfortquilts@northernstarquilters.com with any Comfort Quilt requests.

In addition to all our quilt making efforts, Comfort Quilters find ways to to help defray our expenses and support the guild by raising funds from excess items donated to us with quilt raffles, tag sales, fabric sales, and kit sales, .  Click for the latest summary since we started keeping track.   Good work all around, thank you!

There will be an outside Comfort Quilt quilt drop-off and distribution on June 9^th from 10:30 to 11:30 at NSVAC.  If you would like any batting or fabric, please let Karen Carlson or Carol Auer know ahead of time. You can also pick up the Summer Project, “Feelin’ Plaid All Over”

Dee Plouffe’,  charitable@northernstarquilters.com

May is our Annual Meeting, voting for the new Board will be done via Zoom poll, please be sure to attend.

Co-President:  Margaret Cibulsky

For most of my adult life, I lived happily on Long Island where I taught Kindergarten and First Grade for 32 years, where my husband worked for SUNY and where we raised two sons.  Three years ago, I moved from Long Island to Stamford, Connecticut and a few months later I joined NSQG, and participate in both Comfort Quilts and the Improvisational SIG.  I came to quilting 15 years ago, filled with grief after my husband passed, but I was able to sort out my life by working with my hands, mind, and heart.  A few years later, 2010, the NYC Metro Modern Quilt Guild formed, and I have been an active member ever since.  That is where I fell in love with improvisational and scrap quilts.  Hoping our year ahead is filled with positive energy, good health, and lots of time to quilt.

Co-President:  Jody Sullivan

I am married to my high school sweetheart Jim for 53 years.  We raised our three children in our 150-year-old house which we were constantly renovating ourselves and when it was finally “finished” after about 30 years, I found time to buy a sewing machine and discovered quilting.  I started by taking several classes at The Country Quilter and was hooked!  I have now joined the fabric hoarders’ society and spend much of my free time (particularly this past year) making quilts.  I joined NSQG few years ago and discovered an amazing group of fellow quilters and look forward to joining in their future.

Secretary:  Francine Jacobson

I took my first quilting class at The Niddy Noddy in Croton on Hudson in 1980 and I haven’t stopped since!  I have a large family and mostly make quilts for weddings and babies.  I worked for 30 years as an educator in Ossining and since my retirement I am able to dedicate much more time to quilting.  Since joining the guild a few years ago, I have begun to explore many new avenues in the world of quilting and appreciate the opportunity to give back!

Treasurer: Amanda Curley

When growing up, my grandmother always had a basket by her chair filled with quilt piecing.  Once she had a top pieced together, she would take it to Effie, an elderly country woman, who lived down a backwoods road with her flock of chickens.  Effie would finish the quilt by hand.  One of these quilts was my wedding gift.  I’ve been using Grandma’s Bear Claw Bed Quilt since 1972.

It has taken many years of travel, raising a family, and a career before the gift of retirement returned me to the world of quilting.  When I joined NSQG in 2015, doors opened that I had long forgotten and missed.  The world of quilting I knew as a child has changed.  I am fascinated with everything I am learning through the guild and captivated with the quilts made and shared while enjoying the friendship of so many quilters.  I look forward to giving back as the guild’s treasurer.

 Vice President – Communications: Anne MacDonald

I began quilting in 2014, and it was love at first stitch.  My mother had been a hand quilter in the 70’s and I learned how to machine piece from my sister-in-law after admiring all her creations.  Quilting is a welcome change from using my brain at work, and I especially like the tactile and repetitive nature of the activities – cut, sew, press, cut, sew, press!
I joined the guild in 2015 and enjoy being with others that are interested in all things fabric and creative.  My favorite day all year is Super Saturday and I have found that smaller group activity to be a good way to get to know other members.  Although we have had some great remote experiences, I am looking forward to being able to have in-person activities again!  I joined the board first as the Charitable Activities Chair, and then as Assistant to the Presidents and have really enjoyed the experience.

Vice President – Membership:  Carol Sterk

I was a college junior when I discovered some unfinished Dresden plates in my grandmother’s closet.  It was an “aha” moment for me, and I decided to learn to quilt once I finished my education.  I took my first quilting class in 1976 at Riverside Church in Manhattan where I learned to cut pattern templates out of cardboard.  I persevered despite many setbacks until, several months after we moved to Westchester, my husband discovered an article in the newspaper about a quilt show at JFK High School in Somers.  It was a revelation!  I bought my first quilting book, attended a tutorial given by Claire Oehler, a founding member of NSQG, and put my name on a sign-up list to be notified about the first meeting of a new quilt guild that was being formed.  I have been a member of the guild ever since.  I am incredibly grateful for the friends I have made, the educational opportunities that have helped me grow as a quilter and for the show that has challenged me to be the best I can be.  I have served in several board positions over the years including Hospitality, Membership, Education, Assistant to the President and Quilt Show (co-chair) and am excited about returning to Membership, a role that will allow me to take an active part in board’s commitment to keep the guild vibrant.  My special passion is making complicated pieced quilts out of as many “scraps” as possible from my extensive stash.

Vice President – Programs:  Kathy Tuttle

I am a retired educator who took up Quilting when I was waiting for my second grandchild to be born.  A good friend of mine told me I had to make a giraffe/measurement chart for the nursery, and she would help me.  Having been a sewer for most of my life I thought it was a great idea. That was five years ago.  While the project was way over my head in reality, I fell in love with quilting.  I am a self-taught quilter with a few classes here and there.  I was delighted to join the guild last year, excited to meet wonderful people and learn from experienced quilters.  Since joining the guild, I have realized through the many wonderful programs and workshop that my love lies with art quilting.  I am a life-long learner and I look forward to in person meetings and workshops as the world opens its doors again in the not too distant future.

Vice President – Quilt Show:  Lisa Alfonzetti

I graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology in 1985 and began a job at a public relations firm in NYC.  It did not take me long to realize I was not on the right path.  The next step on the journey for me was purchasing a local fabric store that was for sale in 1987.  My fiancé and I took money we were saving for a house down payment and purchased the shop instead, and there has been no looking back.  We purchased the shop and got married all within the same month.  The shop had primarily a garment sewing focus, but we quickly added quilting cottons into the mix and, needless to say, quilting took over.
In my 34 years of shop ownership, I have strived to provide an environment that provides great products and experiences for our customers.  In recent years, my business has expanded to include sub-dealerships, working with other shops in the area to provide sewing machine expertise and service.  Working together has benefited not just us but our customers as well.  Our primary goal every day is a great customer experience.
While running my shop, I also raised 3 kids during this time, who are now 26, 29 and 31 years old.  And I am, with great excitement, expecting my first grandchild in July.  I served in many fundraising and event planning leadership roles during their school years – fundraisers for sports teams, the PTA, and most significantly, a Teen Safe Driving Program.  I feel my experience from these events will be my best preparation for running a successful Quilt Show.  Organization and a great team are the keys to success.
I am a new member of the guild, although I have been involved for many years.  Our participation as a vendor has included the donation of a BERNINA Sewing Machine for each show that we have been a vendor at.  I have always been appreciative of all the volunteers that make the guild, and the annual show, a success, and I feel like it is time for me to give back.

Click HERE for a pdf of the nominees info above as well as pics and bios of Board Members currently in appointed positions, not a part of the  election.

2021 Raffle Quilt –

CONGRATULATIONS to Amy Davenport of Connecticut, winner of the Grand Prize, “Painted Prism”, coordinated by Daisy Dodge and Debby Warren, made by the members of the NSQG Guild  and quilted by Angela Vertucci.

Winner of the First Prize, BERNINA sewing machine donated by Pins and Needles of Mt. Kisco is our very own guild member Patricia Loquet.

Congratulations to SHORE / ICARE, they will be receiving a very generous check from our Guild.

The latest Guild pin, designed by Daisy Dodge and based on the beautiful 2021 Raffle Quilt, is now available ($5) and was on sale at the Spring Fling.  Contact me if you wish to purchase one.

Comfort Quilts

All members are welcome to contact comfortquilts@northernstarquilters.com with any Comfort Quilt requests.

At the Spring Fling, Comfort Quilts distributed kits as well as the Surprise Summer Challenge – Feelin’ Plaid All Over.  If you need a kit or a summer challenge pack, just let us know.

We hope to have a few in-person meetings over the summer so stay tuned.

Dee Plouffe’,  charitable@northernstarquilters.com

Traditional to Modern

Scrappy

Art Lovers

Improv

Review our upcoming lectures and workshops on the website or signup anytime.

Emails with details and reminders about workshops as well as any extra events are sent regularly, be sure to watch for them.

Zoom lecture links are sent out a couple days beforehand, recording links for those lectures that can be recorded are sent out a couple days after.

Lisa Walton – Sydney Australia 

Workshop –  Fantastic Fusion – Two 3hr Zoom sessions

May 12th* & 19th – Wednesday evening 5:30pm-8:30pm (ET)

*Note – the first session is the Wednesday evening the week prior to Lisa’s lecture at the guild meeting.

No sewing is required to create this unique quilt top. All fabric is fused together and then the quilting is what holds it together. Learn to cut with no rulers and create your own original quilt.

This will be a two day evening workshop and is suitable for all skill levels.

See samples at this link – https://lisawaltonartist.com/portfolio-items/fantastic-fusion-2/

Skills learned

• Fusing
• Freehand fabric cutting
• Quilt Design
• Colour theory

Linda Stern, programs@northernstarquiltersguild.com

Happy Spring to all!

April brought two new members and one guest to NSQG last month bringing our total membership to 183.
Please welcome:
Rita Romeu of Crosswicks, NJ
Kristen Scheyder of Rye, NY
Denise Giardullo (guest)

I look forward to seeing you at the May zoom meeting!
Carol Sterk, membership@northernstarquilters.com

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ArtsWestchester Exhibit: Together ApART – Creating During Covid

ArtsWestchester is opening their first live art exhibit since March of last year on May 7.  The exhibit on display at their White Plains location will feature more than 250 works of painting, photography, sculpture, sewing, crafting, songwriting, poetry and other creative activities by 224 artists and community members from throughout the Hudson Valley.  All of the exhibited works were made between March 2020 and March 2021.

Over 500 works were submitted for the exhibit and we are pleased to announce that six NSQG members will have quilts on display.  The exhibit will include works by Donna Chambers, Susan Fasnacht, Linda Finegan, Jennifer Larribee, Judy Simek and Rona Spar.  Congratulations!

The exhibit will run until August 1.  It is open Wednesday – Friday and Sunday from noon until 5 pm and Saturday from noon until 6 pm, with entry every 30 minutes.  Reservations are required and can be made through the ArtsWestchester site by clicking Here.

It should be a great exhibit and a great opportunity to see art in person again.
Susan Fasnacht

NSQG is planning a Spring Fling for members!

The event will be held on the grounds of
North Salem Volunteer Ambulance Corps, 14 Daniel Road, North Salem, NY
Saturday May 1st, from 10:30am-2:30pm.

2021 Raffle Quilt –

LAST CALL for returning your raffle tickets…the drawing is in a few weeks at our next Guild meeting, Tuesday, April 20^th.  If you would like to purchase more tickets, or if you misplaced your tickets, the best way is to purchase them is online…click HERE, and I will fill out the stubs for you.

You could be our lucky winner!!

Thank you to all of our Guild members, their families and friends, for supporting this years charity, SHORE/ ICARE of Westchester County.

Painted Prism

Bernina 475

Charity for the 2022 Quilt Show

Congratulations to Friends of Karen, the charitable organization to be our next year’s quilt raffle recipient.  Since we only had one nominee, no election will be needed. Thank you to Nancy Mirman for nominating this wonderful organization that has been providing emotional, financial and advocacy support for children and their families for the past 43 years.

Dee Plouffe’,  charitable@northernstarquilters.com

Comfort Quilts

All members are welcome to contact comfortquilts@northernstarquilters.com with any Comfort Quilt requests.  Need fabric, batting, kits or have fabric to donate, let us know.  Mini Comfort Quilts are scheduled every few months at the North Salem Volunteer Ambulance Corps for members to pre-order any supplies needed to make the beautiful quilts we donate to various organizations.

At the Spring Fling, Comfort Quilts will be distributing our Surprise Summer Challenge as well as our regular CQ kits.

The Board candidates will be introduced at the April meeting, voting will occur the following month.  Details will be provided in the May Newsletter.

Co-President:  Margaret Cibulsky

For most of my adult life, I lived happily on Long Island where I taught Kindergarten and First Grade for 32 years, where my husband worked for SUNY and where we raised two sons.  Three years ago, I moved from Long Island to Stamford, Connecticut and a few months later I joined NSQG, and participate in both Comfort Quilts and the Improvisational SIG.  I came to quilting 15 years ago, filled with grief after my husband passed, but I was able to sort out my life by working with my hands, mind, and heart.  A few years later, 2010, the NYC Metro Modern Quilt Guild formed, and I have been an active member ever since.  That is where I fell in love with improvisational and scrap quilts.  Hoping our year ahead is filled with positive energy, good health, and lots of time to quilt.

Co-President:  Jody Sullivan

I am married to my high school sweetheart Jim for 53 years.  We raised our three children in our 150-year-old house which we were constantly renovating ourselves and when it was finally “finished” after about 30 years, I found time to buy a sewing machine and discovered quilting.  I started by taking several classes at The Country Quilter and was hooked!  I have now joined the fabric hoarders’ society and spend much of my free time (particularly this past year) making quilts.  I joined NSQG few years ago and discovered an amazing group of fellow quilters and look forward to joining in their future.

Secretary:  Francine Jacobson

I took my first quilting class at The Niddy Noddy in Croton on Hudson in 1980 and I haven’t stopped since!  I have a large family and mostly make quilts for weddings and babies.  I worked for 30 years as an educator in Ossining and since my retirement I am able to dedicate much more time to quilting.  Since joining the guild a few years ago, I have begun to explore many new avenues in the world of quilting and appreciate the opportunity to give back!

Treasurer: Amanda Curley

When growing up, my grandmother always had a basket by her chair filled with quilt piecing.  Once she had a top pieced together, she would take it to Effie, an elderly country woman, who lived down a backwoods road with her flock of chickens.  Effie would finish the quilt by hand.  One of these quilts was my wedding gift.  I’ve been using Grandma’s Bear Claw Bed Quilt since 1972.

It has taken many years of travel, raising a family, and a career before the gift of retirement returned me to the world of quilting.  When I joined NSQG in 2015, doors opened that I had long forgotten and missed.  The world of quilting I knew as a child has changed.  I am fascinated with everything I am learning through the guild and captivated with the quilts made and shared while enjoying the friendship of so many quilters.  I look forward to giving back as the guild’s treasurer.

 Vice President – Communications: Anne MacDonald

I began quilting in 2014, and it was love at first stitch.  My mother had been a hand quilter in the 70’s and I learned how to machine piece from my sister-in-law after admiring all her creations.  Quilting is a welcome change from using my brain at work, and I especially like the tactile and repetitive nature of the activities – cut, sew, press, cut, sew, press!
I joined the guild in 2015 and enjoy being with others that are interested in all things fabric and creative.  My favorite day all year is Super Saturday and I have found that smaller group activity to be a good way to get to know other members.  Although we have had some great remote experiences, I am looking forward to being able to have in-person activities again!  I joined the board first as the Charitable Activities Chair, and then as Assistant to the Presidents and have really enjoyed the experience.

Vice President – Membership:  Carol Sterk

I was a college junior when I discovered some unfinished Dresden plates in my grandmother’s closet.  It was an “aha” moment for me, and I decided to learn to quilt once I finished my education.  I took my first quilting class in 1976 at Riverside Church in Manhattan where I learned to cut pattern templates out of cardboard.  I persevered despite many setbacks until, several months after we moved to Westchester, my husband discovered an article in the newspaper about a quilt show at JFK High School in Somers.  It was a revelation!  I bought my first quilting book, attended a tutorial given by Claire Oehler, a founding member of NSQG, and put my name on a sign-up list to be notified about the first meeting of a new quilt guild that was being formed.  I have been a member of the guild ever since.  I am incredibly grateful for the friends I have made, the educational opportunities that have helped me grow as a quilter and for the show that has challenged me to be the best I can be.  I have served in several board positions over the years including Hospitality, Membership, Education, Assistant to the President and Quilt Show (co-chair) and am excited about returning to Membership, a role that will allow me to take an active part in board’s commitment to keep the guild vibrant.  My special passion is making complicated pieced quilts out of as many “scraps” as possible from my extensive stash.

Vice President – Programs:  Kathy Tuttle

I am a retired educator who took up Quilting when I was waiting for my second grandchild to be born.  A good friend of mine told me I had to make a giraffe/measurement chart for the nursery, and she would help me.  Having been a sewer for most of my life I thought it was a great idea. That was five years ago.  While the project was way over my head in reality, I fell in love with quilting.  I am a self-taught quilter with a few classes here and there.  I was delighted to join the guild last year, excited to meet wonderful people and learn from experienced quilters.  Since joining the guild, I have realized through the many wonderful programs and workshop that my love lies with art quilting.  I am a life-long learner and I look forward to in person meetings and workshops as the world opens its doors again in the not too distant future.

Vice President – Quilt Show:  Lisa Alfonzetti

I graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology in 1985 and began a job at a public relations firm in NYC.  It did not take me long to realize I was not on the right path.  The next step on the journey for me was purchasing a local fabric store that was for sale in 1987.  My fiancé and I took money we were saving for a house down payment and purchased the shop instead, and there has been no looking back.  We purchased the shop and got married all within the same month.  The shop had primarily a garment sewing focus, but we quickly added quilting cottons into the mix and, needless to say, quilting took over.
In my 34 years of shop ownership, I have strived to provide an environment that provides great products and experiences for our customers.  In recent years, my business has expanded to include sub-dealerships, working with other shops in the area to provide sewing machine expertise and service.  Working together has benefited not just us but our customers as well.  Our primary goal every day is a great customer experience.
While running my shop, I also raised 3 kids during this time, who are now 26, 29 and 31 years old.  And I am, with great excitement, expecting my first grandchild in July.  I served in many fundraising and event planning leadership roles during their school years – fundraisers for sports teams, the PTA, and most significantly, a Teen Safe Driving Program.  I feel my experience from these events will be my best preparation for running a successful Quilt Show.  Organization and a great team are the keys to success.
I am a new member of the guild, although I have been involved for many years.  Our participation as a vendor has included the donation of a BERNINA Sewing Machine for each show that we have been a vendor at.  I have always been appreciative of all the volunteers that make the guild, and the annual show, a success, and I feel like it is time for me to give back.

Click HERE for a pdf of the nominees info above as well as pics and bios of Board Members currently in appointed positions, not a part of the  election.

Signup – Workshop –Inspired By Architecture April 21

David Owens-Hastings – Mountlake Terrace WA

https://davidowenhastings.com

Review our upcoming lectures and workshops on the website anytime.

Emails with details and reminders about workshops as well as any extra events are sent regularly, be sure to watch for them.

Zoom lecture links are sent out a couple days beforehand, recording links for those lectures that can be recorded are sent out a couple days after.

Linda Stern, programs@northernstarquiltersguild.com

Some updates from our various SIGs:  We hope you all are enjoying your time together.  Our volunteer SIG facilitators have been generously sharing their time and skills to provide us with additional social and educational opportunities during this difficult time.  We will be seeing some of their efforts at the Spring Fling.  Many thanks to them all!

• For Art Lovers – Tamar Drucker

At our March 8^th meeting, we all chose our own medium to work with, while listening to 4 different styles of music.  Some flowing classical string music, then rhythmic percussion, and so on.   At our next meeting, we are going to welcome Spring by working on flowers using paper collage.   It will be a study tool for fabric work in the future.

• Quilting Skills – Diane Linker

The Quilt Skills SIG has been progressing well.  Everyone seems to be at roughly the same level and the group is cohesive.  Some of the people knew each other from the class I taught at Comfort Quilts summer before last, and all the members seem to be comfortable with each other.

• Scrappy – Jennifer Larrabee, Anne MacDonald

The Scrappy SIG has held 2 meetings so far, and things seem to be running well.  We have a big group, but everyone seems engaged.

• Embroidery – Luann Bruce

We have been meeting every 2 weeks.  for a little over an hour.  During our meeting we have learned new embroidery stitches while making a pattern found online for free.  We have just about finished this embroidery.  We will be starting cotton crazy quilt block.  I have 4 blocks for us to do.  We will learn new stitches for the blocks.  I think we have all had fun trying new stitches.

• Domestic Machine Quilting – Roni Gerhardt

Each time we meet we learn about one of the 5 basic shapes in machine quilting designs.  So far, we have done arcs and s curves.  Next time we will learn about free motion quilting straight lines.  I demonstrate different designs that they can do with these basic shapes.  I also share different YouTube videos and websites where they can find more designs.  The last part of the SIG is sharing time, sharing their successes and their failures, helping each other solve problems.  We also do a show and tell of quilts they have quilted and quilts that need to be quilted.

• Traditional to Modern – Yvonne Clayton

The Traditional to Modern SIG has met four times and things are going quite well.  There are 10 of us with a possible new member joining.  Each member has taken a traditional block and has incorporated modern elements.  We are using bold colors, high contrast colors, solid colors, multiple block sizes, oversized blocks, alternate grid work, negative space, as well as going wonky and asymmetrical.  When we meet, we discuss a particular topic that may include sharing YouTube videos or links to websites.   We have a show and tell and help each other solve problems.  At our next meeting we will discuss quilting design ideas.

—

Our March speaker and workshop is by Katie Fowler.  Click Fearless Creating for details and signup.

April brings David Owens Hastings for our speaker and workshop, Inspired by Architecture.

Review our upcoming lectures and workshops on the website anytime.

Emails with details and reminders about workshops as well as any extra events are sent regularly, be sure to watch for them.

Zoom lecture links are sent out a couple days beforehand, recording links for those lectures that can be recorded are sent out a couple days after.

Linda Stern, programs@northernstarquiltersguild.com

Comfort Quilts

All members are welcome to contact comfortquilts@northernstarquilters.com with any Comfort Quilt requests.  Need fabric, batting, kits or have fabric to donate, let us know.  Mini Comfort Quilts are scheduled every few months at the North Salem Volunteer Ambulance Corps for members to pre-order any supplies needed to make the beautiful quilts we donate to various organizations.  Thank you to Karen Carlson and Carol Auer for their hard work in keeping C.Q.’s ongoing in these difficult times.

2021 Raffle Quilt –

LAST CALL – Please return your raffle tickets!  The drawing is at our next month’s April meeting for Grand Prize – Painted Prism and First Prize – Bernina 475 donated by Pins and Needles.  Thank you for supporting this year’s charity SHORE/ ICARE of Westchester County.

Painted Prism

Bernina 475

Mail check and stubs to Dee Plouffe  280A Heritage Hills,  Somers, NY 10589
OR
Pay via credit card HERE  (more ticket packs may also be purchased online) and I will gladly fill out the stubs for you.

I am now taking requests to nominate your favorite Charity to be the recipient of the proceeds of the 2022 raffle quilt.  The Charity must be a non-profit organization that serves the people in the local tri-state area.  The Charity must be a non-profit organization that serves people in the local tri-state area.The nomination criteria is on our website, located under the Charitable heading or click HERE.
Looking forward to hearing from you.

Dee Plouffe, charitable@northernstarquilters.com

Hi everyone,

You should have received your updated 2020-2021 online Membership Directory a few weeks ago. If not, please let me know.  A few copies of the paper edition of the directory are still available. Feel free to email me in order to make arrangements for pick up.

Joanne and I encourage you to send your photograph for the directory to membership@nothernstarquilters.com even though it will be awhile before it appears in the next version of the directory.  Our goal is to have as close to 100% participation as possible by next year. I don’t know about you, but I love being able to place a name with a face!

An effort is being made to reach out to those members who, for one reason or another, have not participated in guild meetings, SIGs or pop up groups on zoom. If you know of someone who would appreciate a call or a note from the guild, please email me at membership@northernstarquilters.com.

Looking forward to seeing a lot of familiar faces at the March meeting!
Carol Sterk and Joanne Visovsky, membership@northernstarquilters.com

Mary Cannizzaro provided the following information after her workshop about additional classes that members might like to take and where they can get the book and other supplies that we spoke about in the class.  Her Etsy Store, CannizzaroCreations, has the Stabile-Tee interfacing and the Terial Magic Stabilizer discussed as well as her book, Beyond the Tee and classes to help you design and make a one of a kind T-shirt quilt.

Our March speaker and workshop is by Katie Fowler.  Click Fearless Creating for details and signup.

April brings David Owens Hastings for our speaker and workshop, Inspired by Architecture.

Review our upcoming lectures and workshops on the website anytime.

Emails with details and reminders about workshops as well as any extra events are sent regularly, be sure to watch for them.
Zoom lecture links are sent out a couple days beforehand, recording links for those lectures that can be recorded are sent out a couple days after.

Linda Stern, programs@northernstarquiltersguild.com

Comfort Quilts

Our newest CQ pattern – Sticks and Stones

All members are welcome to contact comfortquilts@northernstarquilters.com with any Comfort Quilt requests.  Need some simple sewing to help get thru the winter – we can get a Comfort Quilt kit to you!  Need some fabric for a CQ quilt – Carol Auer can open her outdoor ‘fabric shop’ for you! Any CQ quilts or quilting fabric to donate, let us know.

In addition, Mini CQ’s, scheduled every couple months, enable members to ‘pre-order’ and drive by to pick up any supplies they may need to keep making all those wonderful quilts that we donate to various organizations.

2021 Raffle Quilt –

Don’t forget to return your raffle tickets!

The drawing is getting close and I would love to see 100% ticket stub returns!  Requests for additional tickets can be made by contacting me  at charitable@northernstarquiltersguild.com

Mail check and stubs to Dee Plouffe  280A Heritage Hills,  Somers, NY 10589
OR
Pay via credit card HERE  (more ticket packs may also be purchased online) and I will gladly fill out the stubs for you.

Pins and Needles in Mt. Kisco is donating a BERNINA 475 sewing machine worth $2,749.00!  If that doesn’t make you want to buy more tickets nothing will….  Except the Grand Prize Quilt, Painted Prism…it’s amazing!

Thank you again for supporting this year’s charity, SHORE/ ICARE of Westchester County.

It’s that time of year to nominate your favorite Charity to be the recipient of the proceeds of the 2022 raffle quilt.  The Charity must be a non-profit organization that serves people in the local tri-state area. I will be accepting nominations thru March. The nomination criteria is on our website, located under the Charitable heading or click HERE.

Dee Plouffe, charitable@northernstarquilters.com

Greetings to all!

NSQG membership stands at 180 members. Please welcome our newest members, Lisa Alfonzetti, Deborah Ehrichs and Gwen Heekin.

You will be receiving an updated version of the NSQG Membership Directory for 2020-2021 within the next few weeks. It includes corrections to existing information and the addition of new members. If you are aware of any errors or changes that need to be made to your phone numbers, email address or street address, now is the time to let Joanne and I know. You are also welcome to send in your photo for inclusion in the directory. Please send all changes to: membership@nothernstarquilters.com.

Anne MacDonald and I will soon be reaching out to members who haven’t been attending zoom meetings and activities this year.  If you are aware of anyone who has not been engaged in guild activities since the pandemic began and would appreciate either technological support for zooming or a phone call or a note, please let us know at:   membership@northernstarquilters.com.

See you on Zoom!
Carol Sterk and Joanne Visovsky, membership@northernstarquilters.com

ArtsWestchester News: Challenge Results and an Exhibition Opportunity

Art$Westchester Challenge Final Report:    I am pleased to announce that we had a very successful Art$Westchester Challenge and that our Guild has received a $1,500 matching grant from ArtsWestchester.  Through the generosity of our members, NSQG received $2,215 in donations to the Challenge.  Adding in the matching amount of $1,500 the total amount raised is $3,715.  A big thank you to all who participated and to ArtsWestchester for extending this grant program to organizations like our Guild.  We also need to thank Westchester County – the County Executive and the Board of legislators – for providing extra funds to ArtsWestchester for the Challenge.

NSQG will be using the money raised to help fund our speakers in 2021 and to bring additional programs/activities to our members.  So far we have used the funds to offer the Adele Scott and Mary Cannizzaro workshops.  We hope to offer more as the year progresses.

ArtsWestchester Exhibit Opportunity – Calling ALL Creatives – ArtsWestchester has announced that it plans to reopen its gallery in White Plains after an extended COVID-19 closure with an exhibition of the artistic and creative projects that people have been working on since March, 2020.  They have issued an open call for creative works made during the coronavirus pandemic to be included in an ArtsWestchester curated exhibition.  Submissions are due by March 3, 2021 and you will be notified of submission status no later than Monday, March 15, 2021.  The exhibit will open to the public in late April, 2021. The exhibition is intended to be presented in person at ArtsWestchester’s gallery, with a parallel virtual presentation, depending upon the health guidelines and policies in place at the time.  If you are interested in entering your work for consideration for the exhibition, information on how to submit your material can be found at https://artswestchester.org/artist-opportunities/an-open-call-to-the-westchester-community/.  We hope that NSQG with all its creative members will have a good representation at the exhibition.

Hello Fellow Quilters!

I hope this News Letter finds everyone well.  As I write this, we are anticipating a snow storm that has promised to bring lots of snow over several days, yikes! Perfect quilting weather though.

Our February Zoom meeting is going to be busy and fun filled!  Following our business meeting, we will be voting on our 2020 Challenge Quilts:  What’s your Vision?  We will show all the quilts with three views of each.  We will then show each quilt again at the end of the presentation.  Please make notes of your favorite in each of the four categories.  Immediately following the presentation we will have online voting.

Then, Lisa from Pins and Needle’s will be providing us with a demonstration on the importance of accuracy in our quilting process from start to finish.  Pins and Needles is a wonderful store conveniently located in Mt. Kisco.  They offer a great selection of fabrics, notions, classes, machines, long arm services and friendly helpful faces!  Online shopping is also available.  Lisa is a long time supporter of our Guild.  So, let’s make sure we support her in these very challenging quilting times.

At the conclusion of Lisa’s presentation, I will come back and announce the Challenge Winners!

Those of you who participated in the What’s Your Vision Challenge, please contact me to make arrangements to get your quilt back following the February vote.  We are hoping to arrange a few “pick up” locations using a buddy system.

Finally, just a reminder that our Challenge: “Put a Heart on It” is now our 2021/2022 Challenge.  With the extra time I hope to see extra quilts!

Your Activities Liaison, April Russell, activities@northernstarquilters.com