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

–

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

Carol’s written directions are still available HERE.

Hello and Happy New Year!

This month we have a great January program for you to enjoy.  We have the Mother & Daughter Dynamic Duo of Cathy and Sarah from the Quilt Basket who will be joined by the uber talented Debby Brown which, makes for the perfect Hat Trick!

Cathy and Sarah have successfully owned and operated The Quilt Basket for many years, offering wonderful fabrics, patterns, tools classes, retreats and more!  And, while the brick and mortar store may have closed, their online store is open for business and still offering the same wonderful selection and service.  They will be sharing with us one of the Cutie Pattern’s they have developed and walk us through the construction from start to finish.  They will then pass the baton to Debby who will provide us with creative quilting ideas on how to finish the quilt with either your domestic  or long-arm machine.

A seamstress from her youth, Debby transitioned into quilting while expecting her first child. Thirty years and thousands of quilts later, she is an award-winning quilter who has published quilts, patterns, books, articles and columns in major quilting magazines.  She teaches at national and international quilting shows, has filmed HQ Sweet Sixteen® instructional DVDs and has taught multiple machine quilting classes on Craftsy, Annie’s Creative Studio, Annie’sCatalog.Com, as well self-produced online classes.  Debby loves working with new free-motion quilters because she knows that they can succeed with just enough encouragement. Debby is obsessed with the precision of ruler quilting on domestic, sit-down, and long-arm machines and spices up those lines with whimsical free-motion quilting that appeals to quilters of all skill levels.  When not traveling to spread her fun brand of quilting, Debby creates in her studio in New York’s beautiful  Hudson Valley. Debby and her husband enjoy plotting how best to spoil their grandchildren.

Let’s keep supporting them.  Please visit them on line at:  QuiltBasket.com and DebbyBrownQuilts.com.

Don’t forget to keep working on your Challenge Quilt: Put a Heart on It.  I can’t wait to see them.

Happy Stitchin’, April

Bethanne Nemesh ‘Creative Textures’ workshop is full.
Check for waiting list availability if interested – programs@northernstarquilters.com

After our January and February winter programs, our March speaker  and workshop is by Katie Fowler.
Click Fearless Creating for details and signup.

Review our lecture and workshop lineup on the website anytime.

Special emails with details and reminders about workshops and any special events are sent regularly, be sure to watch for them.
Zoom links will be sent out a couple days beforehand, links for those lectures that can be recorded will be sent out a couple days after.

Linda Stern, programs@northernstarquiltersguild.com

Click HERE for description and supply list.

Other area guilds, like us, often open their workshops to non-members when they have extra slots.  There are links to local area guilds on our home page and at the end of the newsletter.  If you are looking for additional workshops, check out their websites!

Some new online SIGs are being offered for members only.  A description of the proposed groups is below.  Meeting lengths and schedules will be determined by the host and participants.  The maximum for any group is 12, so signups are first come, first served!

There is still time to register for a group or to offer to host or co-host, please respond HERE before January 10th.

–

Quilting Skills – Host:  Diane Linker.   This will be a project-based group. The group will focus on a variety of quilt techniques, with the goal of each member designing and completing a quilt incorporating those techniques. Each member of the group will decide on the style, size and degree of complexity of his or her quilt. The skills that we will work on will be those selected by the group members, but will include foundation piecing, machine applique and precision piecing techniques. The group will meet twice each month, but there will be help available by email or phone in between meetings.

For Art Lovers – Host:  Tamar Drucker.  The group will start with works on paper – sketches, paintings, paper collage — as a base/study for designing fabric pieces.  As time goes on the group will develop other ideas for inspiration. The group will meet twice a month.

Embroidery – Host:  Luann Bruce.  The group will cover a variety of embroidery stitches to embellish and make your quilt unique.  Members will be able to share samples of their work and discuss tips and techniques.

Traditional to Modern – Host:  Yvonne Clayton.  Taking traditional quilt blocks to the next level.  The group will work on updating traditional blocks to modernize them by using brightly colored fabrics, striking prints, and bold solids.  We will explore using unusual color combinations and/or abstract designs to create exciting new looks.  The group will meet twice each month.

Scrappy Quilts – Host:  Jennifer Larrabee & Anne MacDonald.  A group for people who have trouble parting with even the smallest, tiniest, itty-bitty bits of fabric!  The group will share ideas for using up their scraps, challenge each other to create something stunning from those tiny treasures (and help each other avoid being showcased on the next season of “Hoarders”) and propose mini-challenges.

Comfort Quilts

All members are welcome to contact comfortquilts@northernstarquilters.com with any CQ 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.

Click HERE to see the CQ donation list for the first half of the guild year, July thru December 2020, a record number!  Many thanks to all CQ’ers who have made quilts and have thus kept our donation coordinators very busy; and thank you to the coordinators for delivering the quilts to those in need of the bit of comfort or hug that a quilt can bring.

2021 Raffle Quilt – Don’t forget your raffle tickets!

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.

Dee Plouffe, charitable@northernstarquilters.com

Hi everyone,

The December guild meeting on zoom was attended by about 70 members. If you haven’t attended a zoom meeting yet, I think you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise. Those who have attended over the past months have especially enjoyed catching up with other members in the chat rooms hosted on zoom in between the business meeting and the lecture. Hope to see you there this month! This is one January you won’t have to worry about driving to the meeting in cold, unpredictable weather!

*Extra copies of the Membership Directory for 2020-2021 are still available. Please email me if you would like one.
*It is not too late to send in your photo for the directory. When a critical mass is reached, an updated version of the online directory will be sent to all members via email.

Wishing you hope and a vaccination in the new year!
Carol, membership@northernstarquilters.com

Comfort Quilts

Comfort Quilts had a “Mini CQ” quilt distribution on November 4^th  at NSVAC.  Seventy plus quilts were picked up to be delivered in time for the Holidays.  Throughout the year Comfort Quilters deliver these beautiful quilts to various organizations as well as to individuals.

Listed are some of our recurring donations, along with the Comfort Quilter overseeing collecting and delivering them.  With thanks to Pat Julian for keeping track of our donations as well as to Jody Sullivan for taking over for Barbara Powers, our dedicated collector of quilts for the WMC Behavioral Center.

Carol Auer – Putnam&No.Westchester Women’s Resource Center, Ann’s Place, and Rosary Hill
Karen Carlson – Ossining Children’s Center
Donna Chambers – Andrus on Hudson
Jean Degl – Marie Ferari NICU
Jennifer Kramer – Pleasantville Cottage School
Althea Nolan – Pins and Needles, Northern Westchester Hospital ICU
Barbara Powers, Jody Sullivan – WMC Behavioral Center
Nina Primer – Blythedale Hospital
Jody Sullivan – Bennett Cancer Center

Special thanks to all our wonderful group of Comfort Quilters who make these donations possible!

2021 Raffle Quilt

Please remember to return your ticket stubs:

Mail check and stubs to Dee Plouffe  280A Heritage Hills,  Somers, NY 10589
OR
Pay via credit card HERE  and I will gladly fill out a set of stubs for you .

Dee Plouffe, charitable@northernstarquilters.com

Art$Westchester Matching Fund Challenge!

The generosity of our members is fantastic.  To date we have received close to $1,800 in donations to the Art$Westchester Matching Fund Challenge – a big thanks to all.  Although ArtsWestchester won’t be announcing the final matching funds until the end of the year, we expect that we will receive the entire $1,500 that they are offering to organizations such as ours.  That will result in nearly $3,300 that we will have for additional programs or events to our members.

We have already started using some of the funds by providing a free workshop to our members.  The December 4th workshop by Adele Scott, Simple String Piecing, is paid for from our Challenge funds.  The Board hopes that the workshop and the follow up Holiday Social Hour provide members with an opportunity to learn a new quilting method and to connect with others – something we all need this year.

The Board wants to make sure activities funded by the Challenge money are of interest to members.  So, if you have any ideas or suggestions, please email them to me at sfasnacht@verizon.net and I’ll be sure to share them with the Board.

Even though we have maxed out on the grant portion of the Art$Westchester Matching Fund Challenge, you can still donate to it.   We are earmarking all of the funds raised by this challenge for additional programs or events for members – things that are not part of our budget or regularly scheduled programs.  Here’s the link for the form: NSQG.formstack.com/forms/nsqg_creditcard_payment_artswestchester

A big THANK YOU to all who have contributed to the Challenge.  We will be sure to put the money to good use.

Susan Fasnacht, Ex-Officio

Greetings to all!

Membership now stands at 176.

The hard copy of the NSQG Membership Directory is ready. The membership committee has organized, by area, those members who signed up to receive a copy. Each of you will be contacted by one of the committee members (Carol, Rosemary, Joanne) or Karen Carlson to make arrangements for pickup/delivery.  There are a few extra copies for those of you who want one. Please contact us at membership@northernstarquilters.com for further information.

It’s not too late to participate in the directory photo project. We will continue to add photos to our files.  If there are enough additions, an updated version of the directory will be sent out within the next few months. Just email your picture to:  membership@nothernstarquilters.com

Wishing you happy holidays!
Carol Sterk, Rosemary DePaola, Joanne Visovsky

For December, after the Zoom business meeting, we again hope to move members into some zoom mini-groups to provide an opportunity to chat further with fellow members and will be providing further details with the zoom links and at the meeting.

If you would like some help to be able to join future meetings, please feel free to contact Anne MacDonald via email (annemacd8250@gmail.com) or via the cell phone number listed in the directory.  In order to participate in a Zoom meeting with video, all you need is a computer (desktop or laptop), a tablet or smartphone.  If you would like to just hear the meeting, with no video, it is possible to just call in.  We look forward to staying connected despite the limits on gathering.  Please join us for our next meeting and don’t be shy about asking for a little help if it keeps you connected!

Keep up with our lecture and workshop lineup for the season.

Special emails and reminders about workshops are sent regularly, be sure to watch for them.
Zoom links will be sent out a couple days beforehand, links for those lectures that can be recorded will be sent out a couple days after.

Linda Stern, programs@northernstarquiltersguild.com

This Saturday workshop, January 16, “Creative Texture from A to Zen” is by Bethanne Nemesh, our December speaker.

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

Be sure your membership is up-to-date (you can renew here) before registering as a member for a workshop.

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

Questions can be sent to programs@northernstarquilters.com.

Traditional free motion background fillers are a wonderful starting point, but what happens when you let yourself be influenced by natural patterns, macro photography, and the textures of everyday objects? Be inspired by Bethanne’s fresh take on backgrounds, using physical objects to inspire new textures, perfect for filling those big open spaces of more modern quilts!  Explore the alphabet from A to Z with new eyes.  This exciting 4 hour zoom class will feature drawing, demonstration of quilting designs on both a longarm and domestic sewing machine and time for students to actively quilt and try designs!

Supply list: sketchbook and pens, a 1” x 6” ruler or any quilt ruler for straight line marks, water or air erase marking pen, and pale sample fabric prepared as a quilt sandwich for each student’s preferred machine.  Finally, a thin thread that allows the student to see their stitching, but not so high contrast that flaws are upsetting, 60 weight thread is suggested.  A medium grey on white works for many students.

 Students will have time in class to try several designs, however if they hope to eventually finish a small sample of one of each of the 26 designs then they should prepare  their work space as a grid of 4” squares, 5 rows x 6 rows.

For November, after the Zoom business meeting, we hope to move members into some zoom mini-groups to provide an opportunity to chat further with fellow members and will be providing further details with the zoom links and at the meeting.

If you would like some help to be able to join future meetings, please feel free to contact Anne MacDonald via email (annemacd8250@gmail.com) or via the cell phone number listed in the directory.  In order to participate in a Zoom meeting with video, all you need is a computer (desktop or laptop), a tablet or smartphone.  If you would like to just hear the meeting, with no video, it is possible to just call in.  We look forward to staying connected despite the limits on gathering.  Please join us for our next meeting and don’t be shy about asking for a little help if it keeps you connected!

Hi Everyone,

As of this writing, 169 people have signed up for NSQG membership for 2020-2021.  Thank you for your ongoing commitment to and support of the guild as we forge ahead in the midst of the ongoing pandemic!

Membership Directory News

Later this week, you will be receiving an email including the first draft of the NSQG Membership Directory for 2020-2021.  Since there won’t be an opportunity for you to check your information in person, we are asking you to please notify us at membership@northernstarquilters.com of any changes or corrections that need to be made.  The deadline for changes to be submitted is Sunday, November 8^th. Our goal is to have the online version of the directory available to you on or before the November guild meeting and the hard copy ready for pick up in early December.

Postage Stamp Photo Gallery Update 

The membership committee has received very positive feedback in response to our postage stamp photo project. So far, 68 members have sent in their photos.  Joanne Visovsky will continue to collect pictures from those members who would like to participate throughout the coming months and will periodically add them to the online directory. 

There are a variety of options:

• Send in your favorite recent picture of yourself
• Send us a picture taken at a special event (birthday, graduation, wedding, etc.)
• Get together with your quilting friends. You can take turns snapping pictures of each other.
• Use a professional photo
• Try a selfie!

*Note:  photos will be cropped to include face only

How to Send Your Photo

• Email a jpeg picture from your computer to membership@northernstarquilters.com
• Email us a picture from your phone to membership@northernstarquilters.com
• Text your picture to Joanne at 914 548-2310

*Please note:  WE ARE NOT PUTTING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION on social media or the NSQG website.

Wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving!
Carol Sterk, membership@northernstarquilters.com

Comfort Quilts

Comfort Quilts has another ‘Mini CQ’  on November 4^th at the NSVAC.

Contact charitable@northernstarquilters.com for any information.

2021 Raffle Quilt

I’d like to thank Pat Julian, newsletter editor, for the Village Squares Quilters, for offering to help their sister Guild, NSQG, in selling our 2021 Quilt raffle tickets.  In the Village Squares Quilters newsletter, she will post a picture of Grand Prize, Painted Prism, and First Prize, a Bernina sewing machine donated by Pins and Needles of Mount Kisco.

Thanks to the members of Village Squares Quilters for helping us support the charity SHORE/ I CARE.

For some background information about SHORE / I CARE, read an interview with Pierre Poux, one of the founders, HERE.

Don’t forget you can purchase raffle tickets online HERE.

Dee Plouffe, charitable@northernstarquilters.com

Payment instructions for checks or pay by credit card
You will also be asked to fill out a verification form that we will need to send to ArtsWestchester to receive the matching Challenge money.

Hello Fellow Quilters!

I hope this News Letter finds you all well.  The chill is in the air indicating yet more changes.  I for one, am happy to move into the last quarter of  2020.  With most of my outdoor chores complete I am planning a very quilty fall and winter.

I am working out the details on a platform to hold the voting on the 2020 Challenge.  Something that will best serve us all.  One that will enable us to appreciate and respect the hard work that went into the making of each quilt so that we can vote confidently.  It is still top secret so the details will follow.

Don’t forget about the 2021 Challenge: Put a Heart on It.  Several people reached out with questions and said they are working on one.  Recently I spoke to a few members who already have it done! yikes!   The details of when and how I will collect them has yet to be decided.   I could certainly collect them as usual by setting a “drop off” point or points.  People use the buddy system already if they can’t make the February meeting.  Or, they can mail it.  I got a couple that way the past couple of years.  I have some ideas on the voting for 2021 as well.

Some fun is planned for the January and February meetings.   There is a little bit of something for everyone.  I hope we can all enjoy these demos and learn something while still being able to support our local quilt shops in these every changing times.

Your Activities Liaison, April

– An article about Donna Chambers career:   https://www.riogrande.com/article?name=DonnaChambersInterview

– Mary Cannizzaro was Yankee Quilters’ guest on Facebook Live talking about her book:  https://www.facebook.com/events/3384747964938971/

– Roni Gerhardt – I made this jacket to wear when I would go vote. We voted by mail, so I decided instead to send it to my local Congresswoman Jahana Hayes.  She is recovering from Covid.  Sadly, she didn’t get it, but I have hope she will soon.  I added the words Good Trouble for John Lewis, We are better than this for Elijah Cummings, and RBG for Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

Our October Quilt Social is almost here and we are looking forward to seeing you! 

We will have a separate checkout area to list and pay for all purchases at once.  Bring along your own tote to stash your ‘stuff’.  Great prices!
Payments by exact cash or check only, please come prepared! 

The following activities are in the works:

• Membership renewal – if possible print and fill out your form and check ahead of time
• Workshop signups –  if possible write your check and note it with your workshop choice ahead of time
• Display and voting for the ‘2020 – What’s Your Vision’ Challenge quilts
• Comfort Quilters’ summer project display ‘Salt n Pepper’ plus ‘mini-quilt-raffle’
• 2021 Charity Raffle Quilt on display and your raffle ticket packet to pickup
• Special ‘Show Pin’ sale
• Books and magazines sale  – Fill a ‘Bag of Books’, brown bag provided
  (no further donations accepted at this time, save for spring)
• Special boutique and holiday Quilt Kits for sale
• And some free surprises!

• NYS Covid-19 safety precautions are to be followed.
• Stay at home if any Covid-19 symptoms or possible exposure to Covid-19 or travel in quarantined states in the last 14 days.
• Attendance is monitored and staggered to avoid crowding.
• Masks are required once out of your car as is social distancing.
• Sanitizer available.
• No food, guests, children, or pets

Our September membership meeting  – our first via Zoom – was great fun and informative.  The highlight for many was the opportunity to see familiar faces and say “hi”.  As we move forward in the coming months, Zoom will continue to be the way that we host our meetings and the presentations that are normally a part of our in-person meetings.

If you would like some help to be able to join future meetings, please feel free to contact Anne MacDonald via email (annemacd8250@gmail.com) or via the cell phone number listed in the directory.  In order to participate in a Zoom meeting with video, all you need is a computer (desktop or laptop), a tablet or smartphone.  If you would like to just hear the meeting, with no video, it is possible to just call in.  We look forward to staying connected despite the limits on gathering.  Please join us for our next meeting and don’t be shy about asking for a little help if it keeps you connected!

Susan Harisch –  I got this quilt from my aunt. She said my great-grandmother had made two of them, identical.  It’s very cute but also quite yellow in spots  I would love to be able to wash it and hopefully get it white again.  If you have any suggestions on how old it might be or how to clean it, please email me, adannon@msn.com, thanks.

Nina Primer

Carol Auer
A CQ made with log cabin center from Barbara Powers. I got into my strip box & went from there.

Rona Spar – Here’s my market bag ala Gees Bend sort of…

Jody Sullivan – Gees Bend inspired

African Market by Rosalie Dace

Our indefatigable Programs Chair, Linda Stern, has arranged another speaker we would not normally be able to afford.  Rosalie Dace of South Africa, www.rosaliedace.net, will lecture via Zoom, our usual speaker time June 16th at 7pm.  Watch for the link to be sent beforehand.

Reflections of an Itinerant Artist – We are all products of our history and my quilts come directly from my life. This lecture traces views and thoughts of people, places, ideas and objects that have inspired and moved me from my childhood in rural South Africa to the rather crazy traveling I have done over the past 30 years. I show images of my homes and quilts, the people and places that influenced them. The process of quilt making is enormously important to me and I track various works in progress in my studio, as well as discussing how changes around me have affected and influenced my work. Also included are images of artists whose work I admire from around the world in places I have visited.
I think this provides a close look at a working artist and teacher, where it call comes from, what makes me laugh, what the challenges are, and where I hope to go with it….and that always changes, so come and enjoy my journey with me as I reflect on what it means to be an Itinerant Quilter.

Cindy Grisdela’s Improv Puzzle Block Workshop in April via Zoom went smoothly.  She presented a series of well-organized and engaging lessons using instructional videos, course notes and photos which her students were able to access at their own speed.  The quilts below were done by members in the Improv SIG.  Some of us used Cindy’s plan for a small quilt while others used only her techniques.  All of us enjoyed this creative experience.  For most of us, Cindy included, this online format was a first and we would do it again!

Meg Mooar

Anne Chehebar

Susan Fasnacht

Dee Plouffe

Rona Spar

Jody Sullivan

Margaret Cibulsky

Comfort Quilters will be able to pick up our annual Summer Project, June 10th! Contact comfortquilts@northernstarquilters.com.

Some Comfort Quilts on display:

Rona Spar – I made this quilt using the Beth Helfter method of cutting HST’s in our Zoom workshop.  It is a Comfort Quilt for a NICU baby.

Dee Plouffe – Disappearing Nine Patch for a little boy, Disappearing Nine Patch for a little girl, Zig Zag small kit, Crooked Critters, Around the Circus

Rosemary DePaola – These quilts are made from a kit that was left on the NSAC steps that Kathy Keane thought I could do something with. The first picture is the back of the second NICU quilt. The third is a a child sized quilt. I was able to make a duplicate with the pieces that I had. No leftovers.

Marsha Henderson – Another CQ from a kit. Thank you kit makers.

Joe Cunningham will be joining us via Zoom for our May Meeting at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, May 19th.
His website is  http://www.joecunninghamquilts.com/about.
We will send out the Zoom invitation link a few days before. This should be a fun lecture with a slightly different format. Since Joe will have a videographer, he will not be static in front of the computer, and is planning to give us a tour of his San Francisco Studio and a demonstration of his creative process. A recorded video link will be made available for those who cannot join us Tuesday evening.

For our May Workshop we will have Beth Helfter of EvaPaige Design do a half-day workshop via Zoom. May 20, 9 AM -12 PM.
Check out her website – https://evapaigequilts.com

Because scrappy is always better, Beth developed the Accordion Sewn HSTs™ method of making HSTs without matches or waste. Check out her Accordion Sewn HSTs™  YouTube video and student work on her Facebook page! You’ll be intrigued and I hope you’ll decide to join us for three hours of interactive instruction.

Come hang out with other guild members, use your stash, and have a fun filled morning of quilting while learning a new technique for half square triangles. This would be a great class for new quilters.

Class is limited to 20, cost is only $20, so sign up soon.
Email Linda to signup and ask for the link to pay online or send a check (payable to ‘Northern Star Quilters’ Guild Ltd‘) to:  Linda Stern, 26 Lake Drive, Somers NY 10589.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the online lectures and workshop this month. It is so important that we continue to quilt, grow and and stay connected. Timna and Cindy truly appreciated our support and willingness to try something new and were awed by our Guild.

Looking forward to May!
Linda, Programs@Northernstarquilters.com

Due to the corona virus pandemic, our May and June scheduled meetings at Kennedy Catholic are cancelled and the Annual Meeting of the Northern Star Quilters’ Guild will be rescheduled.
At that re-scheduled meeting, the membership will vote on a bylaw change to replace the Education and Special Activities position with an Activities Liaison and to elect the candidates for the NSQG Board for the 2020-21 Guild year.  Details about the nominees and bylaw change were emailed earlier in April and will be emailed again when the future Annual Meeting date is determined.

The candidates for election are: (*returning)

• Co-Presidents*:  Anne Chehebar and Karen Carlson
• Secretary*:  Rona Spar
• Co-Treasurers*:  Rebeka Glacy and Karen Martinez
• Co-Vice Presidents – Communications*:  Daisy Dodge and Deborah Warren
• Vice President – Membership: Carol Sterk
• Vice President – Programs*: Linda Stern
• Vice President – Quilt Show*: Narcita Medina

The appointed committee chairs are: (*returning)

• Activities Liaison – April Russell
• Assistant to the President – Anne MacDonald
• Charitable Activities – Dee Plouffe
• Hospitality*- Kathy Keane and Nancy Picco
• Librarian*:  Deborah Tashjian

Comfort Quilters have been working away even though we have not been able to meet!

Normally, come this time of year, we would be anticipating our summer project and getting ready to switch to our summer quarters in Armonk.  This year, our summer plans are still uncertain but we will certainly keep quilting one way or another!

Meanwhile, if you would like to pick up a Comfort Quilts kit or batting for a Comfort Quilt, contact comfortquilts@northernstarquilters.com.

Patricia Loquet – This is a CQ, nicu size, that I made using the Sweet Buns pattern.

Althea Nolan – This Comfort Quilt got its start when the four corner blocks were donated to Comfort Quilts.

Rosemary DePaola – These two quilts I made for Sparrow’s Nest using kits from The Quilt Basket. They were supposed to have a Charity Quilt Day but had to cancel due to the pandemic.  They will be given to those that are dealing with cancer in our local area.

Kathy Keene – This is another quilt for Sparrow’s Nest. The Quilt Basket donated all the fabric and batting for these quilts.

Ellen Belson – Finally finished the Comfort Quilt I started in the fall. It was quilt as you go but I had to quilt down the backing. I am quite pleased with it, almost too nice to give away.

Jean Degl – 11 NICU quilts getting delivered to Maria Ferrari hospital NICU at Westchester Medical. Thanks to all who contributed.

Jennifer Kramer – My latest CQ, notice any resemblance to our raffle quilt?

Marsha Henderson – Here is a Comfort Quilt made from a kit. Kudos to those great kit makers, Carol and Karen.