Programs -

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

Face Masks -

Carol Auer and her 1000th mask

Susan Fasnacht has been totaling member mask donations:

Thank you to everyone who made face masks and surgeon/cancer caps over the past couple of months.  I am happy to report that members of NSQG have made 3,473 masks!  However, I am sure we have made in excess of 3,500 masks since I doubt I have heard from all of you productive and generous sewers.   About 1/3 of the masks have been donated to friends and family with the balance going to hospitals, health care providers, nursing homes and other essential workers.  This is a tribute to the generosity of our members during these strange times.

I have to give a shout out our most industrious member, Carol Auer.  Carol made 1,000 masks, which she donated to The Mask Makers Guild of Putnam County.  This grass roots organization began in mid-March as an all-volunteer community to create masks for first responders, health care workers and essential employees in non-governmental agencies serving Putnam County during the COVID-19 crisis.  Carol is now making a new Comfort Quilt from the scraps leftover from her mask making.  As she wrote to me “It’s going to so much fun to play again.”  Kudos to Carol for her generosity.

As the call for masks is winding down, I want to finalize the list of donations by the Guild.  If you have any last mask making efforts to report, please send me an email at activities@northernstarquilters.com.  Remember, the masks you made could have been donated to anyone, they are meant to protect everyone.

Comfort Quilts -

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.

2020 Raffle for New Dawn - Final Tally

This year’s charity raffle raised $3954 for New Dawn. Thank you to everyone that sold tickets and contributed to this great cause!  Special thanks to Pins and Needles for sending their customers an email that resulted in additional ticket sales.

Announcing our 2021 Challenge -

These are certainly challenging times for all of us.  As quilters’ we are all amazing.  Let’s concentrate on kindness and the heartfelt actions we have witnessed or heard about over the last few months.  So much of our heart and soul gets quilted into our work.  Let’s show it and send an inspirational message of hope, love, support and kindness.

The 2021 Challenge is: “Put A Heart On It”.

 FORMAT:

    • There must be at least one heart on your quilt. You can certainly have more.
    • The quilt size must be 30 inches square.
    • The quilt must consist of 3 layers – back, top and batting, quilted by either hand or machine, and created by only one maker.
    • The choice of fabrics, colors, threads and embellishments and quilting, are all up to you.
    • The quilt can be constructed in any technique you wish, i.e., paper piecing, traditional piecing, appliqué or collage. It’s also the perfect opportunity to try something new!  It’s your choice.
    • Don’t forget the sleeve for hanging and a label with your name and quilt name.

Deadline:  The Quilts will be collected at the February meeting.
Voting:  Voting will take place at the March meeting.
Reminder:  Quilts are returned after display at our Show in May.  If you will not be in attendance at the conclusion of the Show, just let me know and I will return it to you at our May meeting.

Ribbons:  Three Ribbons (1st, 2nd & 3rd), will be awarded in the following categories:  Most Creative, Best Design, Best Visual Impact and Best Workmanship.  In order to streamline and simplify the voting, you will just be voting for your favorite in each category.

Maybe you heard one of the many heartwarming stories that resonated with you.  Maybe you are one of those stories.  Maybe you need to heal.  Let’s concentrate on the positive.  Your quilt can be serious or amusing.  Express yourself.  It’s your story to tell.  The options are endless for creativity, imagination, design and construction.  But, above all, HAVE FUN!!!!!

Any ????, just ask.
Thank you, April Russell, Challenge Coordinator
challenge@northernstarquilters.com

2021 Raffle Quilt Charity Submissions -

We are looking for nominations for a charity partner for the 2021 raffle quilt. Please connect with Anne MacDonald, charitable@northernstarquilters.com,  if you would like to nominate an organization to be the beneficiary of next year’s raffle.

The nomination information follows and the nomination form is available here.

Nomination Criteria:

  • Recipient must be a non-profit organization that serves people in the local, tri-state area.
  • The organization should benefit people in need without political or religious affiliation.
  • The NSQG member will contact the organization to determine it’s level of interest and communicate the ticket sale and time requirements involved.
    • The organization is required to sell at least 50 books of tickets (300 tickets) prior to the Quilt Show
    • The organization is required to be present at the Quilt Show to assist with raffle ticket sales and to explain their purpose to visitors seeking information
    • One or more Representatives from the organization must be present at the June meeting in order to receive the proceeds of the raffle.
  • The organization must submit a letter to the Chair of Charitable Activities.  This letter should declare the organization’s 501c3 status, state it’s purpose and describe it’s services.

Contact Anne MacDonald, charitable@northernstarquilters.com. 

2022 Raffle Quilt Proposal -

Bring us your ideas for the 2022 raffle quilt – contact Anne MacDonald, charitable@northernstarquilters.com. 

If you or a group of friends are interested in overseeing the design and construction of a future raffle quilt, the process is spread over almost two years with assistance from guild members, the activities are:

– getting the design approved by the Board by the end of this year’s guild season
– setting up for construction over the summer months
– overseeing the piecing, quilting, and binding thru the following year’s guild season and summer
– getting the quilt photographed
– presenting the finished quilt to the membership at the second following season’s September/October guild meeting.

Covid19 Quilt -

Jennifer Larrabee is still collecting 6 1/2″ blocks from face mask scraps.
As of today, I have 26 squares donated for the mask quilt.  Some have come from our members, and some have come from others.  Including quilters in Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, Indiana and more.  Obviously, I’d love more, but if I don’t get enough, I’ll put lots of sashing and call it the “social distancing” quilt.  Here’s a sneak peek.  They are in no particular order right now.  (Except I put all of Rona’s together, because they looked nice that way.)

Send a 6½” block made from mask-making scraps (any color, any style).  Please add your name (or not) and general location (town/county/state….).  Mail to Jennifer Larrabee, 11 Arthur St, Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567.
Contact jeneric829@optonline.net.



Member Notices:

(Members may request one brief personal posting per season, listed for the month, about selling quilt related items or information they believe may be of special quilting interest to the guild.)

Nancy Mirman wants to let members know about the Fiber Arts NorthEast Exhibit Nov 2-27 at the Field Gallery, Peekskill, NY.

Whether you’re a new or renewing member, check out our Buddy Program if you would like a ‘buddy’ to show you the ropes around the guild.

If you know any member of the guild who is in need of a little ‘sunshine’ for illness, sympathy, or any other reason, please contact secretary@northernstarquilters.com so the guild can send a card.

Requests on how to make a donation to the guild to honor a member or support an activity are occasionally received. Such requests may now be accomplished via our website, where we have set up a Donate box on our home page, click on Make a Donation.

Guild policies are available for member review at the library table or by request to the secretary@northernstarquilters.com.

– Send Guild newsletter updates and photos as well as info on local quilt activities and shows to news@northernstarquilters.com and photos for Instagram and Facebook are always welcome at social@northernstarquilters.com.

– Follow and Share NSQG activities on Facebook  and Instagram   –   @northernstarquilters

Area Quilt Shows

Area Quilt Shops