President’s Message – 05/23
The Annual Meeting of the Northern Star Quilters’ Guild will be held from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17 at Kennedy Catholic High. At this meeting the membership will vote on the candidates who have generously stepped forward to serve on the Board for the 2023-2024 guild year. Please read the brief bios below and come to the meeting and take part in the voting.
Our speaker that evening will be Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill — a designer, quilt pattern publisher, award-winning quilter, educator and creative entrepreneur.
You may be reading this as you’re viewing our amazing World of Quilts XLII or perhaps sitting home with your feet up after enjoying the show. It is truly something we can all be proud to present for public enjoyment. We sincerely thank everyone who contributed their time, energy and talents to make this show a success. We especially thank Lisa Alfonzetti and her incredible committee who worked tirelessly to make it happen.
Weren’t this year’s “Card Tricks” Challenge Quilts fantastic? Thank you, April Russell, for all of your efforts to pull together a stunning exhibit.
Do you have something you’ve recently finished or is a work in progress? What’s holding you back from sharing it during Show and Tell in May? We love seeing what our members are working on and We want to cheer for you.
Margaret and Jody
Co-Presidents: Helen Nash May, Sheryl Fleishaker
Helen Nash May
I have been quilting for the past twenty years. In the 80’s and 90’s I designed quilts for my mother-in-law who was an avid quilter and made numerous quilts for all her grandchildren. I eventually inherited both her stash and sewing machine; when the machine finally died in 2004, I decided to both buy a new one and put it to good use taking a quilting course at Hartsdale Fabrics. I made my first granddaughter that first quilt. Four more grandchildren within the next couple of years and I was officially a quilter!
I soon began inventing my own patterns. A few years later I purchased a longarm so I could enhance the quilts with free motion designs. My favorite techniques are hand dyeing fabrics and abstract art quilts.
I’ve been a member of both Northern Star Quilters Guild and Village Square Quilters since I retired in 2011. I’ve been VP of Programs for NSQG for 2 years and Treasurer of VSQ also for 2 years. For the past two years Sheryl Fleishaker, whom I’m grateful to call a very good friend, and I have organized the Volunteers for our Quilt Show.
I’ve been happily married for 53 years and have three great kids (although I say six with their spouses), and six wonderful grandchildren.
I’m looking forward to Sheryl and I, as your Co-Presidents, continuing the wonderful traditions that make our Guild so special.
Sheryl Fleishaker
I guess it can be said that I’m the third generation from my family of women who sew. They all sewed clothes, made curtains, and even recovered furniture. However, I am the only quilter. I started becoming interested in quilting about 10 years ago. My husband and I raised three children who are now grown and out of the house and suddenly it was too quiet. I took a quilting class at Hartsdale Fabric and was hooked. I joined Village Squares to meet other quilters and I met Helen May who became my friend and travel partner attending workshops and quilt conferences both near and far. About 5 years later I joined Northern Star. I loved going to the meetings and participating in the workshops that were offered. With quilting there is always something to learn. I enjoy the energy and the talent that is offered by the people at Northern Star and look forward to an exciting and fun year ahead as your co-president along with Helen May.
Secretary: Amanda Curley
Amanda Curley
When I joined the NSQG in 2015, the world of quilting I knew as a child had changed. I’ve been fascinated with the different quilting techniques and approaches and captivated with the quilts made and shared while enjoying the friendship of so many quilters. As we all know, there is a time to give back and in 2021 I decided to volunteer to be the Guild’s Treasurer. Your votes gave me the position and this journey has been as informative as have been the years as a new quilter. As the Treasurer, my understanding of how the Guild works has grown exponentially. With my experience of the past two years, I would like to contribute to the Guild as the Secretary.
Treasurer: Kathy Vanacoro
I have been of member of NSQG for many years, albeit absent for the last 5+ years due to a conflict on Tuesday nights when I bowl with my hubby. While at last year’s show, I was so happy to hear the guild was moving to Wednesday nights…..I immediately rejoined. In my past years as a member, I have served as VP Programs as well as VP Quilt Show.
I learned to sew at the age of 14 by my sister and made many outfits for myself, and then my two children. I took up quilting 25+ years ago to quit smoking, it worked, but I now have another addiction, FABRIC.
I recently retired in Sept. 2021 as the Principal’s secretary at George Fisher Middle School in Carmel after 31 years and four Principals. While at school, I was the student activity treasurer for the past 27 years.
My quilting interests these days are just using up my massive stash. I am loving being able to participate in Comfort Quilts in person, as well as teaching children to sew with 4H. I love appliqué and making easy, traditional quilts. I also enjoy making ByAnnie bags… my latest addiction.
When I first joined NSQG as a member, Nancy Mirman made a statement “If you want to get to know fellow members, join the quilt show committee.”….The rest is history and I’m so glad to be back.
VP Communications: Debra Oaks
Debra Oaks
I come to quilting through my mother who has been a very accomplished quilter for my entire life. As a kid I used to “help” her when she hand quilted all the pieces she made. For myself, I really started sewing during the pandemic. As my daughter says, it was the hobby I was looking for and, once I found it, it exploded. I love learning all the techniques and intricacies of piecing and, as a longarm quilter, the finishes. I’ve met some great people too and look forward to deepening my relationships in the community.
VP Membership: Joanne Visovsky
Joanne Visovsky
I’m not really a quilter but was interested enough to join the guild in 2019. As a full-time real estate agent, I don’t have an abundance of free time. I wanted to get back into sewing and liked the idea of Comfort Quilts. As a young girl I hand-sewed doll clothes with my grandmother’s help. Started machine sewing in junior high and high school. Bought myself a Bernina Nova 900 after college and considered it a huge gift to myself! Then life took over and my machine sat idle for decades while I worked and raised our four kids. Now it’s time to get back to creating and I find all you guild members so inspiring! Being on the Membership Team has been fun for me and I look forward to continuing.
VP Programs: Jo Thomas
Jo Thomas
VP Quilt Show: Deborah Warren
Deborah Warren
Following in my mom‘s footsteps, I attempted my first quilt at the age of 13 using cardboard templates and leftover fabric scraps – and I’ve been quilting ever since. I currently live in Tarrytown and travel frequently to the Midwest to visit family – and I always take my sewing machine to sew along with my sister and brother! As an active member of NSQG for the past 7 years, I served as co-chair of the 2019 Quilt Show and with that gained experience, I’ve enjoyed assisting the 2022/2023 Quilt Show VP to ensure our show goes off without a hitch.
On March 6, four quilters (and two of their husbands) delivered 346 pounds of humanitarian aid to be sent to civilians in Ukraine. The cargo consisted primarily of 84 quilts, virtually all of which were made by members of our guild! Our members also donated urgently requested medicine, hand/foot warmers and socks as well as the cost of the shipping. I will let you know as soon as I hear the shipment has been received.
Our priority is finding a President, Programs VP, Communications VP and Library Chair for the 2023-24 guild season. Any of these positions could be shared with another member. If you are nervous about taking on any of the responsibilities that come with these jobs, don’t be! Past leaders are prepared and willing to assist. If you want this guild to continue, we need folks to take the plunge and commit to maintaining and growing a community that is important to them. Members of the nominating committee will be making calls. When we reach out to you, we hope you’ll say YES. Our guild’s future depends on you!
NSQG members are guaranteed priority for two quilts (up to 4 allowed) thru February 15. After that acceptance is on a first come basis. Non-members may register one quilt after February 15th.
We hope that you all enjoyed your holidays and send warm wishes for a happy, healthy, and creative New Year. Additionally, some frigid weather has come our way and we hope that you are able to stay warm … working on a quilt or cuddling under one are both good ways to accomplish that!
You can do so much innovative quilting JUST with your walking foot! I will show you my method of quilting with your walking foot that involves little or no marking but still results in spectacular quilting.
