Monthly Archives: June 2025

Doors ready to open!

The quilt show is over for another year and what a fabulous show we had!  We had about 1100  visitors to the show who enjoyed our beautiful quilt exhibits, shopped at the vendor booths and learned something new with our guest speaker.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time and talents to make this show such a success!  A special thanks to the quilt show committee who made my job so much easier – I appreciate all of your hard work!

If anyone is interested in chairing a committee for next year’s quilt show – please reach out to me. My contact info is in the Guild directory.

Thank you!

Debby Warren

Viewers Choice by Debby Siccardi – The More the Merrier

Click HERE to see more show quilts
And  HERE to see the quilts going up
And HERE to see Sue Benner setting up
And HERE to see some Fusing the Grid workshop results
And another chance to read the Threads article about World of Quilts.

Some Quilt Display Statistics:

This year’s quilt show was truly a resounding success, leaving attendees inspired and engaged throughout the weekend. A major highlight was our keynote speaker, Sue Benner, who captivated audiences with her expertise and creative insights and who wowed viewers with the stunning exhibition of her quilts.

Behind the scenes, a dedicated group of volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure that Sue’s lectures, exhibition, and workshop ran smoothly.  I would like to express my immense gratitude to several key individuals whose contributions made a significant impact:

• Deborah Tashjian and Betty Moulton: Thank you for going the extra miles to take Sue to and from the airport and for facilitating a seamless two-day workshop.
• Gloria Michaelis: You were truly the hostess with the mostest, welcoming Sue into your home with your genuine smile, morning coffee, thoughtfulness, conversations, and all the dinner dates.
• Debby Warren and Anne McDonald: There was an 11th hour need for a banner and you two pulled it off 🙂 You saw a need. You got it done. So appreciated . . .
• Katharine Heller: Your assistance in preparing 18 quilts for hanging was essential!
• Linda Stern and Betty Moulton: Thank you for your help during Sue’s lectures, ensuring everything ran smoothly.
• Gloria Michaelis and Linda Stern: Thanks for packing lunches for Sue (and Paula Nadelstern) during the quilt show.
• Katharine Heller, Claire Benn, Marie Martin, and Betty Moulton: It took an attentive and organized crew to rebox Sue’s quilts for return shipping to Texas. Thank you so much! And for Jane Eyes who lugged these 41.3 pounds of quilts from Purchase to FedEx.
• Katharine Heller for being the “perfect walking partner.”

Sue expressed her heartfelt appreciation for the hospitality she received during her time with us. She shared with me, “Your peeps are my peeps,” which perfectly captures the wonderful connections she formed at the quilt show and throughout the two days of the workshop.

It is this sense of connection and support that makes the NSQG community truly special for all of us. The friendships and camaraderie we share foster an environment where creativity flourishes and everyone feels valued and appreciated.
Jo Thomas

The raffle baskets team would like to thank everyone who donated items to the TAKE A CHANCE raffle booth at this year’s quilt show.  It was a lot of fun to put together!  We extend a special thanks to Lisa Alfonzetti of Pins and Needles in Mount Kisco for, once again, generously donating a sewing machine to our booth!  Peggy Slater was the lucky winner of the Bernette 08 straight stitch sewing machine.

We had 18 spectacular raffle baskets on display this year.  Some were donated by members of special interest groups in our guild;  others were given to us by individuals.  Our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to them!  It is by virtue of our collective efforts that the booth was able to raise $3,540.00 to help fund programs for our members.

• Bernette 08 sewing machine: Peggy Slater
• Blue Ribbon Baking: Joanne Visovsky
• Pantone and Kona Colors of the Year: Pat Woodley
• Accuquilt Go! Me Fabric Cutting System: Hope Bak
• Island Batiks Collection: Jamie Hasl
• Quilting Basket with Batting: Linda Rubenstein
• Handmade Cards with Matching Envelopes: Rita Romeu
• Fiskars Fabric Cutting Set with Notions: Patricia Loquet
• International Fabrics Collection: Lisa Kehrle
• Dog Lovers: Dorrie Panayotou
• Coffee Maker and Milk Frother Basket: Kathy Curtin
• Pre-K Reading and Learning: Susan Deshensky
• Quiltworx Judy Niemeyer Collection: Mary Kozlowski
• Welcome Baby Girl: Lynne Foley
• Someone’s in the Kitchen: Jennifer Travis
• Quilter’s Travel Tote with Quilting Notions: Rita Romeu
• Spa Basket: Donna Brunell
• Batiks Galore (fat quarters in strip-pieced basket): Kasey Maikshilo
• Ceramic Bowl and Champagne in Wooden Bread Box: Shelley Lounsbury

Shelley Lounsbury, Rita Romeu and Kate Longo

Thanks to all those who contributed quilts and helped man our  amazing Comfort Quilt display and sale booth.  Twenty-three quilts were sold and around $2600 raised to help defray expenses!

At the next Guild meeting, the Guild will be presenting Mt. Tremper Outdoor Ministries with a check for $5,100 to fund scholarships to Camp Herrlich, all thanks to the generous quilting talent, salesmanship and hard cash from the membership!  We can all feel very happy that these proceeds will be providing children who would not otherwise have had the opportunity, fun and enriching camp experiences in the great outdoors this summer.

Congratulations again to the winner of the “Supernova “quilt, Marty Collins!  All of Marty’s children attended Camp Herrlich and she was delighted to have been able to support the Camp and to become the proud owner of the quilt.

Looking ahead …….

We will be “unveiling” the 2026 Raffle Quilt this fall, so watch this space!!

As you enjoy all your summer activities, please consider volunteering to organize the raffle quilt for 2027!  The raffle quilt is a wonderful tradition and advertisement for the Guild, and we spread goodwill and support worthy organizations in our community. Give me a call or drop me an email if you would be interested.

Happy summer!
Anne Chehebar, charitable@northernstarquilters.com

* Lancaster Trip to Mancuso Quilt Show, Sept 12-13th

If you are thinking of signing up for the September 12^th – 13^th bus trip to the Mancuso Quilt Show in Pennsylvania, please send your reservation ASAP to Christine Bunke.  All details and the reservation form are on our trip website page.

REMEMBER: TO AVOID CANCELLATION THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF RESERVATIONS (30) MUST BE RECEIVED BY JUNE 30^TH.

If interested, please don’t delay! Non-members are welcome to join the fun.
Contact Christine Bunke at chrisme214@aol.com

* Ugly Fabric Auction Follow-Up

Liz Titus, our exceptional auctioneer, led us in an exciting meeting of bidding and buying that brought $1695 into the Guild’s coffers.  She collected, organized and stored the fabrics for a year, bringing us to the May auction which entertained and delighted our members.
THANK YOU, LIZ, FOR A JOB WELL DONE!!

* June Meeting Displays

Eleven of our members have volunteered to display various projects and ideas at the June Salad Supper.  They will be sharing the instructions you will need to make those projects.  Make sure to check out the colorful objects on display.

* Mariandale Quilt Retreat

The fall retreat is scheduled for November 3-5 (Monday-Wednesday) at the Center at Mariandale. It’s already almost completely booked, so if you’re interested, please contact Jody Sullivan (jodysull@optonline.net).

* NSQG 2026 Challenge – Celebrating 250 Years!

On July 4, 2026, our country will be 250 years old.  The challenge this year will honor this wonderful anniversary by using red, white and blue.  The quilts will be collected at the March meeting.  At the April meeting, the quilts will be on display, and ribbons will be awarded.  The quilts will be held until the Guild show in May at which time they will be on display again.  You can find additional info and requirements on the challenge website page.
Questions, contact Nancy Mirman.

Next Year’s Updates In Progress! Keep checking our Calendar …

Click to enlarge

Questions? Contact Jo Thomas or Katie O’Brien, programs@northernstarquilters.com.

Joanne and I have been working together on Membership since September 2019. Over the past six years, there has been an increase in membership from 174 members to our current total of 239.  During COVID, we made a concerted effort to stay connected with you and find ways of stabilizing membership at a time when our numbers had started to decline. To this end, we introduced member photos to the Membership Directory and began to send out welcome letters to new members that included detailed, up-to-date information on guild activities. With the return of live meetings, Joanne created new member badges with large, readable names, and we decided to start putting together new member folders, the blue ones that many of you have received at your first meeting. More recently, Joanne and I introduced the Meet and Greet program for new members and re-introduced the New Members Table at guild meetings. Most of all, we have tried to make everyone feel welcome! We are delighted to know that we will be leaving our responsibilities in the very capable hands of Shelley Lounsbury and Jeanne Heinrich, Membership co-chairs for 2025-2026. We wish them well and have no doubt that they will do a fantastic job!

Please join Joanne and I in welcoming our newest Members, Caren Litvin of Bronxville, Naomi Klarberg of Mohegan Lake, Mary Loeffler of Irvington, Ann Malavet of Carle Place, Norma Harnett of Scarsdale, Karen Miura of Hopewell Junction and Josephine Schweiloch of Armonk and returning members, Karen Eckmeier and Barbara Marcone of Kent, CT.

This is the time of year to start thinking about renewing your membership for 2025-2026. You can register by check at the June Salad Supper or online at any time.

Wishing you many peaceful hours of quilting over the summer break! As the song goes, See you in September!
Carol Sterk and Joanne Visovsky, membership@northernstarquilters.com