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For information on our upcoming lectures and workshops, visit our PROGRAMS website page and click on the program you are interested in.
To sign up and pay for a workshop, CLICK HERE.

Questions? Contact Betty Moulton and Kathy Tuttle, programs@northernstarquilters.com.

March Workshop (in-person)

There is still room in the March workshop with Gyleen Fitzgerald. We have a dozen participants signed up and can accommodate a few more. She is making it easy for us by bringing the book and ruler for participants to purchase.

See our CALENDAR or MEMBER ACTIVITIES page for event specifics.  Plan accordingly so you don’t miss anything!

Rona Spar, activites@northernstarquilters.com

2027 CHALLENGE SUGGESTIONS  – Due by the end of March

Your proposal must include the topic, size, color(s), method(s) of quilting, voting parameters, and any other pertinent details.  If your challenge is chosen by the board your will be responsible for announcing the challenge, collecting the quilts, arranging  for display/voting, ribbons, and hanging the quilts at the next quilt show. Send challenge suggestions to ronaquilter@gmail.com

Still to Come –

• RED, WHITE AND BLUE Challenge  – Bring your challenge entry to hand in at the March meeting.  Chair is Nancy Mirman.
• AQS SHOW IN HARTFORD, CT. – The April 11^th AQS bus trip registration is CLOSED. Coordinator is Rona Spar.
• SPRING SIT n SEW – Sit N Sew with member friends for the day, Saturday April 25, $5. Contact Joanne Visovsky to register.
• UGLY FABRIC AUCTION – Bring donations of quilting fabrics to the March meeting or to Comfort Quilts.  Chair is Liz Titus. Chair is Liz Titus.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone in person at our March meeting! Please stop by the Membership Table to check in. We will have print directories for those of you who do not have a copy yet.
An updated digital version of the directory will be sent via email in late February or early March. Please save it to your computer or cell phone. If you see any errors in the information, please notify us at membership@northernstarquilters.com.

This year’s NSQG pins for our raffle quilt, “Shimmering Triangles” are available at the March meeting, $5, and there are still a few pins for sale from last year’s quilt; they make a nice addition to your project bag or name tag. Let us know at check in if you would like to see other pins we may have available.

See you soon,
Jeanne Hinrichs, Shelley Lounsbury
Membership@northernstarquilters.com

Go to our Calendar or Member Activities page for the specifics.  Plan accordingly so you don’t miss anything!

Still to Come – 

• RED, WHITE AND BLUE Challenge – Quilts to celebrate 250 years of the USA are due at the March meeting.  Rules and parameters are listed on the website.  Chair is Nancy Mirman.
• AQS SHOW IN HARTFORD, CT. – Sign up for the April 11^th bus trip online HERE and join the fun for this one-day event.  Pickups will be in Mount Kisco and Brewster.  Seats are now available for members and non-members alike for $55, including entry to the show.  Don’t miss out to save your seat today!!
• 2027 CHALLENGE SUGGESTIONS  – Due at the end of March – Please include a detailed description of your idea, rules for size, materials, voting parameters and other information that is pertinent to your challenge.  All challenge suggestions will be brought before the board at the April board meeting, at which time the board will vote on which of the suggestions will be the 2027 challenge.  Send challenge suggestions to ronaquilter@gmail.com
• UGLY FABRIC AUCTION – Please continue to collect fabrics to be auctioned at the Ugly Fabric Auction during the May guild meeting.  You can drop off fabrics at any Comfort Quilts meeting or hold them to bring to the March in-person guild meeting.  Chair is Liz Titus.

Rona Spar, activites@northernstarquilters.com

For information on our upcoming lectures and workshops, visit our Programs website page and click on the program you are interested in.
To sign up and pay for a workshop, CLICK HERE.

Questions? Contact Betty Moulton and Kathy Tuttle, programs@northernstarquilters.com.

– The January two-part Zoom workshop with Christine Barnes was a great success. “I really enjoyed the first Zoom session with Christine Barnes. It was fun to work with the group and experiment with our fabrics. I thought she was very organized and encouraged a lot of good discussion.” enthused one participant.
I attended the second workshop, (to learn how to conduct a Zoom workshop for Programs) and was impressed with how positive she was with gentle suggestions to improve the luminosity of the practice blocks. Great improvements resulted!
The pictures are taken from screen shots, so may not fully represent the colors that glowed in the blocks.

– There is still room in the March workshop with Gyleen Fitzgerald. She is making it easy for us by bringing the book and ruler for participants to purchase.

– Even though we won’t hear from Giucy Giuce at an NSQG meeting, he will be with us to teach the two workshops in May, so if you want to experience his wonderful work, there is still room in each.

All the information about the workshops is on the website and signing up via the website is easy. (Checks are also accepted, sent to the address on the website)
Hope to see you there!

Some photos from Christine Barnes workshop

March Workshop (in-person)

Gyleen Fitzgerald
Trash to Treasure Pineapple Quilts plus
Fabulous Finishes: Borders, Binding/Facings, & Sleeves

19 March 2026 from 9 am to 3:30 pm
$55 members

Let’s make an old-fashioned pineapple quilt with a new and contemporary twist. Learn Gyleen’s technique for effortless and precise stitching without paper piecing! Use up all those fabric bits and pieces in your stash. Go scrappy, random, or totally stylized! It doesn’t matter, just plan to join the Pineapple Par-tay! As an added bonus, while you continue stitching, Gyleen will be discussing and demonstrating how to achieve perfect borders, binding, facing, and sleeves. With her tips, your quilts will be sure to be show-ready!

We are 209 members strong!  It is a quiet time of year for membership.  However, we are here to help you in anyway we can.  If you are a new member and not sure who to contact about a question you may have, please reach out to us.  We can point you in the right direction to get your questions answered.   We can be reached at membership@northernstarquilters.com.

Jeanne Hinrichs and Shelley Lounsbury, membership@northernstarquilters.com

Let’s talk….

In search of a member(s) who can assist the treasurer as treasurer-in-training. This could be a shared position with one person processing checks and deposits and one doing the data entry.

This job involves recording income, expenses and monthly reports (bank statements etc), collecting and issuing checks and an occasional trip to the bank.  All the records are kept on Quick Books Desktop which is easy to learn and I would be there to help you along the way.   Reports and templates are already set up and former treasurers are always available for help and advice.

Our guild would not be here were it not for the many volunteers who keep it running, please do your part and help with this vital position.

Kathy Vanacoro, treasurer@northernstarquilters.com

Still to Come – 

• Super Saturday
• Red White and Blue Challenge
• Retreats – Check availability and register for the spring retreat at Mariandale, March 20-22. Contact Jody Sullivan.
• Ugly Fabric Auction – Continue to donate fabric for the auction at Comfort Quilts and Guild Meetings. Contact Liz Titus.
• Trips – Interested in a bus trip on April 11th to the Hartford AQS show?  Stay tuned, details are being ironed out.

Go to our Member Activities page for specifics.  Plan accordingly so you don’t miss anything!

Super Saturday Registration closes on January 19^th .

• Super Saturday is being held January 31st at the First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown, 2880 Crompond Rd, Yorktown, NY.
• Classes begin at 9:00 am, unloading can begin at 8:30am.   Enter the circle and park in front of the church to unload your things, then pull around to the back parking lot to park for the day.
• Coffee and tea will be provided for the morning and a pizza and salad lunch.
• Class information and supply lists can be viewed on the website: northernstarquilters.com/event/super-saturday.
• Two workshops are closed: Accidental Landscapes and Potato Chip Quilt.
• For those who want to Sit N Sew, an area is provided but no one will be present to help with any quilting problems.
  Registration and the $30 fee  is still required to pay for the meals and rental of the church.

Looking forward to a day of quilting, community and fun!
Kathy Tuttle,supersaturday@northernstarquilters.com

As mentioned in the last newsletter, we will be displaying the Challenge at various libraries from April to December!  Since every library has a different hanging system, please make your hanging sleeve in two sections: leave a 1” space at each side and leave a 2” space in the middle.

I am pleased to announce that the 2026 Challenge will be exhibited in the following libraries:

• May               Mahopac Library
• June              Katonah Library
• July                Somers Library
• August           Somers Library
• September    Chappaqua Library
• October         Briarcliff Library
• November     North Salem Library

I would love to have three volunteers to be on the Challenge Committee with me and also would love members who live in the above communities to volunteer when the exhibit comes to their town.
The Committee members will help facilitate the exhibit traveling from library to library.  The Community volunteers will help by hanging the quilts in their library (about two hours) and taking down the quilts at the end of the month (less than one hour).  A Committee member will be at each library to organize hanging the quilts.  I know that since we don’t have a quilt show, you have so much extra time on your hands that I hope to be inundated with calls!

Thank you!!
Nancy Mirman, 914-320-5290 or nmirman@optonline.net

Please send a detailed description of your challenge idea along with the size, rules, voting criteria and any other pertinent information to  ronaquilter@gmail.com or activities@northernstarquilters.com.  Your responsibilities include describing the challenge to the membership, collecting the quilts, setting up voting and distributing ribbons to the winners.  All ideas will be brought to the board which will vote on the winning challenge in the spring.

Member Activities Liaison, Rona Spar, activities@northernstarquilters.com

A BIG SHOUT – OUT TO THE DECEMBER BOUTIQUE SELLERS AND BRAVE MEMBERS WHO DEFIED THE AWFUL WEATHER AND MADE OUR HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE A SUCCESS.

THANKS TO ALL SELLERS AND MEMBERS WHO PARTICIPATED!!

For information on our upcoming lectures and workshops, visit our Programs website page and click on the program you are interested in.
To sign up and pay for a workshop, CLICK HERE.

Questions? Contact Betty Moulton and Kathy Tuttle, programs@northernstarquilters.com.

Jeanne Hinrichs and Shelley Lounsbury, membership@northernstarquilters.com

At the December 10th guild meeting, be prepared to shop for beautiful hand-made items from some of the very creative members of our guild.  At this meeting, guests are welcome with no guest fee.  These are just a few samples of the many items that will be on display, cash or check payment requested.

Member vendors: Johneen Veneziano, Barbara Sferra, Naomi Klarberg, Christine Bunke, Betty Moulton, Barbara Allen, Liz Titus, Serena Berger, Nancy Mirman, Carol Auer, Eleanor Schmauser, Jennifer Larrabee, Kathleen Basso.

Buy a raffle ticket to win a super-sized basket full of amazing gifts arranged by Patricia Loquet.

Check our Member Activities page for specifics on activities.
Plan accordingly so you don’t miss anything!

• Super Saturday – Classes are filling up for the January 31^st Super Saturday.  Sign up online or at the Guild Meeting.Questions? Contact Kathy Tuttle.
• Red, White and Blue Challenge – Continue to create beautiful quilts that are due at the March 2026 meeting.  Questions? Contact Nancy Mirman.
• Retreats – Register for the Spring retreat at Mariandale, March 20th – 22^nd.  Questions? Contact Jody Sullivan.
• Ugly Fabric Auction – Continue to donate fabric for the auction at Comfort Quilts and Guild Meetings. Questions? Contact Liz Titus.

Member Activities Liaison, Rona Spar, activities@northernstarquilters.com

We are all disappointed that we’re not having a Quilt Show this spring, so perhaps you have decided not to bother with the Guild Challenge, BUT we will be displaying the Challenge at various libraries from April to December!

Celebrating 250 Years will be shown at the Mahopac Library in May, at the Somers Library in July and August, and at the Briarcliff Library in October.  We are working on other spaces for the remaining months, so if you would like the exhibit to be shown in your town, give me a call (Nancy Mirman 914-329-5290).

If you were not planning to participate, please reconsider.  We would like to have an outstanding display celebrating our country – and our Guild!  The project is not that big.  The rules are on our website but here are the major points

1. The size of the quilt must be 13” by 25” which are the proportions of our flag.  The quilt may be hung horizontally or vertically – your choice.
2. The colors will be red, white and blue.  You may use many different red fabrics and many different blue fabrics, but the white fabric should be solid with no print or white-on-white design.
3. Embellishments are permitted
4. Normally, a quilt should have 3 layers – top, batting and back.  To accommodate our fiber arts members, this rule can be adjusted to meet your artistic viewpoint.The
5. The deadline is the March meeting, March 18.

We’ve had several new members join the Guild since October bringing our membership number to 207. The New Member tables at our Guild meeting continue to be popular as new members get to know about all the Guild has to offer. It means a lot to new members if you stop by and say a quick hello before you settle down for our Guild meeting.

Please be on the lookout for an email containing a digital form of the updated Guild directory. You can save this to your device if you wish. There have been some changes and additions since the directory was printed in early October.

We wish everyone a joyous holiday season!
Jeanne Hinrichs and Shelley Lounsbury, membership@northernstarquilters.com

From Betsy Habich’s November lecture on thread painting

For information on our upcoming lectures and workshops, visit our Programs website page and click on the program you are interested in.
To sign up and pay for a workshop, CLICK HERE.

Questions? Contact Betty Moulton and Kathy Tuttle, programs@northernstarquilters.com.

*** Update – Late Start for Meeting – doors not open til 6pm, NO activities til then ***

Batik Sale – cash or checks – bring a shopping bag ***
$4/yard  –  1/4, 1/2, 1, and 2 yd + cuts

Thanks to a huge donation of batiks to Comfort Quilts, we have a fabric bonanza to share with guild members.
Hundreds of yards of batiks at amazing prices so bring $$$ (cash or check) and a shopping bag because you don’t want to miss out.

At the October meeting, Comfort Quilters summer quilts were a big hit!  Participating quilters were each given a random assortment of 12 fat quarters to make the quilt(s).  The raffle raised a record $740 and seven quilts were won!

L-R: Winners/Quilt Maker- Fran Jacobson/Barbara Allen, Rona Spar/Carol Auer, Narci Medina/Brenda Strauss, Sally Olson/Anne Chehebar, Carolyn Salon/Lorraine Mioducki, Lola Souza Judge/Shelley Lounsbury, Amanda Curley/Lefa Alksne

Lori Light Schmeidel took on a request for 12 twin size quilts for the Veterans Nursing Home in Montrose.  Plaid and white squares were cut from CQ fabrics, made into half square triangles and sewn together using a variety of settings.

Thanks to all who participated in making the Veterans’ Quilts:
Lefa Alksne, Carol Auer, Karen Carlson, Rosemary DePaola, JoAnne Hochstein, Patricia Loquet, Joanne Lubchenko, Althea Nolan, Debra Oaks, Mary Rossetti, Nim Smith, Brenda Strauss, Marie Sugar, Jody Sullivan, Joyce Sullivan, Kathy Vanacoro, Carolynn Young

Hello from Membership

Thank you to all who have renewed their membership. We are 201 members strong! Remember you can join at any time and be included in our online directory. Please be sure to spend a minute at the sign-in table. There is plenty of information about the Guild and its activities. Members can also pick up this year’s print directory (one per member please).

We have many new members. Stop by the new member table and introduce yourself to them. The monthly meetings have been so busy; a simple hello helps new members feel welcome.
Please correct the following in your print directory:
Cynthia Sherwin –  stillcrs@yahoo.com – Cos Cob CT 06870

See you at November’s meeting.
Your membership Team: Jeanne Hinrichs – hinrichsny@gmail.com,  Shelley Lounsbury – shlounz@gmail.com

From Pat Pauley’s October Lecture

For information on this year’s lectures and workshops, visit our Programs website page and click on the workshop you are interested in. To sign up and pay, CLICK HERE.

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

November – Betsy Habich
Lecture 11/19/25 – Thread Painting
Workshop 11/20/25 – Thread Painting 101

Attention Free Motion Quilters! In this class we will learn how to combine colors and create texture using thread to create a realistic tapestry-like image! Bring a good quality photo and take your stitching skills to the next level with concrete instruction. You will be amazed at what you can create!

October Quilt Raffle!

At the October meeting, be sure to admire the display of our CQ summer project quilts, all made with batiks!
Buy lots of raffle tickets ($5 each) and support CQ, winner(s) get to pick the quilt of their choice to take home!

Meanwhile, here are some of our other comfort quilts distributed in September.

Thank you to everyone who renewed or became a new member for the 2025/26 Guild year.  We have 196 members as of the end of September.  September 30th was the last date to renew and be included in the print directory.  But, not to worry, all renewals after that date will be included in our online directory which is emailed to all members several times a year.  Carol Sterk and the Membership committee hosted a very successful Meet and Greet for new members in September.  A second Meet and Greet will be held on October 5th at Rosemary DePaola’s home.  If you are a new member interested in attending, please reach out to Shelly or Jeanne. We send a big Thank You to Carol and Rosemary for hosting these events.

We have 8 new members since July 2025. Please stop by the New Member table at our October meeting and welcome Diane Calesso, Arthur Linker, Amy Locitzer, Laura Lustbader, Jane Pinchuck, Joanne Scolaro and Cynthia Sherman.

Should you have any membership questions, email us or stop by the Membership Table at our October meeting.  See you soon!
Jeanne Hinrichs – hinrichsny@gmail.com,  Shelley Lounsbury – shlounz@gmail.com

 Don’t let this be your last email – Renew online – nsqg.formstack.com/forms/nsqg_member_registration_cc

Pictures from the September workshop

For information on this year’s lectures and workshops, visit our Programs website page and click on the workshop you are interested in. To sign up and pay, CLICK HERE.

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

October – Pat Pauly
Lecture 10/15/25 – Traditional Meets Contemporary
Workshop 10/16/25 – Within a Frame

This is the workshop for using your big, beautiful prints! In this workshop, we will create a quilt designed around a central block- known as a medallion quilt. We will think about color, scale, and value as we learn a new technique for scrambling fabrics to create our own unique quilts!

November – Betsy Habich
Lecture 11/19/25 – Thread Painting
Workshop 11/20/25 – Thread Painting 101

Attention Free Motion Quilters! In this class we will learn how to combine colors and create texture using thread to create a realistic tapestry-like image! Bring a good quality photo and take your stitching skills to the next level with concrete instruction. You will be amazed at what you can create!