Quilt Show
This year’s poster is ready!
Check our homepage to pull it up in more detail (click on World of Quilts header) or print (via Print the poster).
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Dec, 2017
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Nov, 2017
President’s Message
An early Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Remember because of Thanksgiving, our meeting will be held a week earlier than normal on November 14. We will have our own Debbie Bein speaking to us that evening and holding the workshop the following day. For those of you at the October lecture, I expect that the audio will be working better – it turns out the mic had fallen off the stage earlier in the evening which caused it to malfunction. It should be fixed for November.
We will be holding a modified Holiday Boutique prior to the meeting. We had only a couple of members sign up to sell items plus the Comfort Quilt tables. Rather than cancel the entire boutique, we will hold a scaled down version in the hallway next to the auditorium doors (not in the lobby). “Doors” will open at 6:00.
I had mentioned in the October meeting reminders that the doors to the lobby will be open for those of you who would like to avoid having to walk up the long ramp to the cafeteria. Although I was told a few days before the meeting that would be the case, when I arrived they were locked. I asked bm liaison about it and he said that they cannot leave the doors unlocked, but people can use them if someone lets them in. I will look into this more, but for now, if you do want to use that entrance plan on having to call someone who is already at the school to let you in.
I am still looking for a new Special Events Chairperson. Susan Deshensky has found that with getting her teaching business going along with her other activities, she needed to step down from the Board. We wish her good luck with her new endeavor. The Special Events position is not overly time consuming. You are responsible for overseeing the Boutiques (Nov. and May), the Guild Challenge, Lancaster Trip, and Super Saturday. Each of these activities has a person running them and doing the detailed coordination. The Special Events Chairperson needs to act as their liaison to the Board and oversee what they are doing to make sure things are getting done. If you are looking for a way to become a little more active in the Guild, it is a good opportunity to do so. You’ll find you learn more about what we do and it is a great way to meet other members.
The Quilt Show Committee received some great news this past month. The Dutch collection of the new Cherrywood Fabrics Van Gough exhibit will be displayed at our show in May! The Cherrywood exhibits are present in most of the national and regional shows, so it is fantastic that we will have the works at our quilt show. Congratulations to Chris and Noreen for procuring this exhibit.
Susan Fasnacht, president@northernstarquilters.com
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Nov, 2017
Membership Information
Hello Quilters. The new Membership Books for 2017-2018 are going to the printer this week! Please stop by the welcome table to pick up your copy. Jennifer Kramer, membership@northernstarquilters.com.
*Guild Website and Email Communications–news@northernstarquilters.com*
Originally, Communications was responsible for developing and mailing a monthly printed newsletter to all members containing guild information and current updates. The internet grew and a website was added with general information. The cost of printing and mailing a newsletter became prohibitive and emailing replaced postal mail. A few years ago, supporting a separate email newsletter as well as a website became unmanageable and the monthly newsletter information was folded into an expanded website.
The guild website maintains information about the many different facets of the guild, a calendar of upcoming events, and highlights of current guild activities as well as relevant local events and member accomplishments. It also includes a blog (online journal) of updates from Board members. These monthly updates were the main component of the old printed/emailed newsletter and can now be found under ‘Latest News’ on the website’s main screen(home page) starting the beginning of every month.
A few days later, a fairly automatic process emails these posts to members – ‘News & Updates from Northern Star Quilters Guild’ . This email blast of blog posts is still referred to as the ‘newsletter’. Past blog posts can be found via ‘Archives’ in the footer at the bottom of the website page.
Another email, ‘Monthly Meeting Reminders’ is sent to all members just a few days before the guild meeting and contains short notices collected from the Board about the upcoming meeting. Special emails may occasionally be sent out with updated or one-time information. Neither of these are part of website.
In addition, website service was recently upgraded to provide faster response time. Especially if you haven’t lately, be sure to check out our website – https://www.northernstarquilters.com/
Hospitality: Members with last names beginning with G, H, and I are asked to bring a snack for November’s meeting. Members with D, E, and F last names: If we run a November raffle, your October snack tickets will be accepted for a free chance, so try to put it where you will remember it next month!
ALSO: We will be collecting food ( non-perishable items only, please) and gift card donations for local food pantries at the November meeting. Kathy Keane and Meg Mooar will have their cars ready to accept donations as you enter the meeting – no need to bring your donations all the way in! Just meet these ladies at the bottom of the stairs and help them fill up their cars. Thank you!
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Nov, 2017
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Nov, 2017
Charitable Activities
2018 Raffle Quilt – I hope you had the chance to see our beautiful 2018 raffle Quilt Which Way Up? coordinated by Donna Chambers, quilted by Mary Cannizzaro, and displayed at the September Guild Meeting. If not, see it here!
This eye catching Log Cabin Quilt has a beautiful center medallion of machine appliquéd flowers by Kaffe Fassett arranged on a blue metallic fabric by Paula Nadelstem. The log cabin blocks are made of colorful shades of yellows, pinks , blues and greens. The quilt measures 95×95. Raffle Tickets will be available at the November Guild Meeting. Please pick up your Raffle Ticket Packet and support this year’s nominated charity The Emergency Shelter Partnership.
Pillow Cases – Thanks to the initiative of Susan Deshensky, the work of Yvonne Clayton and the generosity of our membership 150 pillow cases have been shipped to Texas.
Jack’s Chain –Thank you for being so prompt in returning your blocks. Mary Cannizzaro will be at the November Guild Meeting to collect the remaining blocks for Jack’s Chain, our 2019 raffle quilt.
Boutique – By popular demand the Comfort Quilt table will be back at the November meeting! There will be great deals on a variety of notions, batiks, and fabric packs as well as a Centennial Singer Featherweight ($250,more info – Karen Carlson charitable@northernstarquilters.com)
Comfort Quilt Fabric Request – Quilting Cotton Strips – 2 1/2″ x WOF (width of fabric, 41-45″). Give to Karen or Carol or any CQ’er.
CQ Winner’s Choice Raffle – $285 raised – two quilts won – thank you all!
Kim Hyde, quilt by Ann Fitzell
Rosemary Mahoney, quilt by Caryl Castellion
althea s. nolan, charitable activities
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Nov, 2017
Quilt Show
Our show committee is now complete. We thank everyone who has volunteered to work on our committee and we look forward to creating a successful show together.
We are very excited to announce that we have secured the Cherrywood Dutch Van Gogh exhibit for our show (http://cherrywoodfabrics.bigcartel.com/van-gogh). This will be a wonderful addition to all of the beautiful quilts and displays that will fill the show. Speaking of beautiful quilts, we hope everyone is hard at work on their own show entry(s).
We would ask all of the SIGs to please let us know if you will be putting an exhibit in the show. We need your information by January so that we can finalize the set up in the gym.
Once again we invite you to participate in our Silent Auction which will feature quilts that will be auctioned off at the 2018 show. If you would like to donate a piece, please keep the following guidelines in mind: perimeter less than 125” with a 3” sleeve and a label. JoAnne Hochstein will collect completed quilts at each guild meeting. If you have any questions contact her at silentauction@northernstarquilters.com
Noreen Lippolis and Chris Roche, Quilt show co-chairs, quiltshow@northernstarquilters.com
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Oct, 2017
President’s Message
It was great being back last month. I was happy to see that we have a number of new members – welcome and enjoy all the guild has to offer. You will find that our members are a great resource for helping you with any quilting questions you may have. And, if you need any information on the guild, please feel free to contact me.
To those who stayed for September’s lecture, I hope you found it as interesting as I did. I also realize that there were a few glitches in the auditorium set up – I have spoken to the school as to what to do and expect to have them rectified for next month. We are still working our way through coordinating with Kennedy Catholic on how we run our meetings without the help of Sister Barbara – we do miss her. Also, if anyone left a white sweater behind, I have it and will bring it to the October meeting.
Thank you to everyone who made pillow cases to send to hurricane victims. If you still would like to make one, we will be posting an address to send them to. The ones we collected have been mailed out and we will not be doing another mailing. Word is the areas affected by the three hurricanes are not looking for quilts, there are other basic essential items they need first, so we will not be collecting quilts in the foreseeable future.
I hope to see you in October. Susan Fasnacht, President@northernstarquilters.com
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Oct, 2017
Membership Information
*Membership – Jennifer Kramer*
It was very nice to see everyone and welcome 94 members and 1 guest to the September meeting. We celebrated those members who renewed their membership prior to the September 1st by awarding four $25.00 gift certificates. The gift certificates can be used for NSQG programs and trips.
Please welcome our new members: Christine Lazarus, Kathleen Porter, Mary Brewer, Katherine Darretta, Linda Franco, Jane Pinchuk, Deborah Warren, Linda DiBrita and returning member Marilyn Cambigianis.
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In October we are very happy to welcome our first Member Showcase this season, with our famous quilting couple, Eunice and Don Gough. Enjoy their quilts on display at the meeting.
Eunice and Don have many things in common. They are both licensed airplane pilots, both capable house builders having built their own house by themselves and both are avid quilters although their styles are very different. Eunice tends to do more traditional, pieced or appliqué quilts while Don is more into raw edge fusible pictorial quilts.
Eunice has been quilting for many years. Her first quilt was a baby quilt for a friend. She was a member of the Northern Star Quilt Guild when they were meeting at the Somers elementary school.
About ten years ago Don noticed Eunice making a Christmas quilt. He commented how he didn’t like the background color. Eunice responded with “If you don’t like it, go make your own”. Don did just that and from then on he was hooked on quilting. With Eunice helping, Don would try a new technique with each successive quilt.
Don is more competitive than Eunice and he would encourage Eunice to enter her quilts in the NSQG shows. Don has entered his quilts in shows around the country and both Eunice and Don have many awards. During the last six years Don has led the Landscape quilters SIG.
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If you have not renewed your membership from last year it would be best if you did this prior to the October meeting. Print your form, include a check for $45.00 and mail it to NSQG Membership, PO Box 232, Somers, NY 10589. The membership booklet information will be available at the October meeting for you to proof read and then the info will go to print. Don’t miss the chance to be included in the 2017-18 booklet.
For information, contact membership@northernstarquilters.com
*Library – Elizabeth Cook*
For information, contact library@northernstarquilters.com
*Hospitality – Micki Green, Christine Langan*
For information, contact hospitality@northernstarquilters.com
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Oct, 2017
Programs
*Programs – Helen May*
We need your help! Is there someone who would like to help out on Tuesday nights during the meeting and at the lecture? We really need some volunteers …. Added advantage is helping book future teachers!!!
We are thinking about doing something new this year… Maria Shell (https://mariashell.com/) is joining us from Alaska and has an extra day free. We would like to book her for two days of workshops, with Thursday the 19th being added to the April 17th lecture and 18th workshop . If you did not sign up and would be interested in taking two days of workshops, please e-mail me at programs@northernstarquilters.com
October 17-18, 2017 – BONNIE DWYER – http://bonniedwyer.com/ – contact programs@northernstarquilters.com
Lecture – THE ROOTS OF MODERN QUILTING
In this one-hour program, Bonnie shares her study and findings about the development of The Modern Quilt Guild. This early 21st Century quilting revival has taken the quilting world by storm with a fresh, new look characterized by a variety of factors. This slide show and lecture, along with a few examples of actual quilts, traces the founding of this international phenomenon and its roots in social media. 
Workshop – INSTANT IMPROV
This workshop presents a laid-back approach to design, forcing quilters to work with what they have. Participants will make improvisational quilt blocks by combining a few of their own scraps with those supplied in class. We will let loose with wonky strips and off-kilter squares in this fun-filled journey down the improv road. This class works well for those who have always wanted to bring out their inner abstract artist. This workshop is best for those who will allow themselves to be open to asymmetrical, abstract, and generally ‘wonky’ designs.
*Boutique-Mary Cannizzaro*
The Boutique is open to all members to sell their wares at the November guild meeting. This year it is from 6 to 7 p.m. on November 14 in the lower lobby. The table fee is $25, and members can share a table with another member.
If you would like to participate, please contact Mary Cannizzaro at boutique@northernstarquilters.com.
*Super Saturday-Pooa Bloomberg*
Super Saturday is scheduled for February 17, 2018 and we looking for instructors for the day. It will take place at the same place as last year, the First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown on Crompond Road (Rte. 35/202 and 132). We need to start lining up the classes. Please think of what you can do to teach your fellow members. If you have acquired special skills by taking a class or learning from a book, consider passing on your knowledge. Traditionally, it is a fun-packed, highly educational day which includes a lunch provided by the guild.
Please contact Pooa Bloomberg at supersaturday@northernstarquilters.com if you are interested in teaching a class.
*Winter Programs-Donna Chambers*
January Program
January’s Program will feature an assortment of exciting Short Demos by many of our talented members. If you have a technique you’d like to share please contact Donna Chambers.
February Program
Last year’s “Ugly Fabric Auction” is back by popular demand and not to be missed! Our wonderful Auctioneers Sandy and Carolyn, who are also talented Quilters will be join us again. I’m accepting Ugly Quilt Fabrics now thru
January. Remember one Quilters Ugly is another Quilters Beautiful Masterpiece! So bring on the Ugly..
For information, contact education@northernstarquilters.com
*Special Interest Groups (SIGs)*
Long Arm Sig – Diane Linker – The next Meeting will be on October 14th at Kathy Vanacoro’s home.
Landscape Sig – Don Gough – Next meeting will be Saturday,October 21st from 1pm to 3pm at the FABRIC MART quilt shop in Yorktown.
ImPrOv Sig – Meg Mooar and Jane Eyes – IMPrOv will always meet in the back of the cafeteria at 5:45. Please bring samples and inspirations to share with the group. Newcomers are always welcome!
EQ Sig – Mary Cannizzaro – There will be no October EQ SIG. Attached is Helen Boland’s quilt that she designed after the September SIG meeting and she is new to EQ. Great job Helen!
Paper Piecing SIG – Susan Deshensky
Meetings for the year have been scheduled at Fabric Mart in Yorktown on October 11, November 8, December 13, January 10, February 14, March 14, April 11, May 9, and June 13 from 10am to 1pm. A couple of projects that have been discussed to work on include the pattern by Violet Craft of either a Lion, Elephant or Giraffe and the Judy Niemeyer Feathered Star pattern. Please feel free to bring other paper piecing projects that you are working on.
Meetings for the year have been scheduled at Fabric Mart in Yorktown on October 11, November 8, December 13, January 10, February 14, March 14, April 11, May 9, and June 13 from 10am to 1pm. A couple of projects that have been discussed to work on include the pattern by Violet Craft of either a Lion, Elephant or Giraffe and the Judy Niemeyer Feathered Star pattern. Please feel free to bring other paper piecing projects that you are working on.
For information, contact education@northernstarquilters.com
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Oct, 2017
Charitable Activities
Kit Parade – Every year, Comfort Quilts has a Summer Project. This summer each participating quilter was supplied with one of the famous Comfort Quilts Kits made by Carol Auer and Karen Carlson. Winners of the Winner’s Choice Raffle get to select from the many quilts that will be exhibited on the Cafeteria Wall at our October Guild meeting. The more tickets that are sold, the more quilts will be raffled. You may be one of the lucky winners who not only wins a quilt, but also supports the many NSQG charitable activities.
Comfort Quilts – Guild members have been hard at work making Comfort Quilts; 286 Quilts have been distributed between July 2016 and June 2017. Recipients of these quilts included Westchester Medical Behavioral Unit, Ossining Children’s Center, Kids in Crisis, Northern Westchester Hospital ICU, Blythedale Pediatric Hospital, North Salem Ambulance Corps, Congregation B’nai Y’Israel (who generously hosts CQ during the summer session), Kennedy Catholic as well as many fund raisers and individual gifts. Thank you to the many members who make quilts or donate fabric for this worthy cause.
Raffle Quilt 2018 – Remember to return your completed blocks for the 2018 Raffle Quilt, Jack’s Chain at the October meeting.
Hurricane Harvey – Many thanks to the many members who made pillowcases for the victims of Hurricane Harvey.
althea s. nolan, Charitable Chair
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Oct, 2017
Quilt Show
We are very excited to be co-chairing the quilt show again this year. Our show committee is already hard at work on a World of Quilts XXXIX. The raffle quilt designed by Donna Chambers is beautiful. In addition to the quilt we also have a Bernina sewing machine donated by Pins and Needles in Mount Kisco. Our speaker and invitational quilter is Victoria Findlay Wolfe. We look forward to hearing her lecture and viewing her amazing quilts.
As all of our committee members organize all of the behind the scenes work it is time to ask you, all of our guild members, for your support. The most important part of any quilt show is…….the quilts! We hope you are working on a quilt (or 2) that you can put in our show. Whether you are a beginning quilter or a master quilter, art, modern or traditional quilter we look forward to displaying your work. Let’s show all of our visitors what our guild is all about. If you have had a quilt in the show before you know how thrilling it is to see your work admired. If you have never put a quilt in the show please consider putting one in this year. Let’s have all members proudly wearing an “exhibitor” ribbon.
Also, now is the time to be thinking about donating a quilt for the Silent Auction. This is a part of our show that many visitors look forward to.
Of course it takes many volunteer hours to put on a show of this size. Volunteer sign- ups begin in January and we ask all members to work 2 hours on the show starting with judging all the way through to take-down. Remember, it takes an entire guild to have a successful show!
Noreen Lippolis and Chris Roche, Quilt Show Co-chairs
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Sep, 2017
President’s Message
It’s hard to believe the summer is over, but I’m looking forward to the start of a new year at NSQG. September seems to be a problem month for us. First, as I hope you have heard, our meeting will take place a week later than normal on September 26. Kennedy Catholic seems to have settled on the third Tuesday of September for their Back to School Night – the same evening as our usual meeting date. Because of this, in the future we will plan on holding the September meeting either the second or fourth Tuesday of the month (fourth Tuesday in 2018).
Our second last minute change was the need to find a new speaker. Unfortunately, our scheduled speaker has some health issues and had to cancel just a little over a week ago. Helen May, our Program Chair, was able to quickly find a substitute for both the lecture and the workshop. Our speaker will be Joan Radell, talking about handbags with a workshop the next day where you can make your own bag. Read more about it in the Programs section of this news update. I hope you will consider taking the workshop.
Overall, the year looks very exciting. We have a great line up of speakers and workshops. There are lots of activities – you can participate in our Guild Challenge, go on the trip to Lancaster, take a class on Super Saturday, join a SIG, or make a Comfort Quilt. Due to popular demand, we plan on bringing back the Ugly Fabric Auction in February. Finally we will be holding “A World of Quilts XXXIX”, on May 5 and 6 with featured speaker Victoria Findlay Wolfe.
I hope to see you on the 26th and don’t forget to bring you summer projects for Show and Tell!
Susan Fasnacht, President