2023 Spotlight Quilter

Our November spotlight quilter is Sharon Murray
Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I have been happily retired for almost 12 years now and still enjoy the choices that retirement brings every single day. I have three children, four grandchildren and one great grandson. I live with two cats who keep me on my toes.

How long have you been quilting? / Who taught you to quilt?
I have been crafting forever but didn’t start quilting seriously until 2008. My first teacher was Suzzy Payne so I learned to make templates and cut with scissors. The quilts were beautiful, but I love rotary cutters and rulers!

What do you like best about quilting?
Some of my favorite things about quilting: I always thought that I didn’t have an artistic cell in my body, but with quilting I have discovered that there may be a bit of an artist hidden inside after all. By choosing a pattern that is slightly beyond my skill level I know that my mind will be occupied. And most important for me is the quilting community. I have found quilters to be the most supportive and kindest people I have ever known.

What’s your quilting advice /mantra?
My quilting advice is to remember that beautiful does not equal perfect. There are many beautiful things in the world but very few perfect things. Your quilt may well have small errors and sometimes large ones but in the end that doesn’t matter. Your quilt will be beautiful because it is made with love and reflects that. Enjoy the process of making and the joy of giving..

Take a look at her beautiful work:

Our October spotlight quilter is Fran Sienkiewicz
Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I am originally from Queens— a town called College Point. While I grew up in a big city it always felt like a small town! I moved to Rochester when I was 18. I met my husband here and have been married for 45 years. We have two adult married daughters and four grandsons.

How long have you been quilting? / Who taught you to quilt?

I have been sewing since I was five and my Great Aunt Lizzie shared her can do attitude with me. She would say, “You can figure it out!” She showed me how to see details in things. I always loved textiles and began exploring quilting when I was 19. My first quilt was made of corduroy and weighs a ton! (The weighted blanket I now know about.)

What do you like best about quilting?
I made blocks for quilts with friends but did not make my first real quilt until 2007. I was so excited to own a quilt. And now about 200 or so later! One of my favorite things about quilting is the freedom to be creative. Planning the colors, studying the layout and what I call my “mulling” it over in my brain to satisfy that creative process. Sharing ideas with others and learning makes it fun for me.

What’s your quilting advice /mantra?
But every quilt and every idea does not always go as planned. I make deals with myself to ensure I finish a project. There may be errors and areas where I could have done better but I keep in mind my Aunt Lizzie. She would ask, “Did you do your best? Do you see mistakes? Learn from them and do better next time!” That was the best advice ever! And so, when someone compliments you or your work just say, “Thank you!” and do better next time!

Take a look at her beautiful work:

Our September spotlight quilter is Kathy Echter

Tell me a little bit about yourself.

I’ve been married for 39 years and have two wonderful adult children. My last name means genuine or true in German. That’s how our business name of True Creations came to be. Fiber arts have always been a part of my life since I was a little girl. I love the feel of cloth and yarn and enjoy working with color. As a graduate of RIT’s school of printing I have a deep understanding of color theory and proportion. Many consider me an expert with coordinating fabrics and picking thread colors for quilts that I longarm. I am an award winning longarmer, and have been in the business for over 18 years. My business is True Creations Quilting. www.tcquilting.com

How long have you been quilting?

I made my first quilt, which was hand tied, in 1982 for my first apartment. Since then, I have made hundreds of quilts, wrote a book entitled Starry, Starry Night which has directions for both template and rotary cutting assembly. I have taught over 100 classes both local and regional and have been longarming for 18 years.

Who taught you to quilt?

I have always been a student of the art form. I have been very fortunate to study with some very well-known instructors, both national and local, such as Carol Doak, Harriet Hardgrove, Mimi Dietrich and Suzy Payne. Today of course we all have access to tips and techniques on YouTube and Instagram from instructors such as Alex Anderson, Carol Doak, Jinny Beyer, Elenor Burns, Debbie Wendt, Fons and Porter, Gudrun Erla, Bonnie Hunter, Victoria Findlay Wolfe as well as many fabric and ruler designers.

What do you like best about quilting?

One of the best things about quilting is sharing your knowledge. I love to help others learn new to them quilting techniques. It gives me great pleasure to watch “the lightbulb go off” when someone that I am helping understands the concept and runs with it.

What is your quilting advice/mantra?

Try something new or learn something new in quilting. You might find out that you really love it! Or it might just not be your cup of tea. One of the best ways to do this is to take a class. When Watercolor Quilts were the “hot” new technique in the quilting world, I decided what better way to learn about this technique than to take a class from the experts in the field, Pat Margret and Donna Slusser the authors of Watercolor Impressions. I flew out to Seattle Washington to take a two-day class from them. The first day was spent with an overview of the quilts that they had created using the watercolor technique, explaining how it’s done – including choosing appropriate fabric designs, the supplies needed to create such beautiful works of art, and to begin thinking about what type of “art” watercolor quilt you wanted to make the next day. The second day started early at 8am. The first task was to take our wide array of multicolored floral fabrics and separate them by value categories and cut those that were not already cut, into 2 ½” squares. After about 1 ½ hours of cutting squares, I was more than ready to move on to the next step – Start to arrange the 2 ½” squares in a pleasing manner on a fusible grid. I thought I wanted to do some type of vase with stems and flowers. What I found out was that there were two types of people in this class. One group loved to just sit and cut 2 ½” squares, the other group just wanted to create using the cut-up squares. I was a member of the latter. Give me those 2 ½” squares and let me create! Needless to say, by 11am I had sold all of my supplies to other members of the class. I had realized that although I loved the end results of watercolor quilts – I did not have the time nor the patience to execute this type of project.

We all take classes for different reasons. It might be to learn something new, connect with others, improve our existing skills, make a keepsake, create a gift or maybe just to spend some time enjoying the experience of taking a class. Overall, taking a quilting class allows you to explore creativity, learn new skills, and engage in a fulfilling and meaningful craft. It can be a way to express yourself, connect with others, and create lasting works of art. So, why not go take a class? To see some of my work click on the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uouj7nFUyjs

Our August spotlight quilter is Rita Straubhaar. Tell me a little bit about yourself? I work full-time as a Professor of ASL at Monroe Community College.  I am only able to do quilting on a part-time basis.

How long have you been quilting?  My first quilt was back in 1999, it took me 6 years to finish because I moved away from the person who was teaching me how to quilt.  The second person who taught me helped me finish it and I gave it to my husband as a wedding gift!  This quilt is titled “First Star I See Tonight” based on the pattern by “Star Quilt” by John Flynn (John Flynn’s Step-by-Step Feathered Sun).  This traditional diamond star quilt was made by marking dots on each and every diamond piece and starting/stopping between the dots.  Nowadays there are easier methods, but I appreciate the precision that is required for successfully making this quilt.

Who taught you to quilt?  My first quilt teacher was Theresa Coughlan (now Matteson).  She is Deaf like me and was able to communicate in sign language with me.  The second person who helped me is Carolyn Maruggi (who is hearing) who helped me on the sly behind my finance back (he eventually knew something was up, but didn’t know the details).  When I gifted this quilt to Tom on the eve of our wedding my family saw the quilt for the first time and my Mom freaked out.  She kept on screaming and bawling her eyes (which caused me to also start crying!) out for someone to confirm that I actually made that quilt.  She was totally dumbfounded because she and my grandmother were the first people to teach me how to sew (mostly clothing).  She didn’t know how to make a quilt, but knew a lot about sewing and was shocked that I was able to build upon the skills that she had taught me. After completing my first and second quilt with Carolyn, I mostly self-taught myself by reading quilt books/instructions.

What do you like best about quilting? I love the precision that is required of the challenging quilts.  I also love how it calms my mind.  All my stress and worries seem to go away when I am working on my quilts. I recently finished my 50th quilt which will be gifted to our first grandson Nico Rubin-Jossen.  This one is called “Windows to Your Dreams” by “The World Through My Window” by Karen Nyberg American Quilter Magazine May 2023.  I used Cherrywood fabrics for this quilt and had it hand quilted by The Quilt Room in Penn Yan.  I am proud to say that this is (almost) an All-American product.

What’s your quilting advice /mantra? Quilt when you are ready and stop when you start making mistakes.  Follow your intuition and try to always challenge yourself with new techniques and more challenging patterns. But to prevent burn out from challenging quilts, try flipping between challenging and easy to make quilts.

Here are some pictures of her beautiful work:

July spotlight quilter is Carla Boerman

 I’m 63 and have been sewing since I took Home Economics in sixth grade.  I have lived in Walworth since I was seven years old.  My husband and I have been married for 45 years and we have twin daughters who are 34 and two adorable granddaughters, Libby and Lacey, who are 4-1/2 and 2-1/2.  I retired from Pittsford Schools as a middle school registrar in 2020.   My granddaughters call me “Nonni” and I watch them three days a week.

How long have you been quilting? 

I started in late 2019 and really got going in 2020 during COVID.  I never thought I would be quilting as my mother-in-law is an avid quilter and hand quilts all her quilts.  However, one day I followed Melanie Ham’s Youtube channel for making a quilt and caught the quilting bug. 

Who taught you to quilt? 

I watched many Youtube videos as I learned to quilt during Covid.  My favorite Youtubers were Melanie Ham, Karen Brown,  Jenny Doan, Kimberley Jolly, and a few others that gave me confidence I could quilt. Then I took a true beginner class at Jon’s Sewing Machines in Wolcott in 2021 that taught me the finer points of quilting – squaring up blocks, squaring your quilt, binding techniques, and the dreaded trimming HST’s to name a few. 

What do you like best about quilting?

 Of course, looking at a finished quilt is the best part, along with meeting fellow quilters.   However, I do enjoy learning a new block/project, choosing fabric and I find great joy in giving a project to someone that will enjoy my efforts.   As I have made about 25 quilts since I began quilting, I find now that I do enjoy making smaller quilts, table runners, bags of all types, rope bowls and some embroidery.   I have even taught a couple of non-quilting classes at Jon’s – Market Bags and a Quilter’s Tool Caddy.   I am a “Bernina” girl and have a vintage mechanical Bernina in my RV that I bring out while glamping.  Did you know there is a Facebook group called RV Quilters?    My home machine is a 790 and my travel machine is an Activa 240.  I wondered what the fascination was with Singer Featherweights so I did purchase one late last year and enjoy sewing on that as well.   I also belong to a group of women quilters, and we get together and make baby blankets for the NICU at RGH to cover the isolettes that the parents take home when the baby goes home.   Our group has made over 100 of these.  I also enjoy coming to Village Quilt Shoppe to cut fabric squares and make kits for the women in Honduras who then English paper piece the cut fabric into quilts to sell to support their family.  My granddaughter, Libby, often comes with me to sort the squares by color.

What’s your quilting advice /mantra?  

Quilting should be fun, not an exercise in frustration.  Having the proper tools and a good working sewing machine makes that journey much more enjoyable.    Always be open to suggestions.  Most people would never notice the imperfections or oops in a quilt so don’t fret over it.    I also wish I had written down information about my quilts that I have given away in a quilter’s journal – pattern, date, size, fabric choice, and to whom I gave the quilt to.  Label your quilts!

Here is a hint I discovered myself:  When we have to measure our quilts to determine border length, we measure the quilt top across and down.  I found using a Carpenter’s Folding Ruler makes that measurement much more accurate as it is stiff and does not move, like the traditional tape measures do.  

June spotlight quilter is Donna Schalge

Tell us about yourself and your quilting journey:

I have been a lifetime sewer.  I had to sew my own clothes out of necessity.  I was taught by my grandmother and my mother.  I have a legacy of Home Economic teachers in my family (my mother, my aunt, and my sister).  It was my sister that got me interested in quilting in 2004.  Her department at school had several prolific quilters and she thought I needed to learn a new skill.  I was hooked from the first quilt I did:  a block of the month from Joanne’s.  I joined Genesee Valley Quilt Club in 2009, a couple of years after I retired from teaching secondary Mathematics.  I am in awe of the skills our members have and I learn something new all the time.  I’ve been a member/President of the Board of Directors, the Program Committee, Genesee Valley QuiltFest Committee chair for 5 quilt shows and recently served as President of the Club for four years, two of them during the pandemic.

I embraced my new passion for quilting with enthusiasm.  Since that time, I have completed (or started) approximately 75 quilts or quilting projects.  I discovered wool applique when I attended the International Quilt Festival in Cincinnati.  I took a class by Charlotte Agnotti and that was it. I was hooked!   I would say I probably do more wool applique now than quilting, but I’m always in search of a new skill to add to my repertoire.  I’m not afraid to tackle something I haven’t done before.  My friends and family tell me my sewing room is like a store.  I have every ruler, book and quilting supply that exists.

I think the thing I like best is learning something new whether it be a quilting skill or a wool stitch to incorporate into a design.    I’ve recently gone outside my comfort zone to explore designing my own version of a pattern.  I’m not afraid to take a chance on what I think is a better version of a design.

What would you like to offer other quilters:

My quilting advice would be to step outside your comfort zone and try something new.  Learn as many advice skills as you can.  Embrace the challenge!  You can’t fail – you just make something new.

May spotlight quilter is Marsh Regan

My name is Marsha Regan. I have been quilting for 40 years. My introduction to quilt making was at the age of 16. My mother remembers us going into a quilt shop in Victor and me exclaiming, “Mom, we need to open a quilt shop”. My very first class was taken at that shop (my boyfriend’s mother owned the shop which is no longer in business) but it was back in the day of making cardboard templates and tracing them onto fabric; no rotary cutters, mats, or rotary rules. My poor quilt! Every block had to be made at least twice as my cutting, tracing and sewing were not that good at all. Every color thread imaginable was used to piece it together and the ¼ inch seam was pretty much non-existent. My boyfriend’s mother just shook her head. BUT the quilt did get finished and it was loved until it fell apart out of use. If only she knew how far my quilt adventure has taken me!! In college, my demonstration speech was on how to make a quilt and it sparked much interest which was such a confidence booster. Once out of college, my decision was to learn as much as I could about quilting and to learn it well. As my skills advanced, my confidence grew and the desire to teach others began to surface.
I have taught and continue to teach both children and adults from learning to quilt to advanced classes such as drafting, dyeing, machine quilting – the list goes on. For me, the quilt making process is a journey to stretch yourself – to push limits and ENJOY THE PROCESS. We live in a day and age where we think we have to hurry up and get everything done as quickly as possible. WHY? Why not sit back and enjoy the process?

My journey has also enabled me to volunteer and work for Genesee Country Village and Museum (GCVM) where I learned about 19th century costuming as well as sewing garments from corsets to dresses to drafting men’s trousers and shirts. I also assisted in many costuming workshops conducted by the costuming shop. The classes were always full, so extra hands were always appreciated. Additionally, I learned how to spin fiber on a spinning wheel with one of my bucket list projects is to spin, weave and make my own clothes from my hand spun fiber. GCVM also introduced me to the Shaker’s a religious group founded in the 17th century. I am currently working on a research project Shaker Textiles.

So, let us explore together and learn from each other. I hope you will join me in my classes and if there is something you like to learn, feel free to let me know and I will be more than happy to teach a class on it.

April spotlight quilter is Mary Aman

Tell me a little bit about yourself.

I am the mother of two wonderful adults, grandmother to 5 and great grandma to a beautiful little girl.

How long have you been quilting? / Who taught you to quilt?

I started sewing through 4-H when I was 9.  In 1979 I took a class from a local quilter, and we made templates and hand piece the quilt, thank goodness for rotary cutters. I started quilting again in 2006 and fell in love with all the new fabrics.

What do you like best about quilting?

What I really like about quilting is the creative outlet it provides. I love playing with color and deconstructing blocks. Over the last 17 years I have made about 20 quilts, and many have been gifted to family members.  I believe it’s really important to enjoy the process and do what you love!

What’s your quilting advice /mantra?

My mantra is slow and steady wins the race!

Here are some pictures of some of her beautiful work.

March spotlight quilter is Sherrie Lasky

Tell me a little bit about yourself.

I’m a wife (partner) of a wonderful husband, a mom (friend) of an amazing daughter, mother-in-law of an amazing son-in-law, and I’m soon to be a grandmother. I am also a graphic designer to help pay for my quilting addiction.

In 2012 I co-founded the Rochester Modern Quilt Guild, and we are celebrating being 10 years young this year. I’m also a member of the Perinton Quilt Guild. I come from a big family. I’m one of seven children and some of my siblings still live in the area. If I’m not quilting or doing something with one of the guilds I’m a member of or having a sew day with a quilt bestie I’m probably doing something with my family. Or maybe it’s the other way around.

Also, several years ago, I became a Longarm quilter for hire who goes by the name of the Creekside Quilter.

How long have you been quilting?

I have been quilting for 29 years. I started when I was pregnant with my daughter who will turn 29 this summer.

Who taught you to quilt?

I learned how to sew from my mother and grandmother at a very young age. They did not quilt so I had to teach myself. I learned from reading books and taking classes. Learning this wonderful craft is an ongoing adventure.

What do you like best about quilting?

It relaxes me. When I’m piecing or quilting a finished quilt top, I love that when I’m in the process all the stress that comes with life disappears, if only for a time. Being part of the guilds that I joined has been so wonderful. I love that I have a “quilt family” now as well. Like most quilters, the best feeling is when you gift a quilt, and you can tell right away that the recipient loves it.

What’s your quilting advice /mantra? Quilting is meant to be fun and creative. Try not to let it stress you, there is enough of that in life already. I am my worst critic so when I get too much in my head and start comparing myself and my work to others, I try to remember that I do this for fun and to feed my soul.

February spotlight quilter is Lauri Namisnak

Lauri, Tell me a little bit about yourself?

I grew up in the Thousand Islands area. I now live in Penfield with my husband of 22 years and have a daughter in college. When I am not working you can find me in my sewing room, doing jigsaw puzzles, or gardening.  I also love to watch hockey and I am a fan of the Buffalo Sabres.

How long have you been quilting?

I have been sewing for about 15 years. My first sewing project was a pair of pajamas for my daughter. Since then, I have made table runners, placemats, wall hangings and quilts.  I just finished my eighth quilt.

Who taught you to quilt?

I grew up watching my mother and stepmother sew, but it was a neighbor who taught me to sew.  I went to a craft night at her house, and she was working on a sewing project, I was very interested in what she was doing and asked a lot of questions. The next day, I went out and bought a sewing machine and asked her to give me a few lessons. She showed me the sewing basics like how to thread my machine, cut out a pattern, pin fabrics, etc.  After five lessons, I was hooked. I have not stopped sewing since.

What do you like best about quilting?

I like the creativity. I always try to take a pattern or project that I am working on and add my own twist to the process. I add different fabric choices, an extra border, or a creative design to make it more unique to my tastes and vision.

What’s your quilting advice /mantra?

Take as many classes as you can. You may go to a class to work on one project and learn other sewing tips or techniques to help make your sewing projects that much better.  Quilters are always willing to share their experiences and give you tips to make you a better quilter. I always enjoy meeting other quilters at the classes. Everyone is always friendly and eager to help.  It is also interesting to see how other people interpret a pattern or project. Here are some pictures of some of her beautiful work.

January spotlight quilter is Joan Beadle

Tell me a little bit about yourself?

I grew up in West Webster and when I got married 30 years ago, I was lucky to be able to move back into my childhood home and raise my 3 kids. My husband and I still live there.

How long have you been quilting?

My sister and I talked about learning to quilt for a while. I have always loved crafting. Macrame,  crocheting and some sewing.  It wasn’t until she retired and my youngest was in high school that we both had the time to actually do it.

Who taught you to quilt?

We dove in taking a paper piecing class at VQS in 2019. I love paper piecing! It is crafting and sewing in one. Then we decided to dive further and take a BOM class at Madelines. Just in time for Covid quarantine. Needless to say, since I had very little experience in quilting, my BOM blocks came out pretty wonky. But you learn from every piece you make and I hung my very first quilt above me in my craft room. Every time I look up, I see how far I have come.

What do you like best about quilting?

I love to look at a pattern now and think about how I can do it just a little different to really make it mine.  Whether that is incorporating wool, embroidery, or beading. I have discovered watercolor pencils and look forward to adding more color to some upcoming projects.

What’s your quilting advice /mantra?

I have a saying that I keep in my head especially when projects don’t work out the way I picture them. I am not perfect, and neither are my projects. They just need to stay together in the wash!  Thanks to Monique, Vanetta, Maryfran and Michelle for being a wonderful source of inspiration and education!

Here are some pictures of some of her beautiful work.