June 2026
Member at Large News
Village Quilters offers a place of sharing and learning about our love of quilting. Wouldn’t it be great to get out into our communities and share this love of quilting with others? That has been on my mind for a while now, and Erica Jarrett, our new President, is thinking about this too.
We are looking to form a small group of members that are interested in pursuing this idea. What if we were able to work with school age children and teach quilting? Or hang quilts in community art centers or libraries? What about having a hand sewing day at the Gazebo in Lake Bluff and hanging some quilts while we're there? Maybe we could help members of a Girl Scout troop earn their sewing badge. Maybe we could teach quilting at a library. We recently did a show and tell at a retirement center. It was great fun and the residents enjoyed it. Those are just a few ideas.
Sharon Pierluissi will head up this group. Please let Sharon or Erica Jarrett know if you would like to be part of this committee. We will meet to explore community outreach of quilting beyond our monthly guild meetings. At the June meeting Erica Jarrett will be at the church early, so please bring your ideas and join her before the guild meeting starts.
Sharon Pierluissi, Member at Large
June Program: Maday Delgado - Sustainable Textile Design
Tuesday, June 16, 2026 – 7:00p.m. In Person
Discover how fabric can tell powerful stories and shape a more sustainable future! Maday, a dynamic bilingual art educator and artist, brings an energetic, hands-on approach to the world of textiles. Her work blends innovation, culture, and creativity, leaving audiences inspired and ready to create.
Rooted in her Cuban heritage and inspired by global textile traditions, Maday transforms everyday materials into meaningful works of art. Through techniques like hand-stitching, painting, weaving, and embroidery, she shows how to turn fabric into storytelling. Passionate about the planet, she champions upcycled materials and shares eye-opening insights on the environmental impact of textiles.
Come ready to be inspired, learn new techniques, and see textiles in a whole new way!
Website: Sustainable Textile Design
June Workshop: Sustainable Textile Design – Sashiko Works
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 – 9:00a.m. 3:30p.m. In Person
Ready to stitch something meaningful? Join Maday for a hands-on workshop where tradition meets creativity. Inspired by global textile traditions and her training with a Japanese Sashiko master, Maday will guide you through the art of Sashiko stitching.
Start with pre-printed designs to learn the basics, then move on to creating your own unique patterns—perfect for adding beautiful, hand-stitched detail to your quilts. Along the way, discover how to incorporate upcycled fabrics and bring new life to your materials.
Perfect for all skill levels—come stitch, design, and leave inspired!
(Note that the guild workshop location has changed. Workshops are now held at the same place as our regular guild meetings: Grace United Methodist Church, 244 E. Center Ave., Lake Bluff, IL 60044.)
July Program: Dee Bushrod – My Passion in Pixels
Tuesday, July 21, 2026 - 7:00 pm - Online meeting
Have you ever wondered how you can take a picture and turn it into a quilt? Join Dee Bushrod as she presents a online lecture titled, “My Passion in Pixels”. This presentation will describe how an image that has been “pixelated” can be transferred onto fabric. You will see how you can take anyimage you want and make it into a picture in quilt form.
Dee Bushrod is a self-described “Brit” who now lives in and says she “loves” Oklahoma. She is a “self-taught quilter” and started making quilts 19 years ago but didn’t fully love the entire process until 5 years ago when she discovered “Pixel Quilts”.
Pixel Quilts are now her main passion, and she travels the world talking and teaching about all things pixels and how others can create their own pixel quilts.
Dee’s comprehensive online presentation will cover the beginnings of her quilt journey right through to the 50+ pixel quilts she has made to date. This presentation will include the quilt made for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee that celebrated 70 years of her reign. Dee’s presentation, “My Passion in Pixels,” will guide the Village Quilters both for creating their own pixel quilts as well as guidance on how to do it most effectively.
President’s News
I think the word "formulate" is a good one for where I am today. It is important to formulate a plan to move forward, both in life and in quilting. When I think of making a quilt, I get inspiration from many areas, and listening to our talented speaker, Deb Strain, at the May meeting made me think about fabric in a different way. She creates art that is turned into fabric so that we can use that art/fabric to build quilts. How amazing is that! On a recent visit, my 4-year-old granddaughter picked out a fabric at an amazing quilt store near where they live as she wanted me to help her 'make a quilt'. No questions asked I bought the fabric, and was not sure what I would do with it. (Public service announcement: stop by The French Seam in Fishers, Indiana, if you are in the area). Last night I formulated a plan. Deb's creativity and the designs by Coach House Designs helped me land on a fun plan for the fabric... and making a quilt with my granddaughter.
As I mull ideas for our guild to move forward, it is important that we, as a group, formulate a plan that allows us creativity, flexibility, and connection. All ideas are welcome, and I do hope you will send me an email, text, or phone call (sejarrett@comcast.net or 847-924-9335) to let me know what is important to YOU. I will be at the June meeting by 6:00 pm for anyone wanting to come early to formulate ideas for community outreach.
Erica Jarret, President
VQ Block of the Month - June 2026
May was the first month for our patriotic Block of the Month and many members made blocks. I enjoyed handing out the little packets of star buttons to those who brought their completed flag blocks to the May guild meeting. There were so many and they all looked great! If you haven’t finished your flag yet, or you forgot to bring it to the meeting, or you haven’t started yet, no worries. There are still more stars to be handed out and it’s never too late to join the fun.
It’s time for the second installment of the Village Quilters BOM! You will find the pattern with instructions in four files. Feel free to print any pages and copy them if needed. These files are available on the VQ website in the Members Only section and on the Members’ private Facebook group page.
The June 2026 block instructions file is the main document. It has cutting instructions, pictures, and history comments for the new blocks.
The FPP General Directions file is a simple step-by-step how-to paper piece and includes a link to the excellent instructional video on YouTube, How to Paper Piece with Carol Doak. If you want more videos, Carol Doak has many good YouTube videos on paper piecing. Highly recommended.
The Log Cabin FPP and Riding Underground Rails files are the actual pattern pieces. These are the two Foundation Paper files that must be printed for use.
If you missed several guild meetings and last month’s newsletter, this is a special Block of the Month celebrating the 250th birthday of our nation. It will run from May to December 2026, and our goal is to have as many members as possible participate so that we can hang these quilts together in the guild’s 2027 Quilt Show. The quilt is meant to be a skill-builder, so blocks become progressively more complex. Participants can make as many or as few blocks as they like. The history and meaning of each block will be included with the pattern. The first month’s blocks were rotary cut and pieced. Future blocks will be paper-pieced. Check out the last newsletter and the Members Only page for more information.
If you have questions about this BOM, please email me, Kearstie Grenier. My email address is on the guild roster. Join us in making 2026 memorable!
Third Thursday Sunshine Stitchers
Every third Thursday of the month, a guild-wide Bee, Sunshine Stitchers, is held at the State Bank of the Lakes in Grayslake. The bank is located across the street from the post office at 50 Commerce Drive (off of Central Street). We meet from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Bring along hand stitching, cutting projects, or machine sewing projects, as well as a lunch, and be prepared to carry out any trash. This is a drop in event, so come and go as you please.
Mark your calendar for Thursday, June 18, and join your friends and friends-to-be. You will have fun and may complete a project.
If you have any questions, call or email Kathy Heusinkveld or Marti Austin
Treasurer’s Report – April 2026
Bank Balance as of March 31, 2026: $37.844.23
Income: $3,024.00
Expenses: $158.22
Bank Balance as of April 30, 2026: $40,710.01
April income derived from $2,070 in membership fees, $825 in workshop fees, and $129 in retreat fees. Expenses were for copies and transaction processing fees.
Respectfully submitted, Leitha Schaal, Treasurer
Membership Report
Effective June 1, 2026, membership price has returned to $50.00. Please renew your membership ASAP if you have not done so already.
Welcome new members: Diana Quinn, Meredith Brooks, Jennifer Durot, Anna Klein, Constance Wiggins and Ellen Black! We are so happy that you have decided to join us!
We had a number of seasoned guild members step up to mentor new members. Would you like to be a mentor? Just let Rose or Robyn know and we will assign a new member to you. This is a great way to build relationships within the guild.
As always, please remember to silence your phone during meetings, and to wear your name tag. You’ll need to add a quarter to the kitty if you forget!
Rose Gray and Robyn McGarrigle are your membership co-chairs. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us!
Happy Birthday June members!
6/2 Michelle Mutter
6/3 Maria Littlefield
6/5 Susan Surdyk
6/6 Kate Klein
6/7 Linda Warren
6/11 Andrea Krier
6/21 Susan Minorini
6/22 Sarah Solotoroff
6/26 Margaret Spain
6/28 Denise Williams
6/28 Sue Minster