Meet LaVerne Nichols

LaVerne's story:  My best friend's mother was a handquilter and it fascinated me.   She agreed to teach me to quilt, but I never had the time.  I was busy being a wife, mom and full-tine elementary
school teacher.   My friend's mom tried to wait for me to retire.  She died at age 96 or 97 ........
two years before I retired!

While talking to my neighbor, LaBarbara Shelton in the summer of 2003, she told me she quilted and
belonged to a quilting guild at Fernwood Park.  She became ill and didn't return to quilting.    In Oct. she told me to go to the Fieldhouse and ask for "Miss Bessie".    That was the beginning of  my
wonderful quilting life.  I LOVE to quilt and I want to make sure that this art tradition continues!!

My granddaughter spends a lot of time at my home during the summer and has made several quilts.
I am now sharing my love of quilting with a small group of women at my church.  I teach a quilting class one Saturday a month at our church.  
The women of Needles and Threads have been wonderful. They are generous with their time and talent.  They have taught me so many skills, techniques.....you name it!!

Meet Jeanne Chaney

Jeanne is the out-going President of NTQG.  Jeanne has been quilting for 6 years.  She previously
sewed for her daughter.  Her inspiration for quilting came when she attended a NTQG Quilt Show,
at Fernwood  Park.  Jeanne loves, the challenge of being creative that quilting  allows her.  She  also
enjoys the fellowship of the guild.

Jeanne also loves to read, play bridge and travel.  She is a past president ,of a local reading association.

Jeanne retired from National Louis University, where she was a professor of Reading and Languages.

Meet Doris Barnes

Doris has been sewing over 40 years, quilting for 5 years.  She met Sandra Randolph at
Oakdale Baptist Church Quilters and Craft Ministries, and joined NTQG shorty after.  She
retired from USG after 30 years.

Doris is our resident computer guru.  Since joining the guild she has guided many  members into
digitizing and understanding their embroidery software.   Doris has served as secretary and is also
our historian.

Her passion is embroidery and  she gives Elizabeth ( her embroidery machine) a constant

workout.  She has taken her love of digitizing over to her longarm quilting and now

can let the quilt dicate the quilting design.

Meet Anita Scott

Anita states that she became interested in quilting on a cruise with some friends. The group was raffling off a beautiful quilt. Her first thought was how was it done.

A friend, Dorothy Battle told her that Jo-Ann's offered quilting classes. In 2008 she took the classes, and made her 1st quilt. Anita says she was hooked.

Dorothy also told her about the guild. Anita retired from AT&T in 2009 after 30 years and joined NTQG. Anita is on the Membership Committee and she also publisher of NTQG's Newsletter.

Anita states that she has had a good time since joining, and enjoys fellowshipping with the

many talented and helpful members.

Quilting Sisters

Verna Gordon, twins Lettie Sabbs & Nettie Nesbary are members of NTQG. We will miss

sister, Omegone Daniels who passed in November 2011.

Verna was introduced to NTQG bt Evelyn Williams, she then brought her creative

sisters into the guild.

Verna has chaired the membership committee.

She currently is chairperson of the Social Committee.

Lettie serves on the Community Service Committee. Her sorority Lamba Pi Alpha donated

$1000.00 to community service in her honor.

Nettie is currently on the Quilt Show Committee.

The sisters share a desire to make memories and generate quilts that can be shared with

their families for generations to come.

Lettie and Nettie are also ardent genealogists.

Meet Betty Dandridge

Betty states that she quilts for "Joy"! She started

sewing when she was just 14 years old.

Betty enjoys all kinds of crafts. Embroidery,

crocheting, knitting and painting. She is

currently experimenting with dying her own

fabrics.

Betty states that she became aware of NTQG

from viewing the televison show "Someone

You Should Know". She first joined NTQG

in 2004. She left for awhile and rejoined

in 2009.

Betty has a saying that I would like to share: I have things to do, miles to go, and promises

to keep before I sleep..... Keep on stepping Betty.

Meet Ruby Black

Ruby Black comes from a quilting family and has been sewing since the

age of 2. Ruby was introduced to NTQG in 2002 by her daughter Patricia Morehead.

Ruby enjoys all aspects of quilting, especially picking out colorful fabrics.

Ruby has served as librarian and currently is serving as Sgt. at Arms for NTQG.

Meet Elaine Warren

Elaine Warren is a retired nurse. Elaine

has taught sewing to seniors, at Kennedy

Kings continuing education classes.

She is currently serving as the NTQG's

Tuesday's and Thursday's Group

coordinator.

Elaine has been quilting since 2003. She

was introduced to NTQG by her friend

Geraldine Jones. Elaine prides herself

in doing both the piecing and quilting of her beautiful creations. Her love of

color can be seen in her Jungle Quilt and her Around the World Quilt.

Meet Dorothy Battle

Dorothy has been quilting since 2006. Her interest in quilting began on the cruise ship" Festival of the Seas". Dorothy
states they were raffling quilts for a fundraiser on the ship. She didn't win a quilt, but was so intrigued that she returned home and took a a quilting
class at Jo-Ann's.

She met Alexine Taylor at Jo-Ann's, who introduced her to Needles & Threads.
Dorothy currently works on the membership committee.

Dorothy states that since retiring from Ameritech with 35 years of service, her
only goal is to use up some of the fabric she's acquired.

Meet Cynthia Varnado

Cynthia Varnado was first inspired to quilt from watching quilt shows on television. She got herself some quilt books, and took off from there. She loves to hand piece and quilt. She says that the vision she gets when planning a quilt is her favorite part.

Cynthia met some members of NTQG at

Joannes, who invited her to join them. She is a dedicated member who has been the Chairperson for Community Service since 2000, a job she loves.

Cynthia currently works as a science teacher for the Chicago Public School System and states that quilting relaxes her and gives her a chance to create

beautiful things.

Meet Founding Member Julia Howard

The first organizational meeting was held on Feb.22, 1992 at the home of Julia Howard. Founding members were: Julia Howard, Mildred Calendar, Bessie Blake, Charlene Boyd, Juanita Graham, and Mildred Johnson.

Julia Greets Visting Member

Meet Shelia McPhan

Sheila has been quilting since 2003. She begin quilting after retiring from the

the Health Department, where she work

for 32 1/2 years. She was introduced to

NTQG by Trish Williams.

Sheila says she loves everything related to quilting. She also crochets,knits and does needlepoint.

Tuesday/ Thursday Group

Meet Gwen McGee

Gwen comes from 4 generations of quilters. She learned to quilt by hand at five years of age. Taught by her Aunt who designated her the offical needle theader.

She was introduced to NTQG by Bessie Blake, who also suggested to Gwen that she could share her love of the craft by teaching.

Gwen has served as Educational Director to NTQG. She's currently teaching at Hancocks Fabrics on Cicero and also giving private lessons.

Gwen states that she loves beading and dying her own fabrics, but gets the most enjoyment when she machine quilts her creations.

Gloria Scott "Hen Party"


Student Karen Watson, "HarvestTime"

Meet Loretta Pope

Loretta Pope has been a member of NTQG since 2006. She was introduced to the guild by Ruth Bradley.

Loretta was taught to quilt by her grandmother.She grew up participating in many

needle art crafts, embroidery,crocheting,knitting and dress making.

Loretta stated that she didn't like quilting when she was young. Her passion for quilting was ignitated, when she entereda contest given by her then employer( Harold Washington College). She entered a Kimino Quilt and won 1st place.

She enjoys all aspects of quilting, but says her favorite is applique. Loretta is shown with her quilts 'Sweet Pototoe Pie' which won 2nd place in NTQG's 2008 Quilt Show and 'Buttons and Betty' which can be seen at the 2009 Hyde Park Quilt Show. Loretta's quilts have been displayed at the Ronald McDonald House.

Loretta is expanding her quilting horzions, by learning to digitize. Look for some exciting creations down the road from her.

LaVerne Nichols

African Coin (front and back)