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Photo courtesy of Rhododendron Needlers Quilt Guild. Dozens of RNQG members worked together to create this "Star Gazing" quilt.
3-28-2025 3:33pm
Westwood Quilters Showcase Their Work at 40th Anniversary Celebration of Local Quilting Guild
Darlene Cancell
Editor
Quilts made by four Westwood residents will be showcased among 150 quilts on display from April 5th to April 6th at A Ruby Celebration Quilt show, an event to be held at Blue Hills Regional Technical School in Canton, MA, celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Rhododendron Needlers Quilt Guild (RNQG).
RNQG President Abby Sullivan has been quilting for 38 years, winning various ribbons in RNQG shows along the way. She started in a class where she drafted her own patterns and then hand stitched and hand quilted her first quilt. Like other guild members, Abby says quilting is therapy and she enjoys the social aspects of a guild and the satisfaction of making quilts as gifts. “It is a wonderful way to socialize and feed the creativity gene,” she says.
Joanne Beaupre sewed as a youngster, making clothes, dresses, and home decor. Her foray into quilting began about 30 years ago with the love of fabrics and color. She continues to quilt because it brings her joy to create something with her hands. Joanne has exhibited her handmade items at the Westwood Public Library, Islington Public Library, and the Maine Quilt Show 2024.
Making a baby quilt for a nephew was Zelayna Rauch’s first quilting project. Twenty years ago, she joined RNQG and has been quilting ever since. Zelayna says she quilts “to bring out my artistic side.” She has exhibited her quilts at places including the Westwood Public Library (2nd and 3rd place ribbons) and the Akillian Gallery.
Bonnie Ritchie has been a member of RNQG since 1986! She has always liked sewing and learned how to quilt from books and magazines. Enjoyment in working with all the beautiful colors and patterns is a reason she has continued quilting, and she describes the activity as relaxing. Her quilt titled, “Vietnam Quilt... Reunion,” earned her First Place and Best of Show recognitions and has hung in the West Roxbury VA Hospital since 1989.
Activities at A Ruby Celebration include a 1:30 p.m. presentation each day about Antique Quilts, quilt appraisals, scissor sharpening, Raffle Baskets, a Boutique of handmade treasures, and multiple local vendors. Tickets for the beautiful “Star Gazing” Raffle Quilt will be available as well. Admission is $10, and children under 12 enter for free.
RNQG is a non-profit organization with a mission of preserving the tradition, culture, and history of quilting, and to promote knowledge and understanding of quilting. It includes members from towns throughout southeastern Massachusetts and northern Rhode Island.
Thanks to Maura Woodard for contributing this news to Westwood Minute.
Updated 3/29/2025 at 9:38 p.m.
