Featured Quilter

2025 Leoné Nera
The featured quilter for 2025 is Leoné Nera. Leoné was born and raised in South Africa and in 1999 immigrated to California with her husband, Johnny, daughter Zelda and son Jeán. Leoné and her husband Johnny will be celebrating 50 years of marriage this year. They have six grandchildren: JohnRyan, Jayden, Jelissa, Jayleen, Zayne and Mizay. Before immigrating to the United States, she worked for many years as an executive secretary for various corporate companies.
Her mom and both grandmothers were very talented in all kinds of crafts. Leoné was a tomboy and always wanted to play outside, thinking she was not interested in sewing. After her daughter was born, she started making outfits for her and, by trial and error, she quickly learned a lot of new skills.
After Leoné purchased a sewing machine in California, she made her very first quilt (QAYG) for her oldest grandson, who has just turned nineteen. They lived in California for ten years, where she was introduced to quilting in 2003. She went on to take several quilting classes to learn more about quilting, as had previously only done garment construction in South Africa.
Leoné, her husband and both their children were employed at a large church in California. After being at the church for a few years, a fellow student whom they met at the bible school, invited them to fly out to Minot, ND to look at new opportunities.
On their first visit to Minot, she prayed and asked God for a sign that this would be the right move for their family. She told her husband that it would be a sign if she saw a Pfaff store. When she drove past Minot Vacuum & Sewing, she knew that her prayers were answered. She ended up working at the store for a few years when she met Gerry Burns who introduced her to the Minot Prairie Quilt Guild. Leoné served as Vice President for two consecutive years. Although her favorite quilting technique is appliqué, she loves everything about quilting and is always eager to learn more.
Leoné also believes in passing on her knowledge to others. She has been a teacher at several MPQG Festivals. In 2011, Leoné started a business/ministry called Born2Be Creations that is based on Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you: before you were born, I sanctified you!”. The quilts she makes all have a positive message embroidered on them (i.e.) Born2Be An Achiever, Born2Be A Leader, Beautiful, Loved, etc. Words are very powerful. She went to a John Maxwell Certification Program where she was certified as a John Maxwell coach, teacher and trainer. It was at this event that she met the CEO for Mission4Orphans. So far, Leoné has donated 35 quilts to this ministry who takes care of orphans in India. They have several homes where the children are taken care of, provided with meals, and school is provided for them in a school bus.
She believes that the positive wording on these quilts is having a positive impact on these children who have been rejected by their own families. In Leoné’s words, “It’s like God wrapping His arms around these little ones, comforting them with warmth but also making them feel safe.”
A quilt is not just a blanket but a labor of love that will have an impact for years to come!