Saturday, April 15, 2023

"Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today." --Benjamin Franklin


You usually hear this as it applies to tasks or jobs, particularly ones you don't want to do, and you try to find any reason to put them off. I'm applying it to tasks you would love to do like travel, or maybe try something new. There is certainly a time in your life, such as when you have children, an illness, or the care of a family member, for example, when those things must wait. When you reach a certain time in your life, however, just go for it!

My dear friend, who went to extraordinary measures to get us tickets by the way, and myself went to a Missouri Star Quilt Company Doan Girls Retreat in Hamilton, MO 4 days last week. It was AMAZING! So much fun, learning, quilting, eating, laughing,  shopping, and meeting wonderful new people.

We began Tues. morning with a tour of the warehouse/long-arm quilting area. Very interesting! It was amazing to watch it all in action.

They have two retreat sites. A smaller spot by their shops can accommodate 40. The one at the Hotel Hamilton, where we stayed, can house nearly 60. They utilized both places to sleep 100 but all activities were at Hotel Hamilton. There were people from all over, including one from Australia. They gave us so many freebies, fabric, tools, and even a MSQC jigsaw puzzle. As we gathered on Tues. (some arrived Mon. evening) we went downtown for a scavenger hunt. Each MSQC store had a gift for us as well as other stores downtown. 

It was sad when it ended Friday, but boy was I tired. Hope we get to go again next year Debbie and maybe bring some others with us? They have been offering 5 Doan Girl Retreats each year along with many other retreats (including private ones), the MSQC Academy, and other events. ALL fun!


The Hotel Hamilton was renovated to include 6 guest suites. Each suite has two bedrooms, with five beds each that connect to a shared sitting room. As well as seating and a TV there are 4 sinks, each located by a bathroom that includes a shower.



 Located next to the hotel is a 7,200 sq. ft. event center which includes a kitchen. The hotel and event center are not owned by MSQC.

Jenny always has a story to tell, is very inspirational, and has a wonderful sense of humor! All three ladies are so kind and make you feel like family. We need to thank the Doans and so many others that put this great retreat together!

Our first class Weds. morning was presented by Jenny. 

The Block Star Quilt will be 74" x 81 1/2". I have just a little bit left to complete, lol.

Wednesday afternoon was Natalie's turn. When one presented, the other two made that block.

The Connected Heart Table Runner will be 20" x 30" completed.

The hearts were indeed cute Natalie, but they were the hardest of anything we made! As with all of their patterns they take what looks complicated though and make it so easy.

Misty had her turn Thurs. morning.


Periwinkle Squared will be 72" x 72". This was the easiest of all three.

My finished block. We were encouraged to make one block each lesson and then they took a group picture at the end of each day with that block. Yes, a few actually completed the entire daily project.

We were also encouraged to bring a project to work on. I chose an easy half square triangle table runner. Debbie and I took time to go shopping downtown each day, but some people took full advantage of their time to quilt. We stopped by 10:30 p.m each day but I heard some stayed until 4:30 a.m. the next morning. I felt like quite a slacker.

My wonderful friend Debbie on the left in front. Our other four table mates and "roomies," including one from Saudi Arabia (inside joke) met at this retreat last year and decided to return together. They were from California, Missouri, New Mexico and Michigan.

The first night the Doan girls presented a trunk show on their Triple Play tutorials. They take a theme or a block and show us how they each make it their own.


Weds. evening we were treated to a brand new trunk show on old quilts that Jenny had "rescued."

Our last night, Thurs., was show-and-tell. People shared quilts they finished this week or in the past year, and some shared quilts with a story. The Doans bid us farewell. We all laughed that night and cried.





There was plenty of fun. A little dancing one night.

Let's just say we were laughing so hard!

A few of the Quilt stores. We spent our share of money there. Hamilton was the boyhood home of J. C. Penney.

They have a library where they keep the quilts they make for their tutorials and for Block Magazine. They have a newer store where some of the quilts that have been made are sold. The quilts above have price tags around $1,500 each, give or take a few hundred, the going rate.

The Quilt Museum. Notice the limo in the background.


We enjoyed tea more than once at Mrs. Little's Teas and Toys.
Where are the Piepers now? Lee's Summit, Mo.

1 comment:

  1. How fun! We are stopped near you in Longview Lake campground, so checked out your blog. A fellow quilter! Yay!

    ReplyDelete