missouri | Missouri Star Blog

June 22, 2016July 6, 2016

Back to the 50’s Retreat Recap

Remember the purr of a 57’ Chevy? The taste of a ten-cent burger? The sweet sounds of the Everly Brothers? The 50’s were an unforgettable era full of great fashion and style we love! We especially love those 50’s inspired quilts and that’s we hosted not just one but two fun filled Back to the 50’s Retreats! Check out all the happenings from both below. 🙂

At the Back to the 50’s Retreats we went all out wearing poodles skirts, letter sweaters, bobbie socks and our boyfriend’s class rings! To really set the tone, there was 50’s music playing in the background the entire time (you know, the good stuff you can’t find on the radio today).

A real blast from the past came when we had “Do the Twist” dance-offs and hula hooping! Oh yeah, us quilter’s can still shake it! 😉 Memories were brought up as we discussed phrases from the 50’s as well. We even burned some rubber on the sewing machine pedals!

Check out this darling traveling chest covered in 50’s style! It’s got that vintage beauty!

Isn’t this retro 3D Pinwheel that Karen Hartley made so fun?? She brought this as her own pattern to work on at the retreat and by the time it was over she taught almost everyone in attendance how to make it. We love when quilters come together and share their wisdom to inspire others!

Take a look at this fun wall hanging that one of the retreaters made specially for the retreat! How cute is that??

Of course, one of the best parts about retreats is show and tell with everyone who is there. We love seeing everyone’s quilt designs, fabric choices and progress!

To check out our upcoming retreats and events, visit our MSQC Events Page! We hope you get to #visitmsqc soon!

February 22, 2016February 22, 2016

Introducing Man’s Land in Hamilton, MO!

Behind every woman in a quilt shop is a man carrying 15+ bolts of fabric and begging her to stop buying more! It’s a classic tale that’s been around for years. But it’s about to change if we have a say in the matter! Amid our eleven quilt shops here in Hamilton you’ll now find Man’s Land, a lounge and billiards area for the men to enjoy! (Find a list of all our shops HERE.)

Take a a nice long look at these comfy recliners, but watch out! Sit down for “just a minute” and you’ll never want to get back up! They’re all facing two big screen TV’s. It’s the perfect setup for watching the big game or getting some shut-eye. Go ahead, take a load off!

Man’s Land is warm, rustic and inviting so you’ll feel right at home… and maybe forget about how much money your wife is spending on fabric 😉

Ahh, so peaceful and relaxing! There’s even a section dedicated to our favorite manly quilter, Rob Appell of Man Sewing! Check out his YouTube Channel HERE!

The name Man’s Land was around a long time in Hamilton before Missouri Star even existed and that’s where we got our inspiration for a manly hangout. We love our small town and we love restoring the buildings to bring them new life. We hope this little haven will give you the opportunity to stay a little longer and feel rested and refreshed by the time you have to go!

November 16, 2015November 16, 2015

Rob Appell’s Man Sewing Surf’s Up Retreat!

We had so much fun last week because Rob Appell from Man Sewing was here filming tutorials, followed by the first ever Surf’s Up Retreat at Missouri Star Quilt Company! The retreat started with Rob’s Trunk Show, which was so amazing! There is something special about a trunk show. Each one is so unique to that specific quilter and even though we’ve been working with Rob for about a year now, we were reminded of Rob’s good heart and the journey that has led him to where he is today! Thank you, Rob for not only teaching us about quilting, but about overcoming obstacles, gratitude, hard work, and love for family. Your honest, vulnerable storytelling was such a treat and we’re so glad that you’ve decided to be a part of the Missouri Star family.

Rob rolls up his quilts, so they won’t get fold creases. Isn’t that so smart? Let’s take a look at some of the other quilts Rob shared.

I always knew I loved his work, but the stories behind them make them even more beautiful! It was so exciting to see them in person… sometimes photos just can’t do a quilt justice. This next one is the Color Strata quilt, featured in Rob’s new Color Strata Book! The tutorial is coming very soon!

You have to take a step back from this one to fully appreciate it…

If you’ve never seen Rob’s Endangered Species Quilt series, they are even more incredible in real life! Rob teamed up with Michael Miller Fabrics and their Fairy Frost fabrics to create a series of quilts to raise awareness for endangered species and donates a portion of pattern sales to help support these animals and those who care for them.

So amazing! Here’s the whole group! Jenny Doan attended the trunk show and we even put Ron (Mr. Jenny) to work holding up the quilts for Rob! 🙂

During the retreat, Rob taught his ever popular 3 Dudes Quilt with a twist and had fun making ‘stained glass’ when it caught the sun! 🙂

With Rob’s quilts on the wall, it feels like everyone is working in an art gallery! So beautiful!

We’re so glad that all of you retreaters could be here and Rob as well! Here’s to the next one! If you’re interested in attending a retreat at Missouri Star Quilt Company, visit Missouri Star Quilt Company Retreats & Events!

Be on the lookout for Rob’s own post about the retreat, coming soon at mansewing.com!

June 21, 2015June 22, 2015

Row by Row Experience 2015: Row by Row H20!

1,250 Quilt Shops in the United States and Canada came together last year to give you the free shop hop event called the Row by Row Experience and this year is going to be even better! This is Missouri Star’s first time participating and we are so excited! Each shop has a unique row pattern following a theme and you can go into their shop and get a free pattern to make the row. This year’s theme is “Row by Row H20,” so all the patterns are water themed! This is our row (pictured blow). It’s called Sail Away and we think it’s pretty awesome 😉 Come into our shop for the free pattern now!

We also have exclusive fabric plates available in the shop during this event, which can be purchased in the shop, so that you have an additional keepsake from each shop you visit! Here’s what ours looks like (below — the black binding was added for display). It measures 8″ x 4.5″. While the pattern for our row must be picked up in our shop here in Hamilton, Missouri, our fabric license plates are also available in our online shop HERE.

As a participating shop, we will be awarding a bundle of 25 fat quarters to the first customer who brings in a completed (quilted, bound, labeled) row quilt using rows/patterns from at least 8 different shops, with a special bonus prize if the finished quilt includes our MSQC row! The chance to win ends October 31, 2015.

Here is a map of ALL the quilt shops participating!!

June 12, 2015June 17, 2015

The Search for Missouri’s Best Grandmothers – 2015

As members of a small town in Missouri, we love finding opportunities to support other small towns in Missouri. Have you ever heard of Marceline, Missouri? Well, if you’re a Disney fan, you might know it’s the boyhood home of Walt Disney himself and this little town inspired many of his drawings and stories. Because of this, The Magic of Marceline Development Company began, to preserve the charm and magic of Marceline, “immortalized by Walt Disney as ‘Main Street USA.'”

Marceline, Missouri 1950's — Photo from www.magicofmarceline.com

We are so excited to be co-sponsors with The Magic of Marceline to find Missouri’s Best Grandmothers. This is such a fun opportunity to recognize the women who have done so much to influence the lives of their children and grandchildren (which ultimately shapes the community) in a positive way.

Jenny is especially tickled to be a part of this wonderful event. Being a grandmother to 21 children (and many more honorary grandchildren) and having some incredible grandmothers herself, she understands the amazing power of a grandmother. They are often the backbone to family traditions and get-togethers in times of chaos and busy schedules. Grandmas also teach us life skills that are irreplaceable. Whether it’s how to bake, sew, garden or even resolve conflicts, they are definitely some of the best teachers out there!

If your grandmother lives in Missouri and you think she might be the best, don’t miss your chance to enter her in this contest! There is even a recognition gala/dinner and a cash prize!! You can find more details and enter the contest HERE. The deadline to enter is July 20th! 🙂

Let’s all take a moment to show our grandmothers how much we love and appreciate them in our lives. Leave a comment on this post answering the following questions: How has your grandmother influenced your life? What’s something that she has taught you? We’ve stocked up on our tissues and are prepared to laugh and cry! Don’t worry about us saps, we’re ready for your stories (we can’t wait)!