Tag: Jenny Doan

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Garden of Quilts

We’re not sure if there is a prettier combination than quilts and flowers. Put the two together, and it’s just like paradise! We had the opportunity to enjoy both in abundance at the first-ever, Garden of Quilts at Ashton Gardens in Thanksgiving Point, Utah this Sept. 12-14. (And yes, we’re still pinching ourselves that such a magical event really did happen!) 

Jenny, Misty, Natalie and the Missouri Star On the Road crew were all on hand to take part in the festivities!

Natalie, Jenny and Misty near the entrance to the Secret Garden.

Jenny taught two fabulous quilt classes (Half Square Triangles and Totally Tulips), and presented one of her amazing trunk shows in front of 700 attendees in a stunning outdoor amphitheater. 

Top: The class experimented with HSTs, learning from Jenny about all of the possibilities of this versatile block!
Bottom: Jenny taught a Totally Tulips class, too! You can find the kit to make the Totally Tulips quilt on the left HERE!
It was a picture-perfect night to be hosting an outdoor trunk show!

The most awe-inspiring part of this event was the more than 700 quilts on display throughout Ashton Gardens. Dozens of our Missouri Star quilts were in the Garden, including all of these on display in the stately Italian Garden.

Look at those shadows!
Studio Star Quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Co
The Studio Star quilt is STUNNING with the sunlight streaming through it!
The Ingrid’s Garden quilt was made for this event!
We’re pretty sure this is what quilter’s paradise looks like!

The Garden of Quilts was jointly hosted by Riley Blake Designs as part of their 10th anniversary celebration, and if you are looking for a special way to celebrate their milestone birthday, be sure to join founder, Cindy Cloward for her special retreat this Nov 12-15 at Missouri Star. She’ll be teaching the commemorative Celebrate Sewing quilt, and all the supplies needed to make this beauty are included in the cost of the retreat! 

The Celebrate Sewing quilt, commemorating Riley Blake Design’s 10th anniversary.

On our last day in the Garden of Quilts, Jenny and Misty took us on a tour of our Missouri Star quilts, plus a little sneak peek of the Secret Garden. Enjoy the tour below!

What is your favorite flower? 🌼 Let us know in the comments!

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Try These Birthstone-Inspired Quilt Projects!

There are some of us who like to feel connected in some way to the mysteries around us. Thus, we read our daily horoscopes and give meaning to our birthstones because whether they hold true or not, fate or folklore, they are a fun way to celebrate ourselves and our loved ones.

To celebrate our birthday this year, we wanted to find a way to set some meaning in stone… or quilt. So we’ve come up with a few birthstone-inspired projects!

Our birthday is in September, making our gemstone, the gorgeous Sapphire. Find your gem color and sew with us!

Birthstone-Inspired Sewing Projects

January – Garnet
February – Amethyst
March – Aquamarine
April – Diamond
May – Emerald
June – Pearl

July – Ruby
August – Peridot
September – Sapphire
October – Opal
November – Citrine/Topaz
December – Tanzanite

Now that we’ve got the right colors, let’s start making!

Hexi Gems Quilt

Hexi Gems Birthstone-Inspired Sewing Projects

Get your “mod” on with this insanely versatile technique from guest designer, Lisa Hirsh. The pattern includes a blank diagram of the quilt that can be enlarged so you can color and spec-out a creation of your own. The best part is this quilt pattern is a great place for your scraps to end up! Grab the hues you need, and get started!

Birthstone-Inspired Sewing Projects

Watch the tutorial >
Get the pattern >

Burst Block Quilt

BurstBlock Birthstone-Inspired Sewing Projects

The Burst Block pattern is especially fun to use for birthstone memorabilia! The 3-D diamond shape creates life-like jewels exploding from the quilt!

Watch the tutorial >
Get the pattern >

The Gemstones Quilt

Gemstones Quilt Pattern Birthstone-Inspired Sewing Projects

Create this vibrant quilt by filling it with different variations of a single stone, or represent several people whom are close to you!

Get the FREE DIGITAL DOWNLOAD >

Update Your Account For Birthday Gift

What’s your birthstone? Tell us in the comments below!

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A Look Inside Volume 6 Issue 5 of BLOCK Magazine

A Note From Jenny Doan BLOCK Magazine Fall Issue 2019

What is it about fall we love so much? Is it the blissful break from summer’s heat? Is it the fresh harvest of fruits and vegetables that we spent all summer tending? Is it the anticipation of upcoming holidays? Or is it something more? In my mind, fall is a culmination of so many year-long efforts. As I watch leaves pile up without the desire to rake them away, I realize that what I love so much about this season is letting go. I let go of carefully tending my yard. I slow down and go inward, preparing for the winter, allowing myself to curl up with a well-worn quilt and let time pass by slowly. I also try to let go of unnecessary constraints on my time and energy, allowing myself to say no more often and focus on things that matter most. 

Letting go is also about giving ourselves the freedom to say yes to new things. There are always those things that must be done, but what about the things we choose to do? Choosing to allow creativity into each day gives me a fresh perspective and a greater desire to do the things I must do. It’s incredible how energized I feel after a walk, observing fall colors, and bringing them into my fabric and design choices. Because I make so many quilts, taking these moments to pause makes it less of a chore and more of a time to reflect. I can let go of the thought of what I “should be” doing and let creativity flow. 

I hope this season fills you with inspiration and the desire to create beautiful things. Start small and just see what happens! I remember the first quilt I ever made, it was a simple log cabin, and that first spark of creativity has become so much more. Take a peek inside this issue of BLOCK and let it become a springboard for your next project. What inspires you to create?

Love,
Jenny

Behind the Scenes of Volume 6 Issue 5 of BLOCK Magazine

BLOCK Magazine Behind the Scenes Fall Issue 2019

There are over forty people on the BLOCK Magazine team working behind the scenes. Our copy writers will have you wrapped up in their words, our photographers capture scenery you won’t forget, our sewists create quilts that you’ll feel the need to make and our pattern writers will make it easy for you to get started!

Together, they pour their passions and creativity onto several glossy pages, then piece them together for you to enjoy.

Here you can see our photographers working hard and having fun creating props, getting ready for another great autumn-themed photo shoot!

Get a Sneak Peek of What’s Inside this Issue…

Here are just a few stunning quilts you’ll find in our next issue, featured in different colors and new collections! Within the magazine, you’ll find that each quilt pattern is tied to an inspiring story and beautiful photography!

BLOCK Magazine Behind the Scenes Fall Issue 2019

Each issue includes 10 patterns plus a few of Jenny’s special projects! That’s over $50 worth of information all packed into each bi-monthly issue of BLOCK Magazine for just $7.99! ($9.99 bi-monthly for Canadian subscriptions)

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

While we’re buttoning up the odds and ends of this next issue, would you help us choose the front cover? We just love them all!

BLOCK Magazine Cover Voting Fall Issue 2019

Click HERE to send in your vote! Thank you!

Already subscribed to BLOCK Magazine? Tell us what you love most in the comments below!

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Thankful Wall Hanging

Thankful Wall Hanging from Missouri Star Quilt Co.

Every week Jenny whips up a fabulous new quilt block. But this week? Well, it’s a little different because she’s actually not making a new quilt block. She’s making six.

Thankful Wall Hanging by Missouri Star Quilt Co.

I’m totally serious! In one glorious tutorial, you’ll learn how to sew flying geese, pumpkins, fall leaves, a harvest moon, adorable turkeys, and even a pretty “thankful” word block. And the best part? Each little element of this wall hanging is just our style: quick and easy! Click HERE to watch the tutorial!

Watch the Latest Tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Co!
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Fancy Flight Quilt

What do quilters dream of? Flying geese with perfectly sharp points, of course! But sometimes those points get lost in the seam allowance, leaving your little geese tragically beakless. What’s a quilter to do?

In this week’s new tutorial, Jenny demonstrates how to preserve those points with one simple tip.

Psst!! This quilt will be featured in the upcoming issue of BLOCK Magazine (volume 6 Issue 5), subscribe to BLOCK Magazine HERE and don’t miss seeing this quilt in another fun colorway!

Watch the Latest Tutorial from Missouri Star Quilt Co!