Recent Quilt Retreats

Hello, friends! Today I’m sharing thoughts on three recent quilt retreats I was able to attend as an instructor or presenter. I had a fabulous time at all three events and am truly grateful to have been a part of each of them. I met fabulous quilters from all over the United States (and the world) and was able to be inspired by them and by my fellow instructors and presenters in ways that can’t really be measured. Keep reading for details and thoughts on these events.

Recent Quilt Retreats

Southern Utah Retreats with Camille Roskelley and Chelsi Stratton

I was able to teach two different groups of 78 students at our southern Utah retreats with Camille Roskelley and my daughter Chelsi Stratton at the end of May. The first retreat ended as the Memorial Day weekend was starting, and then we went home for a couple of days before heading back to do it all again the week of Memorial Day. Both of these events were hosted by Eternity Quilt Events, and Diane and her amazing team did an incredible job of organizing and planning everything down to the smallest details. Highlights of these retreats included:

• The people–the very best part! I loved that there were so many retreat attendees who traveled by themselves, who had never attended a retreat before, and who left with new quilting friends. Everyone was so incredibly nice. I just wish I could have spent more time talking to each and every attendee.
• The venue–I though the venue was fabulous with a good amount of room for each attendee to spread out and work on their projects. The weather was a little warm but southern Utah is always beautiful.
• One highlight of these retreats was being able to attend a Broadway-worthy performance at the Tuacahn Ampitheater. We say The Wizard of Oz the first week and The Little Mermaid the second week.

Modavation Shop Owner’s Retreat in Dallas, Texas

After about a week of rest I headed to Dallas, Texas for the Modavation Shop Owner’s Retreat in Dallas, Texas. I was able to attend last year as a teacher and also presented a schoolhouse presentation. It was a fabulous flagship event, and I learned so much from getting to know so many shop owners.

I was thrilled to be able to attend again this year. We had even more attendees and were able to hold this event at a bigger and better venue. I didn’t teach this year but presented a couple of schoolhouses (informative presentations), sat on a discussion panel with Josh Dunn, Lissa Alexander, Robin Pickens, and Gudrun of GE Designs. This was a true honor, and I loved being able to learn from the other panel members. I was also able to do some filming at the Moda Film Studio while I was in town. Highlights from this event included:

• Again, the people! It’s truly amazing how hard brick and mortar and online shop owners work. They love quilting and are passionate about bringing their customers the very best fabrics and patterns. I always learn a lot when I get to mingle with shop owners–it was fun to talk with them in the venue, at meals, and after events.
• The keynote address by Jennifer Keltner. Jennifer is a friend, and I’m always inspired by her presentations. She spoke on community and joy in quilting, and we were all inspired.
• Being able to spend some time with our Moda family from company owners and executives to our fabulous marketing team and sales reps and all of the other Moda employees that make this company the very best fabric company in the world. When you work mostly from home you truly treasure the time you get to spend at company headquarters.

Favorite Resources for Retreats

If you’ve never been to a quilt retreat, I highly recommend them! Whether you are a new or advanced quilter, a shop owner, or someone who has attended retreats before, a retreat is sure to be just the right place to recharge your love of quilting and sewing. You’ll learn from those around you and make new friends. And if you attend with friends, you’ll make lifetime memories. Below you’ll find a few resources for attending a retreat:

• 10 Tips for Quilt Retreats
• 10 Reasons You Should Attend a Quilt Retreat
• A Quilting Life Quilt Retreats Archives
• My Quilt Retreats Helpful Printable

Thanks so much for stopping by to read about my recent quilt retreats. Happy quilting!