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Annual Member RetreatEvery year that we aren't dealing with a global pandemic, the St Louis Modern Quilt Guild hosts a 3-day retreat, Typically in the fall, this member's only event is held at a local hotel. Members enjoy a relaxing weekend with Quilty friends sewing, sharing, learning, and having fun! Over the course of the three-day event, in addition to getting some quality time with their sewing machine, members participate in various demonstrations, participate in networking and fun activities with other members, and have an opportunity to win some great raffle prizes. Typically, members are given the option of attending one, two or all three days. Hotel rooms are available at a discounted rate for those that want to stay on-site; many of the attendees choose to commute every day. The 2025 SewMe Retreat is scheduled for October 10 - 12, 2025. |
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2024 SewMeSTL |
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Pictured - Group photos of members attending SewMe on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. The member jumping for joy in the back is Lilo Whitener-Fey. |
Angie Henderson
A different angle of the group photo. A kind stranger helped with our photo taking.
Marie Hill
Pam Hartig
Retreating in action.
Patty Marty during one of her demos.
Patty Marty
One member's setup
Members participating in Jessica Schunke's Hand Embroidery demo.
Jessica Schnunke leading a demo on Hand Embroidery.
Members participating in Leila Gardunia's English Paper Piecing demo.
Leila Gardunia's English Paper PIecing demo.
Closing out the retreat on Sunday. Foreground - Em Komiskey. Left to right - Kathy Bridges, Suzanne Galli Koenen, Kristina Olson, Linda Caplinger, Leila Gardunia, Christine Taour, Kim Dunnington.
Em Komiskey giving a impromptu demo.
Mac Barnes leading demo on "Using your Cricut Machine"
Midnight sewers on Saturday.
Early morning crew on Sunday - L to R - Diane Grooms, Gail Luther, Irene Kattner-Stuhrenberg.
The layout of the sewing room. We have room for 96 sewers.
We love our snacks. This is a particularly cute one. Thanks Christine!
Saturday group at the 2024 SewMeSTL Retreat!
First time SewMe Retreaters!
The OGs. Members that attended the 1st SewMe in 2014. Back row, L to R - Amanda Zarecki, Jolene Grosch, Pam Hartig, Jessica Schunke, Marie Hill, Front row L to R - Annie Cook, Tess McMahon, Laura Cox
2024 SewMeSTL Retreat Committee.
2024 Board - L to R - Susan Muszynski, Gail Luther, Octavia PItts, Jenn Deck, Abbie Stolzer
The Board of Directors acting "bored".
The Scrap Dash
Scrap Dash
Patty Marty leading Sashiko Machine Demo.
Board members Abbie and Susan taking a break.
Scissor sharpening by Will McDonald.
Jessica Schunke during Hand Embroidery demo.
Saturday midnight crew taken by Em Komiskey.
Our helpful valets, Amy Kerkemeyer and Robyn Passig
Registration table
Valets waiting to help
Kristina Olson
Patty Marty leading a demo on Quilting with a Serger
Mac Barnes - demo on cricut machines
Laura Patterson and Christine Taour raffling off one of many, many prizes
Laura Patterson leading a demo on Making a Simple Tote Bag.
Leila Gardunia leading a demo on English Paper Piecing.
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Ninety-four members registered for the 2024 SewMeSTL retreat throughout the three days; 78 on Friday, 90 on Saturday and Sunday had 66. Ninety members did attend on at least one day of the weekend. This event is a member-only event and the cost is determined by day(s) selected; $45 for Friday or Saturday and $30 for Sunday (shorter hours). The doors were opened at 8:00 am and closed at midnight on Friday/Saturday and 5:00 pm on Sunday. Members picked whatever combination of days that suited them with fifty-four opting to attend all three days. This event cost covers the cost of the facilities and supplies; each member provided for their own meals. This way the guild can keep this event inexpensive enough for all budgets. The guild offered short demonstrations throughout the weekend taught by member volunteers. Friday – English Paper Piecing by Leila Gardunia, How to Make a Simple Tote Bag by Laura Patterson, Saturday – Hand Embroidery by Jessica Schunke, Sashiko Machine Demo by Patty Marty, Sunday – Using your Cricut Machine by Mac Barnes, Handout Quilting on a Serger by Patty Marty Thank you volunteer instructors! You did an excellent job, we learned so much! In addition to the demonstrations, there was stretching on Friday and Saturday led by Susan Muszynski and Will McDonald from Just Sew was on hand Saturday to sharpen scissors. Each day there was an exciting raffle of many donated items. We want to thank the following for their generous donations (links in blue). There were also many donations from individual members. Thanks to everyone that donated! Besides the large ballroom, the guild also utilized a break-out room for irons and cutting stations. The guild was also allowed to use a vacant meeting room for ad hoc gatherings. Fellow member Angie Terry won a free night at the retreat hotel which was raffled off at the September guild meeting and raised $240 to help offset the cost of the retreat. Many of those attending this year’s retreat chose to stay at the hotel while others commuted to the retreat each day. Thanks to Kristina Olson and her terrific committee for organizing a terrific event |
Pictured - 2024 SewMeSTL Committee - Back Left to Right - Abbie Stolzer (Board Liaison), Christine Taour, Kathy Bridges, Linda Caplinger, Laura Cox, and Sarah Sandbothe. Front Left to Right - Kim Dunnington, Diane Grooms, Suzanne Galli Koenen, Kristina Olson (committee chair) |
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2023 SewMeSTL |
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Pictured - Members taking a much needed 5-minute stretch break. Click the link for more pictures of the 2023 SewMeSTL Retreat. |
Ninety-one members attended the 2023 SewMeSTL retreat throughout the three days; 88 on Friday, 89 on Saturday and Sunday had 67. Sixty-three members attended all three days. The guild offered short demonstrations throughout the weekend taught by member volunteers.
Friday – Perfecting Your Piecing by Dottie Vaughn - Handout, Pressing Matters by Pam Hartig, Fabric Coloring Techniques by Suzanne Galli Koenen – Handout, Saturday – Digital Quilt Labels by Kristina Olson – Handout, Intro to FMQ on a Domestic Machine by Susan Muszynski – Handout, Kantha Quilts by Gayle Larson & Angie Henderson - Handout, Supply List, Sunday – Improv Curves by Octavia Pitts. Thank you volunteer instructors! You did an excellent job, we learned so much! In addition to the demonstrations, there was stretching on Friday and Saturday led by Susan Muszynski and Will McDonald from Just Sew was on hand Saturday to sharpen scissors. Each day there was a much anticipated raffle of many donated items. We want to thank the following for their generous donations (links in blue). Apple Grove Gallery / Suzanne Galli Koenen Cotton Cuts / Kim Moos Plus donations from many individual members. Besides the large ballroom, the guild also utilized a break-out room for irons and cutting stations. The guild was also allowed to use a vacant meeting room for ad hoc gatherings. The price of two hotel rooms was previously raffled off at the August guild meeting, those winners were Gail Luther and Stephanie Sachtleben. Many of those attending this year’s retreat chose to stay at the hotel while others commuted to the retreat each day. Thanks to Kristina Olson and her terrific committee for organizing a terrific event! The 2023 SewMeSTL Committee was Kristina Olson, Vicki Ash, Pam Hartig, Edy John, Suzanne Galli Koenen, Laura Patterson and Abbie Stolzer. The board liaison for the committee was Susan Muszynski. |
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2022 SewMeSTL |
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Group picture taken at the 2022 SewMeSTL held at Marriott St. Louis West on October 7 - 9, 2022.
Ninty-eight members attended the 2022 SewMeSTL retreat throughout the three days; 88 on Friday, Saturday was maxed out at 96 and Sunday had 72. Sixty-seven members attended all three days. The guild offered short demonstrations throughout the weekend taught by member volunteers.
- Friday - Web Chain Piecing with Tess McMahon, Paper Piecing with Marie Hill and Labeling Your Quilts with Linda Kocher.
- Saturday - Improv Curves with Heather Dye, Faux Piped Binding/Facing with Cynthia Cook and Big Stitch Binding with Jessica Schunke.
- Sunday - Scrap Rope Tutorial with Cynthia Cook, and Bias Binding with Nancy Dlugosz.
Thank you volunteer instructors! You did a great job, we learned so much!
In addition to the demonstrations, there was networking and games both Friday and Saturday evening. The winner of the Guild's Accuquilt Go! raffle was announced, congratulations Christine Taour. Each night many donated items were raffled off. Those raffle tickets were included in the price of the registration. Also, member, Dottie Vaughn, brought her batting display and set aside time to answer questions. Will McDonald from Just Sew was on hand Saturday to sharpen scissors.
Besides the large ballroom, the guild also utilized two break-out rooms, one for irons and cutting stations and a separate room for the games and demonstrations.
The price of two hotel rooms was raffled off at the September guild meeting, those winners were Angie Terry and Carol Taylor.
Thanks to Jenn Deck and her terrific committee for organizing such a great event!