Moda hosted it’s annual retreat this past weekend. Joining us were stores from all over the country for 3 days of classes, demos, shopping, food and fun. I realize as I post these pictures that it is kind of like having a dinner party and only taking pictures of your home. I didn’t do that. I took pictures of the people that came to the party! If you want to see more pictures of behind the scenes, check out some of our guests’ blogs.
Julie from Keepsake Cottage, Susan Fuquay from American Quilt Retailer and more. Let me know if you have blogged about the event and I will add a link.
So now I will show off the quests of the party!
Several of the shops participated in our Pillowcase sew-a-thon. The pillowcases were made and will be logged in the grand total over at the Million Pillowcase Challenge.
Which by the way is half way to million mark!
The first night we had a Cupcake Carnival, so we cold all let our hair down and have some fun before dinner. One of the most popular carnival booths was our BUTT SKETCH artist. Yes that is what i said!
Butt Sketch. It was great fun!
Melba from the Old Craft Store, I know that is you! I would recognize that Butt anywhere.
Deb From The Quilter’s General Store in Rockford, Illinois , proudly displaying her Butt Sketch.
Quilter’s Garden in Princeton, IL and The Stitchery in Delavan, WI hamming it up.
Kaari Meng from French General with Rachel from The Old Country Store, Intercourse, PA.
Janeese and Patt from Calico House in Lincoln, NE
Mandy from Over the Rainbow sported the perfect balloon hat.(get it? Over the rainbow!)
Several of the moda staff quickly followed. ( they will remain nameless) 
Twyla from Sew in Heaven in Holiday Island, AR was sitting quietly. She was probably hoping that I would not hunt her down and add her to the Balloon Head group.
Roseanne’s booth was a ton of fun. It was a Yo-yo competition. Not the toy kind, the sewing kind.
How fast can you sew a yo yo while the clock is ticking?
Since Project Runway is all the rage, we set up a FIG TREE RUNWAY. 2 teams of 2 competed to create there own original fashion design using precuts, ric rac, trims, buttons in 5 minutes or less. We even had a men’s round, after all most of the best designers are men. We knew our own Mark Dunn was very fashion savvy but who would of thought John Atkins our color blind IT Director would have added so much to the team. Hilariously fun!
This picture just makes me smile! 2 of our long time sales reps on hand to help us out.
Gene Stewart and Melody Busch
Brian Dunn & Mark Dunn
Just a few of the people that make it all happen EVERY DAY!!
Thank you for coming to the retreat and choosing moda!
That looks like so much fun. I love Roseann, she's so creative and such and inspiration, and who doesn't love all the Moda peeps!
Thanks for posting this Lissa. I love to see the behind the scenes of Moda. I trully appreciate all that Moda has done for me….it's hard to convey that through email or to those "behind the scenes" staff that I haven't met…but someday maybe I will get to visit the warehouse! who knows…
So these are the folks I have to thank for my Moda obsession! Thanks guys!
Looks like it was lots of fun! And I agree with the above posters, it's fun to see behind the scenes!
It was lots of fun… thanks! sad i missed out on the butt sketch :)))
The MODA crew always knows how to throw a PARTY!
What a fun time for all…so much creativity there at one retreat! I love the Fig Tree Runway!
My head is still spinning with ideas! Thanks Lissa, and all your buddies for making this happen!
Thanks, Lissa, for all you do! The pictures you took were great and it was SO nice of you to have them developed with multiples when there was more than 1 person in the pic! All of you are so thoughtful!
Looks like so much fun…such a great company to support your business people like that and be personally involved. Not many companies see their owner, CEO and workers come out and 'play' with the public. Such a great party!!!! I am checking out everyone's blog!
That sounds like a blast. I'm still not entirely sure about how the butt sketch worked but it looks like a riot. I would only like a butt sketch if the artist can majorly minimize my assets, if you know what I'm saying 🙂 ha
Some very stylish butts in that crowd! LOL! Looks like everyone was having a blast!
What an amazing place and just a great way to meet some other shop owners. It will be great to have new friends to say hi to at quilt market. Still dreaming Moda dreams …
i can see it now…
plane ticket to dallas: $252.00
taxi fare: $34.00
getting a butt sketch at the moda retreat: priceless
HAHAHAHAHA.
Well that would have been fun to be a part of….. what a hoot!
Wow! What an awesome idea to add the Butt Sketch artist to the party! How did you find out about the sketch artist? I would love the contact info. Planning a surprise going away party for one of our quilter bees!
Looks like you all had a lot of fun!
Not to be a downer, but…. 50,000 pillowcases is not quite half way to a million, as you stated. We still all have a lot more work to do.
Oh that looks like so much fun! Love Moda!
Nadine
I love readding, and thanks for your artical.........................................
looks like lots of fun… butt sketch included… lol!
若對自己誠實，日積月累，就無法對別人不忠了。........................................
You look so funny.Thanks for sharing with us!
Lol.
Mila.
So much fun! Karmen
Looks like everyone had a great time. This is when I wish I was a shop owner. But I love working with my sisters in pattern design. Hi to Ducky and who doesn't just love the Moda Designers.