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How to Stitch an American Dream: A Story of Family, Faith the Power of Giving

How to Stitch an American Dream: A Story of Family, Faith the Power of Giving

  • Downloads：3154
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-11-01 11:21:13
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Jenny Doan
  • ISBN：171363760X
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

Over the last decade， the Doan family business， the Missouri Star Quilt Company in tiny Hamilton， Missouri， has grown from Jenny's corner shop--with one quilting machine and two bolts of fabric for sale in the back--to become the largest supplier of pre-cut quilting fabric in the world。 And the deep connection felt by the company's millions of loyal fans and customers boils down to one thing: their love for Jenny， the mother of seven （and grandmother to twenty-two and counting） whose humorous， easygoing， down-to-earth quilting tutorials have been viewed more than two hundred million times。


Now， Jenny is ready to give her fans， the business world， and moms of all ages （and grandmas too！） what they've been asking for: the full story of her journey， from her humble beginnings as a homeschooling mom， to founding MSQC in her fifties， through the remarkable success and inspiration she's so well-known for today。


How to Stitch an American Dream is about something more than the chance to get to know Jenny Doan。 It's an opportunity for readers to have their lives changed by one woman's remarkable story--an inspirational story of overcoming hardship and finding abundance through family， faith， and the power of giving。

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Reviews

Paula Johnson ，

Heartwarming， Real， loving， beautiful！This was such an easy read。 It just drew me in like I was talk in my to a friend about her life。 I have lived some of the parallels to Jenny's story。 I have repeated the same things to my children。 I truly felt like she was seeing my life and knew where I was coming from。 ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT！ Heartwarming， Real， loving， beautiful！This was such an easy read。 It just drew me in like I was talk in my to a friend about her life。 I have lived some of the parallels to Jenny's story。 I have repeated the same things to my children。 I truly felt like she was seeing my life and knew where I was coming from。 ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT！ 。。。more

Barbara ，

Very good read！！ I laughed and cried。 Such a sweet look into the lives of Jenny and her family。 I love her infectious positive attitude through life’s good times and bad。 It is a blessing to see how her success was shared with a whole community。

Lisa ，

I love Jenny Doan's energy， enthusiasm and openness to share the good， bad and ugly。 She and her family are an inspiration and tribute to the American Dream。 Love this story and learning more about this family and their journy。 I love Jenny Doan's energy， enthusiasm and openness to share the good， bad and ugly。 She and her family are an inspiration and tribute to the American Dream。 Love this story and learning more about this family and their journy。 。。。more

Faith ，

I loved this book because it was a real life story that was hard to put down。 I am neither a Mormon or quilter， both of which Jenny is in spades，but her story went so far beyond those parts of her。 I think this book should be required reading for anyone who loves a good life and a good story。

Cathy ，

Beautiful story。 Audio book with Jenny's voice added so much to the enjoyment。 Thank you Jenny for writing and showing us a wonderful， giving spirit。 Beautiful story。 Audio book with Jenny's voice added so much to the enjoyment。 Thank you Jenny for writing and showing us a wonderful， giving spirit。 。。。more

Marilyn Gettys ，

I am a big fan of Jenny's videos and loves reading her life story。 Like her videos， it was very inspiring。 I am a big fan of Jenny's videos and loves reading her life story。 Like her videos， it was very inspiring。 。。。more

Michelle Myers ，

This was a very great read。 To learn how Jenny's lived her life and how Missouri Star Quilt Company came to be。 There are parts of the book where my emotions got the better of me in a good way。 I highly recommend this book。 This was a very great read。 To learn how Jenny's lived her life and how Missouri Star Quilt Company came to be。 There are parts of the book where my emotions got the better of me in a good way。 I highly recommend this book。 。。。more

Marcea G。 Crossman ，

Inspirational！ Jenny is one person everyone in the quilting world recognizes。 Her story is an inspiration to every one especially quilters！ This book is a page turner that you just can't put down。 🤗。 Loved it！！！ Inspirational！ Jenny is one person everyone in the quilting world recognizes。 Her story is an inspiration to every one especially quilters！ This book is a page turner that you just can't put down。 🤗。 Loved it！！！ 。。。more

Melody Powell ，

Fantastic Read！！My life parallels Jenny’s life story！ The more I read into it， the more it was like reliving my story。 Except I’m not a well renowned Quilter， of course。 This was an amazing and delightful read。 Truly inspiring。 I want to go back and re- read again， “ it was fun！”

Mary K。 Moench ，

Encouraging for quilters and non-quilters alike！！Anyone who has looked for quilting help on a YouTube knows about Jenny！！ Just like her tutorials， this book is uplifting and encouraging。

Danielle Alba ，

Nice to learn more about the history behind the woman。 You see a lot of Jenny and Ron’s flaws， many driven by decision making based on religion and poor planning， but the ending in particular demonstrates her deep understanding of emotional connection and generosity。 It’s heart-warming to learn about their family bond and what can become out of a loving and supportive marriage。

Therese ，

Loved reading her wonderful autobiography and enjoyed reading how she raised her kids and they all started such a successful quilting business。

Anna ，

I absolutely loved this book！ It is full of all the emotions and easy to read。 What an amazing woman！

Jessie K Stone ，

What a great read！I have enjoyed learning from Jenny for about 8 years ，this book is the remarkable and inspiring story of how this family came to live in Missouri and start up a very successful business in a small sleepy town。 One feels one knows Jenny from watching her YouTube videos so the story feels very personal。

Darla Grediagin ，

Great happy readThis book was a great story of a family working together 。 If you enjoy stories about working together to achieve and grow。

Laura P。 ，

Fantastic story， very inspirational。Good book for any body who likes quilting whether you are new at it or just love quilts。 I have admired her style of teaching for years。

Joni ，

Audio book narrated by Jenny herself。 If you know Jenny， you love Jenny and her personality shines in her memoir。 I laughed out loud many times and I got choked up many times。 This is the best memoir I've ever read。 She's had quite a blessed life。 Audio book narrated by Jenny herself。 If you know Jenny， you love Jenny and her personality shines in her memoir。 I laughed out loud many times and I got choked up many times。 This is the best memoir I've ever read。 She's had quite a blessed life。 。。。more

Gayle ，

This woman is amazing。 Talk about a rag to riches， Jenny Doan is the queen！ She’s a perfect example of being positive through everything！ I admire and respect Jenny so much now。 This is a high recommend。

kinsey ，

5 stars

Christine Clearwater ，

A wonderful book！ I have long loved Jenny For her quilting tutorials but I have even more love for her now。 This memoir is moving and inspirational。 I only wish it was even longer。

Anna Fox ，

As a quilter， I found this very interesting。 You can still hear Jenny's 'voice" come through the writing。 I've not had the privilege to see her in person， just her tutorials。 The stories are interesting。 She doesn't drag anything out， but gives you the important information （kind of like her tutorials）。 I am so glad I heard about this book and hope to one day meet her。 She just seems like a genuinely nice person。 Thank you to the author， publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an hon As a quilter， I found this very interesting。 You can still hear Jenny's 'voice" come through the writing。 I've not had the privilege to see her in person， just her tutorials。 The stories are interesting。 She doesn't drag anything out， but gives you the important information （kind of like her tutorials）。 I am so glad I heard about this book and hope to one day meet her。 She just seems like a genuinely nice person。 Thank you to the author， publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more

Victoria ，

Quilting is LoveHow to Stitch an American Dream is not just a book about one person or a company， but about a family of crafters passing down a legacy of self-starters。 Jenny Doan， the creator of the now famous Missouri Star Quilt Company， has made quilting fun and accessible to quilters of all skill sets。 How does a useful hobby become a successful business？ Work hard at what makes you happy。 Filled with kindness and wisdom， Jenny’s story encourages readers to learn from life。 This story is not Quilting is LoveHow to Stitch an American Dream is not just a book about one person or a company， but about a family of crafters passing down a legacy of self-starters。 Jenny Doan， the creator of the now famous Missouri Star Quilt Company， has made quilting fun and accessible to quilters of all skill sets。 How does a useful hobby become a successful business？ Work hard at what makes you happy。 Filled with kindness and wisdom， Jenny’s story encourages readers to learn from life。 This story is not easy， and like quilting， it takes a lot of small ideas stitched together， and doesn’t always turn out according to plan。 This fluid story format does read like a biography， and has a slower more meandering writing feel。 With more emphasis on Jenny and her family， with quilting toward the end。 All of Jenny’s life stories lead up to a remarkable family and business。 Her strong faith has gotten her through many challenges in her life， and her strong spirit has help her overcome them。 She found community when she needed it the most， and now tries to share that experience with others。 It’s nice to read parts in Ron’s perspective as well。 The little bits of quilting history are very interesting to read， including a few yummy recipes at the end of the book。 This is an honest look into the creation of Missouri Star Quilt Company， and a great book for fans。 。。。more

Beth ，

I was familiar with Missouri Star Quilting in Hamilton Missouri， but did not know the whole story of Jenny and her family。 I could not put this book down。 Jenny filled this book with so much love for her family。 This is truly a rags to riches story but Jenny is the same Jenny today as she was all those years ago。 Jenny shares her faith and her family with us throughout the story。 She always managed to make the best of all their situations。 She is a real inspiration to us all but especially to so I was familiar with Missouri Star Quilting in Hamilton Missouri， but did not know the whole story of Jenny and her family。 I could not put this book down。 Jenny filled this book with so much love for her family。 This is truly a rags to riches story but Jenny is the same Jenny today as she was all those years ago。 Jenny shares her faith and her family with us throughout the story。 She always managed to make the best of all their situations。 She is a real inspiration to us all but especially to someone that wants to start a small business。 She helped turn the town of Hamilton around。 She credits her hard work and the hard work of her family along with her faith for being able to build this business。 I have order from them and you do get a personalized handwritten message with each order。 Even if you are not a quilter you will enjoy the journey of her story。 。。。more

Janilyn Kocher ，

Doan delivers a terrific read。 It’s so cheerful。 Her cheerful demeanor resonates throughout the book and it’s much needed in these times。 I’m sure she had controversy and conflict in her life， but she skates over troubled parts in her life to focus on her family and cheerful spirit。 I love quilts and reading about quilting and fabrics， but I don’t quilt at all。 It’s soothing to read about and fantastic her company is so successful。 It’s an American made story that you don’t want to miss。 Thanks Doan delivers a terrific read。 It’s so cheerful。 Her cheerful demeanor resonates throughout the book and it’s much needed in these times。 I’m sure she had controversy and conflict in her life， but she skates over troubled parts in her life to focus on her family and cheerful spirit。 I love quilts and reading about quilting and fabrics， but I don’t quilt at all。 It’s soothing to read about and fantastic her company is so successful。 It’s an American made story that you don’t want to miss。 Thanks to Harper Horizon and NetGalley for the early read。 。。。more

Patti ，

Let me start out by saying that I am a fan of Jenny Doan。 I've been to Hamilton Missouri to shop， I watch her YouTube channel and I've ordered from her website。 I will also say that I admire what she did with the help of her family。 I think she is the queen of "when life gives you lemons。。。。" for sure。So about this book。 I was excited to be able to read an advance copy from NetGalley and started to read it right away。 However the deeper I got into it the less I liked it。Jenny starts out telling Let me start out by saying that I am a fan of Jenny Doan。 I've been to Hamilton Missouri to shop， I watch her YouTube channel and I've ordered from her website。 I will also say that I admire what she did with the help of her family。 I think she is the queen of "when life gives you lemons。。。。" for sure。So about this book。 I was excited to be able to read an advance copy from NetGalley and started to read it right away。 However the deeper I got into it the less I liked it。Jenny starts out telling us about her early life and how her family came to be。 She was very brave and honest to share the pain and abuse from her first marriage and I thought she did a great job telling us how she got through it and how helpful the support from her parents was。 But from there？ It just kind of went downhill for me。 She was not shy in explaining how important her faith is to her and telling us she belongs to the Church of Latter Day Saints。 She reminded us a lot of that， she prays about everything and God always answers her prayers。 From meeting her second husband to raising seven children it is all written from a very positive viewpoint。 We never really hear about how hard it was to lose a house and live in the basement with a relative because all we were told is "we made it fun"。 Okay that's great and all but I just didn't believe everything was always so hunky dory。 Every time they had to move to a new house it most always was derelict and needed massive amounts of work。 Having done projects like this I know that while there is some fun， much of it isn't all peaches and cream， yet we never hear the hard parts。 Stories of people helping them over and over are great but I guess I just don't believe it was all sunshine。The book was told in a very folksy kind of way and it was just a little over the top in my opinion。One of the best parts of the book for me was when she wrote about her son Alan who really was the one who spearheaded the whole business。 Jenny wrote him in such a realistic way that I really could see him working hour after hour to get it going。Again I admire her but I just wish she would have written a little more real life into her book。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=How to Stitch an American Dream: A Story of Family, Faith the Power of Giving

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=How to Stitch an American Dream: A Story of Family, Faith the Power of Giving&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,How to Stitch an American Dream: A Story of Family, Faith the Power of Giving&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0