Not Your Granny's Quilt Show

Carolina Oneto is an internationally recognized quilt artist known for her bold use of color and artistic approach to quilting.

A fiber artist, author, and creative entrepreneur, Jen Duffin turned a personal need for connection into a thriving art practice full of color, texture, and joy. This week on Not Your Granny’s Quilt Show, I’m joined by Jen of Nova Mercury Design, a Montreal-based artist whose work in frame loom weaving is as eye-catching as it is inspiring. Jen began her creative journey in 2016 as a way to reconnect with herself while raising two young children. Starting with macramé plant hangers, she quickly found a community of people who loved her work, and Nova Mercury Design was born. As demand grew, Jen expanded her practice, experimenting with different fibers and techniques before fully embracing frame loom weaving as her primary medium. Today, Jen creates bold, textured fiber art pieces that are full of movement and color. Her work invites you to pause, take it in, and appreciate the beauty of handmade art. Jen is also the author of The Joy of Weaving: Modern Frame Loom Projects for Beginners, a step-by-step guide designed to help beginners confidently start weaving. She also offers an online course through her website, making her approachable teaching style accessible to creatives everywhere. If you’re curious about weaving, looking to try something new, or simply want to be inspired by beautiful fiber art, this episode is for you.Explore Jen’s work, courses, and commissions at www.novamercury.comand follow along on Instagram @novamercurydesign.Want to see more? You can find it here: Find Podcast Merch here! nygqs.printify.me Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notyourgrannysquiltshow https://www.instagram.com/sweetpeadesigncompany Subscribe to YouTube: https://youtube.com/@notyourgrannysquiltshow Get episodes ad free at Patreon: patreon.com/notyourgrannysquiltshow Want to be on the show? Send us a message

This week on Not Your Granny’s Quilt Show, I’m joined by the incredible sewist and fabric designer Terrance Williams of Terrance Williams Designs. Terrance taught himself to sew as a kid after falling in love with fashion magazines and the drama of couture design. What started as fascination quickly turned into a creative practice that blends bold garments, thoughtful design, and a deep commitment to community. Before building his fashion brand, Terrance pursued an intense academic path. He studied Political Science in Global Studies with plans for law school, while also completing triple minors in African Studies, Asian Studies, and Women’s Studies. During college he also stayed close to his creative side through his campus Fashion Club.Eventually Terrance realized his heart was not in law. It was in fashion.Today Terrance is known for his flowing, dramatic garments including embroidered tulle duster cardigans, elegant caftans, dresses, and his ever popular knotted headbands. His business is also guided by strong values. Terrance only works with companies that maintain ethical environmental and human rights policies, and he donates 5 percent of his profits to environmental causes. So far his business has contributed more than $13,000 to environmental organizations. Terrance’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and building community through authenticity. His passion for fashion and human rights shines through everything he creates.Take a look at Terrance’s beautiful work while you listen and enjoy this conversation.Want to see more? You can find it here: Find Podcast Merch here! nygqs.printify.me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notyourgrannysquiltshow https://www.instagram.com/sweetpeadesigncompany YouTube: https://youtube.com/@notyourgrannysquiltshow Get episodes ad free at Patreon: patreon.com/notyourgrannysquiltshow Want to be on the show? Send us a message

This week on Not Your Granny’s Quilt Show, I’m joined by Matt Harr of Harr Craft Goods. Matt is a fourth generation quilter with a lifelong love of fabric and sewing. While building a career in dance and performing arts, his sewing skills stayed close at hand through costuming and creative problem solving. When the 2020 pandemic brought the performing arts world to a halt, Matt took a hard look at what was next and chose to pivot fully into sewing and quilting.During that time, Matt turned to TikTok, where his sewing tutorials quickly grew into a community. At a moment when so many of us were isolated, Matt helped create an online space where quilters could learn, connect, and feel less alone. That sense of shared experience continues to shape his work today.Now, Matt designs patterns, works at a local quilt shop, teaches workshops, and speaks at retreats and guilds. He also has a deep love for the fashion side of the quilt world, which led him to collaborate with the Modern Quilt Guild to create the very first fashion show at QuiltCon 2026. Matt hopes to keep curating and emceeing a space where quilted garments get the celebration they deserve, honoring the hours of love and labor that go into every piece.This conversation is fun, thoughtful, and a perfect way to ease back into everyday life after QuiltCon. Please enjoy my chat with Matt Harr, and be sure to check out his work at harrcraftgoods.com and on Instagram at Instagram @harrcraftgoods.Want to see more? You can find it here: Find Podcast Merch here! nygqs.printify.me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notyourgrannysquiltshow https://www.instagram.com/sweetpeadesigncompany YouTube: https://youtube.com/@notyourgrannysquiltshow Get episodes ad free at Patreon: patreon.com/notyourgrannysquiltshow Want to be on the show? Send us a message

This week on Not Your Granny’s Quilt Show, my guest is Cole Whitaker of Cole’s Quilts. Cole is an educator at Bellevue College in Washington, a quilt designer, and a custom longarmer whose work is as thoughtful as it is stunning.Cole learned to sew at the age of five from his grandmother, planting a creative seed that stayed with him throughout his life. After high school, he channeled that creativity into the world of cosmetology, spending twenty years teaching and mentoring students. Over time, physical limitations led Cole to step away and seek answers, eventually receiving diagnoses of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and autism. Leaning into his love of learning, Cole earned a Master of Science degree in Psychology and found a calling in supporting neurodivergent students in higher education.Throughout all of this, quilting remained a constant. Cole did not feel at home in traditional piecing and chose instead to trust his skills and pursue his own creative vision. That leap paid off in a big way. His quilt earned Best of Show at the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach, traveled to Houston, and later won second place for Piecing at QuiltCon. The experience was life changing and showed Cole that he could thrive in education while also creating quilts that deeply resonate with others.Today, Cole balances teaching with quilting. He designs quilt patterns, sells kits, hosts sew alongs, and provides custom longarm services. His love for the quilting community shines through in everything he does. Visit www.colesquilts.comto explore Cole’s work and learn more about Cole’s Quilts Academy. This is a powerful and inspiring conversation you will not want to miss.Want to see more? You can find it here: Find Podcast Merch here! nygqs.printify.me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notyourgrannysquiltshow https://www.instagram.com/sweetpeadesigncompany YouTube: https://youtube.com/@notyourgrannysquiltshow Get episodes ad free at Patreon: patreon.com/notyourgrannysquiltshow Want to be on the show? Send us a message

This week on Not Your Granny’s Quilt Show, I’m joined by Tori McElwain, author of Workshops Unleashed, host of the podcast Quilting on the Side, guide for the Self-Publishing Incubator, and a passionate supporter of creative entrepreneurs.Tori learned to quilt as a young girl and has carried it with her through every season of life... college, teaching, motherhood, and multiple moves tied to her husband’s military career. Quilting has always been her constant, even as her life and priorities shifted.When she realized that commission quilting wasn’t sustainable alongside life as a mom of two young kids, Tori made a smart pivot. She combined her deep sewing knowledge with her background in education to create tools that help makers design better workshops, teach with confidence, and build businesses that actually fit their lives.Today, Tori offers an incredible suite of resources that empower creatives to share what they know without burning out. If you’ve ever dreamed of teaching, publishing, or growing your creative work in a sustainable way, this conversation is for you.Learn more at www.heytori.tech, follow along on Instagram @heytori.tech, and enjoy the episode!Want to see more? You can find it here: NYQGS Merch Shop: nygqs.printify.me Patreon: patreon.com/notyourgrannysquiltshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notyourgrannysquiltshow https://www.instagram.com/sweetpeadesigncompany YouTube: https://youtube.com/@notyourgrannysquiltshow Want to be on the show? Send us a message

This week on Not Your Granny’s Quilt Show, I’m joined by Amy Lollis of Amy Lollis Creative, a designer, educator, and business mentor who has thoughtfully reimagined what a sustainable quilting career can look like.Amy began her journey writing quilt patterns and taking on commission work, then expanded into teaching and coaching as her business grew. Over time, she realized she needed a way to continue supporting quilters without burning out. That realization sparked a major shift in how she shows up in the quilt world.In our conversation, Amy shares how she transitioned her in-person offerings into on-demand courses and workbooks, allowing her work to reach more people while creating space for rest and balance. We talk about Scrap Academy, her course for creating beautiful scrap quilts, Build Your SquareSpace Site, and her SEO workbook designed to help makers fine-tune their online presence.Amy is deeply passionate about helping quilters build businesses that are successful, sustainable, and low-maintenance. As she’s redefined her professional goals, she’s also been tending to her inner life and is preparing to pursue a PhD in counseling, bringing care and intention into every part of her work.Find her at www.instagram.com/amylolliscreativePlease enjoy this thoughtful and encouraging conversation. Want to see more? You can find it here: NYQGS Merch Shop: nygqs.printify.me Patreon: patreon.com/notyourgrannysquiltshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notyourgrannysquiltshow https://www.instagram.com/sweetpeadesigncompany YouTube: https://youtube.com/@notyourgrannysquiltshow Want to be on the show? Send us a message

This week on Not Your Granny’s Quilt Show, we’re taking a moment to look back and celebrate the wisdom of 2025. ✨This episode is a special recap filled with the tips, advice, and heartfelt insights shared by the incredible guests who joined me this year. From creative encouragement to practical reminders and moments of deep reflection, this episode is a thank-you to every maker who showed up and shared their story.It has been such a privilege to sit down with each and every guest, and I’m deeply grateful for this community and for all of you who listen, support, and create alongside us.Settle in, soak up the wisdom, and enjoy this year-in-review episode.