Meet Jen Duffin of Nova Mercury Design! - Ep. 196

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

A nurse, public health advocate, and embroidery designer, Angie is using stitching to build community, spark laughter, and help people express themselves.This week on Not Your Granny’s Quilt Show, I’m chatting with Angie of The Savage Stitcher, the creator of beginner-friendly embroidery kits that focus on bold lettering, romance-novel tropes, sweary phrases, and the funny thoughts we all have but do not always say out loud.Angie is a nurse who works in public health, and helping people is at the heart of everything she does. What started as teaching embroidery classes quickly grew into strong demand for her designs, which led to the creation of her embroidery kits and patterns. Her kits make it easy for beginners to jump in, stitch their feelings, and have a little fun along the way.Community is also a huge part of Angie’s work. In Dayton, she helps host regular crafting events that bring people together. On the last Sunday of every month she hosts an open craft meetup, and quarterly she helps organize Crafty Cinema, where a locally owned theater screens a movie for crafters while also raising money for local organizations.Angie also recently made her very first quilt in 2025 and is excited to keep growing her quilting skills.If you are in the mood to stitch out your feelings while supporting a loud and proud feminist and a hot dog enthusiast, Angie’s kits can be found on Little Blue Market and on Instagram at Instagram @the_savagestitcher.Please enjoy my conversation with Angie of The Savage Stitcher.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 sharing my full recap of QuiltCon 2026 and wow, what a year it was! I’ve loved attending QuiltCon in the past, but this one felt extra special. Two quilts that I quilted were hanging in the show, and seeing my work displayed for thousands of people was completely surreal. Getting to share that moment with my husband and family made the experience even more meaningful. From powerful resistance art to the endless creativity of quilters around the world, QuiltCon reminded me that there is always room to grow, learn, and be inspired. The quilts were incredible, the fashion show brought the fun, the lectures delivered, and the best part as always was reconnecting with friends and meeting new ones along the way. I go into QuiltCon ready to learn and be entertained, and once again it did not disappoint. I’d love to hear from you. What do you do to get the most out of QuiltCon? Leave a comment or send me an email. [email protected] Your response might be featured in an upcoming video!Thanks for being here and enjoy the episode!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 Ian Danger Capstick, host of the Art Against Empire podcast, quilter, and former political pundit.Like many of us in the fiber arts world, Ian’s introduction to making began in his grandmother’s craft cupboard. He learned cross stitch and rug hooking, and put it all away as an adult while he worked in Canadian politics. He famously brought his cross stitching with him to work in the meantime of appearing as a political pundit on Canadian television. It was not until the 2020 lockdowns that Ian fully dove into quilting.As his quilting skills grew alongside major shifts in his professional life, Ian created a quilted banner as part of his capstone project for the horticulture degree he completed during lockdown. That project opened the door to a deeper exploration of banners, textiles, and the long history of fabric as both a cultural and political tool. Quilted banners became a focal point as Ian studied the origins of textile traditions and the ways fabric has been politicized, controlled, and reclaimed.Through Art Against Empire, Ian examines how textile art has been used across time as a form of power, resistance, and reform. He speaks with artists from around the world, guiding listeners through the global landscape of fiber and textiles. When people reclaim mastery of textiles, Ian believes, it becomes an act of resistance and a path toward freedom.Ian is also doing powerful work at The NOOK alongside Zak Foster and others, creating spaces that invite thoughtful conversations, including the uncomfortable ones.To learn more about Ian, follow him on Instagram at quiltqueerly, visit iancapstick.net, and be sure to listen to the available episodes of Art Against Empire. Please enjoy this episode.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, my guest is Charles Cameron of Felt Like Sweets. If you know him, you know his work. Charles creates striking, expressive quilts and shares his thoughtful approach to improv quilting through workshops and lectures with guilds and quilters around the world. Charles began quilting about seven years ago after discovering the work of Pie Lady Quilts. Her improv style struck a chord, so he ordered some fabric and jumped in with a stack of fat quarters and a prayer. By reverse engineering the styles that inspired him online, Charles developed his own improv methods, began designing patterns, and never looked back. Since his first quilt, Charles’s work has been featured in Quilt Folk Magazine, QuiltCon Magazine, Curated Quilts, and more. His quilts are currently on display at the National Quilt Museum through March 24, 2026, and he will also be teaching a workshop March 12 through 14, so be sure to grab your spot. Charles’s curiosity and willingness to dive in and figure things out have inspired quilters everywhere to think outside the box, explore new ideas, and trust the skills they already have. This is an energizing and encouraging conversation you will not want to miss.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 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 delighted to welcome Kishanna Bousselaire of Black Girl Magic Quilting, a maker whose work is bursting with color, pattern, and playful creativity.Kishanna loves working with bright fabrics and bold prints, creating quilts that feel joyful and intentional. She’s also the sample quilt maker for Sewlarium in Portland, Oregon, where her attention to detail and thoughtful fabric choices really shine. A self-proclaimed super fan of Ruby Star Society fabrics and designers, Kishanna enjoys finding fresh, creative ways to showcase their prints in her work. Sustainability is an important part of Kishanna’s quilting practice. She’s always thinking about how to use every last bit of fabric, from playful scrap projects to her current favorite, fussy cutting adorable motifs and turning scraps into Christmas ornaments. 🎄 Kishanna is also growing her presence on YouTube, where she shares sewing tutorials, reviews, and behind-the-scenes looks at her process. Be sure to check out her beautiful work on social media and give her YouTube channel a like and subscribe. Enjoy this colorful and inspiring conversation with Kishanna Bousselaire!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackgirlmagic_quilting/YouTube: @BlackGirlMagic_QuiltingWant 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