Meet Jessica Ahlstrand Kwan of Sugar Mill Quilts! - Ep. 160

This week on Not Your Granny’s Quilt Show, my guest is Miri A., co-owner and founder of Capital Stitch Co. Miri’s passion is making embroidery approachable for beginners through her thoughtfully designed DIY kits. She believes that something magical happens when people put down their phones and pick up a needle and thread - and she’s on a mission to make that joy of creating accessible to everyone. We chat about her journey building Capital Stitch Co., the importance of slowing down with handcrafts, and how embroidery can be a creative outlet for anyone, no matter their skill level. You can find Miri on Instagram, Threads, Patreon and YouTube @capitalstitchco. 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, my guest is psychologist, knitter, and author Nicole Nehrig. Nicole’s new book, With Her Own Hands, explores the deep personal meaning of textile work for women around the world throughout history. Drawing from her professional research and her own knitting journey, Nicole dives into how fiber arts have shaped—and been shaped by—women’s lives.Nicole shares how the societal upheaval of 2020 prompted her career shift, giving her the space to focus on knitting while home with her children. That quiet time sparked questions about the women who came before us—balancing care for their families while creating clothing, blankets, and art out of necessity. Through her research and writing, knitting became both her anchor and her lens for understanding this enduring tradition.Her hope for the book is to offer a framework for making space for meaningful textile work in our own lives—reminding us that, truly, our lives are in our own hands.Find With Her Own Hands at nicolenehrig.com—and, as always, buy direct from the author when you can!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, my guest is Hannah, the creative mind behind Honey Fibers. Growing up surrounded by her great-grandmother’s quilts, Hannah’s love for stitching started with a deep connection to heritage. In 2020, she picked up quilting to keep her hands busy—and found herself completely hooked. Recently, Hannah brought the quilting community together for a collaborative project to raise funds for Palestine, with the resulting quilts now ready to be raffled. We talk about her passion for hand quilting, the joy of running her handmade goods shop, and the power of craft as a tool for connection and change. You can find her work at honeyfibers.com and on Instagram @honeyfibers.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 Dee Bushrod of Pixel Quilts! Originally from the UK and now living in the U.S., Dee’s quilting journey started with a heartfelt gift and quickly evolved into something extraordinary. In 2020, she found connection and creativity through quilting with her daughter—turning favorite pop stars into pixelated quilt portraits. Since then, Dee has created a stunning body of work that blends nostalgia, artistry, and pixel-perfect precision. We chat about her process, her unexpected entry into the quilting world, and how she balances it all with her sourdough bakery and teaching schedule. Find her incredible work on Instagram @pixelquilts and check out her website, www.pixelquilts.com, where you can start designing your own pixel masterpiece. You won’t want to miss this inspiring 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, I’m joined by Kim Moos, the creative force behind Cotton Cuts—home of the beloved Puzzle Mystery Quilt! 🧩✂️ Kim’s sewing journey started when she was young, but she first found herself in the corporate world of Biomedical Engineering. Luckily for quilters everywhere, she returned to her sewing roots and launched Cotton Cuts in 2016, bringing the magic of subscription boxes to our sewing tables.From cutting pieces by hand to using high-tech die-cutters and semi-automatic equipment, Kim and her team make sure thousands of quilters get to skip the trimming and jump straight to the fun part—sewing! 🧵✨Sign-ups for the current Puzzle Mystery Quilt are open now through September—don’t miss your chance to piece together some mystery magic! Check it out at cottoncuts.com.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 chatting with Lindsey of Pen + Paper Patterns. Lindsey is a talented quilt pattern designer known for her fun, whimsical style and her love of glue basting. Nearly ten years ago, she released her very first pattern, Rainy Day—and now she’s come full circle with her latest design, Chance of Rain, a delightful mix of umbrellas and daisies that’s perfect for spring stitching.After dabbling in several other handmade businesses, Lindsey found her true creative voice in quilt pattern design and hasn’t looked back. Her goal? To inspire quilters to make dreamy quilts with confidence and to keep the joy alive in every stitch.You can explore her brand-new pattern, Chance of Rain, along with her full pattern library at pendandpaperpatterns.com and see more of her inspiring makes on Instagram at @penandpaperpatterns.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, my guest is Jessica Ahlstrand Kwan of Sugar Mill Quilts. Jessica’s quilting journey began back in 2001 when she learned the art of traditional Hawaiian quilting while living in Hawaii. Today, she blends those timeless hand skills with modern longarm quilting and digital pantographs, bridging past and present in her craft. We talk about the four-year process behind her brand-new book, School of Quilting: The Definitive Guide, published by Lucky Spool. Jessica poured her heart into creating a resource quilters can return to for life — no matter where they are on their quilting path. Want to check it out? Visit www.luckyspool.com and search School of Quilting: The Definitive Guide and see more of Jessica's work on Instagram @sugarmillquiltsWant 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, my guest is Christine Lindebak of Sewing and the City. Christine got her start in the fashion world of New York, but now channels her passion into slow fashion, upcycling, and empowering others to sew their own clothes. From begging to use the sewing machine as a kid to launching her own brand, LindyLindy, Christine has turned a lifelong love of sewing into a vibrant business. With garment patterns, online classes, and a YouTube channel, she’s here to remind you: you can make your own wardrobe. Find more at sewingandthecity.com.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, my guest is Carl Brown, PhD, RN, FAAN—also known as QuiltCarl. After a 20-year career in the Army and a lifetime in nursing, Carl is now channeling his energy full-time into fiber art. With a lifelong love of creative hobbies, Carl blends techniques from a range of artists and quilters to develop his own vibrant, expressive style. His mission? To share the joy of quilting and invite others to join the fun. Are you in? Find him at quiltcarl.com or on Instagram @quiltcarl.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, my guest is Abigail Wade—Certified Financial Planner, LPL Financial Advisor, and co-host of the brand new podcast Wade Through It All: Success Simplified. Abigail runs a financial planning business with her dad, where they help people navigate both personal and business finances with clarity and confidence. In this episode, Abigail shares practical ways creatives and small business owners can prepare for the inevitable ups and downs—because financial planning doesn’t have to be scary or overwhelming. Find out more at rmwadeco.com, on Instagram @rmwadeandco, or tune into their podcast.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!