Meet Theresa Benson, The AI Quilter! - Ep. 174

This week on Not Your Granny’s Quilt Show, we’re chatting with the one and only Chelsea Porter (@chelsea_b_porter), viral quilter, content creator, and all-around creative powerhouse! 🧵✨ You’ve probably seen her online after thatincredible moment when she designed, sewed, and tossed a custom quilted vest to Benson Boone on stage during his Utah N2 concert! Chelsea shares the whole behind-the-scenes story (yes, every wild detail 😄) from design idea to concert night chaos.We also dive into her journey from middle school teacher to full-time creator, how she keeps sewing joyful with three kids at home, and why embracing play and creativity is key at any age. Get ready for laughs, inspiration, and maybe a few goosebumps... this one’s a story for the ages!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 John MacPhail of Art East Quilting Company, the creative mind behind some of the quilting world’s most charming and imaginative patterns. 🧵John’s journey into quilting began back in university while studying Costume Design, though it took a decade (and a little help from Instagram and YouTube!) for him to rediscover his love of the craft. Within six months of making his first quilt, quilting became his full-time passion.From whimsical goats and Halloween wiener dogs to literary-inspired designs, John’s patterns celebrate joy, humor, and storytelling through fabric. His recent Anne of Green Gables collaboration with the Anne of Green Gables Society and Riley Blake brought a beloved literary icon to life in quilt form. A true creative milestone!Looking ahead, John and his team have plenty of fun projects in store, including a 2026 Sew-Along hosted by Adam Burch for Sew Place Like Home, newly reimagined for Tula Pink’s Graywork collection.Follow all the creativity and upcoming releases at www.arteastquiltingco.comand on Instagram at @arteastquiltingcoWant 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 Theresa Benson (@theaiquilter) — award-winning quilter, enthusiastic learner, and dynamic teacher blending tradition with technology. With a background in electrical engineering and artificial intelligence, Theresa brings a fresh perspective to the craft, making complex ideas simple, inspiring, and fun.We talk about how quilting started as her creative outlet, how she found her voice as a teacher, and what led to her new book, "Digital Muse: Bringing AI Into Your Creative Process". Theresa shares how quilters of all levels can use modern tools to enhance their artistry, without losing the heart and soul of handmade work.Follow Theresa on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook for more inspiration — where tradition meets innovation, and every quilter can explore their own digital muse.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 Kaye Collins of Oh Kaye Quilting, The Lazy Quilters Club, and HandiQuilter.Kaye spent years as a high school band teacher before retiring and leaning fully into her quilting practice. A member of the Salt Lake City Modern Quilt Guild, Kaye had a fateful (and masked!) meeting during Covid with HandiQuilter’s Kim Sandberg, which opened the door for her to become a HandiQuilter educator. Now she travels across the country teaching quilters of all levels how to make the most of their machines.Kaye also founded The Lazy Quilters Club, where she shares her love for making sewing and quilting easier and more enjoyable. As she jokes, “quilters aren’t lazy...they’re some of the most innovative, creative people you’ll ever meet!” Her mantra is simple but powerful: have fun and relax! Quilting shouldn’t stress you out.Check out her work at ohkayequilting.com or find her tips and tricks on Instagram @thelazyquiltersclub Please enjoy Kaye Collins!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 the endlessly creative and always entertaining Adam Burch of Adam Sews! Based in the UK, Adam is a bag-maker, pattern writer, and die-hard Tula Pink fan whose colorful creations and infectious enthusiasm light up the sewing community.Adam shares how he designs functional yet fabulous bags, totes, and caddies, plus what inspires his signature style. We also chat about his upcoming Sew Place Like Home Sew-Along—a collaboration with Art East Quilting Co., featuring a reimagined version of their beloved quilt pattern in Tula Pink’s new Gray Work fabric line. The sew-along kicks off January 15, so don’t miss out!Find all the details at www.adamsews.com, watch Adam’s tutorials on YouTube, and follow his makes on Instagram at @adamsews 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 Chris English of Chris English Quilts. Chris studied textile art at university before spending nearly twenty years in the corporate world of web design. Quilting was always in the background, sparked years ago by the Liberty Book of Home Sewing. Now, with corporate life behind him, Chris is diving fully into his creative practice, making the work he truly wants to make.Chris is known for his bold use of recycled and repurposed fabrics, blending unexpected elements like oversized florals with classic men’s shirting, and adding depth through screen-printed textures. He’s collaborated with Aurifil on collections including Street Art and a new release with Sally Kelley. With a strong influence from the punk scene, Chris brings fearless energy to his latest projects, pushing quilting into exciting territory.You can see his work at chrisenglishquilts.com or follow him on Instagram @afullenglishChris is definitely one to watch—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, my guest is Sarah Spencer, also known as Io the Alien. Sarah is an artist who uses textiles as her main medium, always following her curiosities and giving her attention to the work that brings her joy.Lately, she’s been creating striking sketch portraits of women and “interesting men,” blending paint on canvas with stitched thread lines to bring her drawings to life. Sarah’s textile journey began with sewing her own clothes, then grew while she was teaching at a small art school in Chicago, where a quilting class sparked her love for improvisation. With guidance from artist Sheila Frampton Cooper, Sarah has continued carving her own unique path, building a body of work that feels fully her own.When she’s not making art, Sarah is also a radio DJ. If you’re in Chicago, you can catch her live, or stream her past shows anytime at chirpradio.com Enjoy our conversation, and be sure to check out Sarah’s work at iothealien.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 Diana Li Fitzgerald, better known as Banjoflannel. Diana’s new book, Patchwork Sashiko: Transform Your Scraps, releases at the end of this year and is already available for preorder through Barnes & Noble, Amazon, C&T Publishing, and wholesale.Diana’s sewing journey began in 2005 when she set out to make her own purse. That spark led to bag making, selling her creations online, and eventually evolving her practice into the joyful world of patchwork and Sashiko, the Japanese tradition of decorative hand stitching. Along the way, she has shared her unique approach to playful Sashiko patchwork through classes, online tutorials, and at QuiltCon, where she taught in 2022.In this episode, Diana and I talk about her creative journey, her love for scraps, and how she brings a spirit of fun into every stitch. You won’t want to miss this conversation!Connect with Diana at banjoflannel.comand on Instagram @banjoflannelWant 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 Justin Stafford, owner of Keaton Quilt - the last standing quilt shop in New York City. Nestled in the heart of the Flower District, Keaton Quilts is a hub for fabric lovers, offering a wide selection of fabrics and notions, longarm quilting, classes, and the warmth of Justin’s passion for the fiber arts.Justin’s love for sewing began at age 12 with his very first quilt - a piece he still treasures today. Growing up, creativity was his safe space, and it has carried him into a thriving career. His work has been featured in the windows of Saks Fifth Avenue, he’s authored a book with a mini quilt kit, and he’s now collaborating with Liberty of London (a dream come true!) on patterns for their upcoming fabric launch. Justin is also developing his own fabric line, inspired by the city he loves mos - New York.Join us for this inspiring conversation, and be sure to visit www.keatonquilts.comto learn more about Justin and his shop.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 Sara and Debbie of Salty Sews. The two met in a sewing class back in 2019 and have been connected through their craft ever since. When the world began opening up again, Sara signed them up to teach a class at the very same sewing event where they first met, and from there, Salty Sews was born.Sara and Debbie have built a community-driven space where people may show up as participants, but leave as friends. Their inspiration is their community, and they encourage everyone to show up, relax, and enjoy the process of learning and creating. If you can’t make it to one of their in-person classes, they also offer online tutorials and will be hosting virtual classes starting in 2026.Check out their website www.saltysews.comor find them on Instagram @salty_sews to learn more.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!