Hidden Gems of Montgomery County: Special Guest, Belle Brunner

This week’s episode was an absolute feast of topics, starting with everything from managing those tricky dietary habits to the inspiring financial savvy of our younger generations. We got a fun glimpse into the world of tech with the arrival of a brand-new electric rotary cutter, which is basically the Tesla of fabric tools—talk about a great investment! The chat even spun off into celebrity news, with a hilarious detour to discuss Barry Manilow’s pop chart comeback and the impressive young Max Couture. Of course, no great conversation is complete without a debate over sourdough bread bowls and the perfect dipped ice cream cone. Seriously, it was a smorgasbord of updates, covering everything but the kitchen sink!But it wasn't all fun and games; we also dove into some serious projects and major life updates that keep us busy outside the sewing room. There was a big discussion about guild life, including the future program for 2027 and the exciting "Quilt of Welcome" project making its way around the UK, which celebrates language and inclusion. Rochelle has a full to-do list, which includes prepping for a separate library fundraiser program in Kimberling City and coordinating a fabric-cutting marathon with Mike in Nebraska. On a personal note, the group shared some supportive vibes for family health updates and is keeping a close eye on travel advisories for Leslie's upcoming trip to Paris. Plus, it’s maintenance time, with a reminder to drain that Laura Star iron canister monthly for optimal performance. So many great things in the works—get ready to tune in for all the details!Send a textFollow Leslie on Instagram at @leslie_quilts and Rochelle at @doughnutwarrior

We just wrapped an incredible episode with the talented Belle Brunner (Seams Sew Me), and you won’t want to miss her inspiring journey from COVID-19 beginner to a professional fabric designer! She gave us the inside scoop on her debut collection, "Montgomery Mountain Charm," which is a beautiful tribute to her roots in Arkansas. We also dove deep into the world of sewing gear, comparing Juki and Bernina machines while uncovering the secret to adding knee lifts to almost any model. From vintage button collections to the decline of home economics, this conversation was packed with nostalgic stories and practical quilting tips.Belle shared about her amazing retreat center in Arkansas, which sounds like the ultimate getaway for any sewing enthusiast. Whether you’re here for the machine talk or the heartfelt stories, this episode truly reminds us why the quilting community is so special. Make sure to follow Belle on Instagram at @seams_sew_me to keep up with all of her latest patterns and fabric collections.Send a textFollow Leslie on Instagram at @leslie_quilts and Rochelle at @doughnutwarrior

In this episode, Rochelle takes us on a whirlwind tour of QuiltCon, where she snagged a brand-new Bernina L890 serger and mastered some seriously cool letter templates. We dove deep into the art of the declutter, discussing how to evaluate those long-standing quilt kits and works in progress to make room for new creativity. Between hilarious stories about fabric yardage myths and a very lucky cat named Chester (or Cheeto), the energy was absolutely electric. We even got the inside scoop on some fabulous QuiltCon fashion and book recommendations that you won't want to miss. It was a heartfelt reminder of why this quilting community is so special to all of us.The excitement continues as we look forward to some amazing upcoming projects and community initiatives. Rochelle shared the inspiring "Sew Powerful" mission, and we are so ready to start making purses to help girls in Africa stay in school! We also get some great tips on the best starch to use and how to handle those tricky directional fabrics. Whether it's planning for Camp Wanna Sew or finishing our "meow" blocks, there is so much goodness coming your way. Stay creative and keep those needles moving!Send a textFollow Leslie on Instagram at @leslie_quilts and Rochelle at @doughnutwarrior

Get ready for a burst of color and creativity as we visit with the amazing Mac! We dove deep into her transition from social work and paper crafting into the vibrant world of quilting, sparked by a life-changing trip to QuiltCon. Mac shared all the deets on her journey as a quilting influencer, traveling the country and building a fantastic community through her YouTube channel. From her love of rainbow color schemes to her signature nail art, Mac’s passion for personal expression truly shines through. We even chatted about her favorite snacks, including a popcorn recipe that sounds like a total game-changer. It was a heartfelt session that perfectly captured the joy of making and the bonds we share through our craft!The fun didn’t stop at quilting, as we explored everything from high-tech tools to adult LEGO building! We compared the magic of the Singer Memento and AccuQuilt machines while getting real about the struggle of balancing hobby time with "adulting." Mac also gave us a peek into her "modest" fabric stash and her tendency to collect patterns like they're going out of style. Between discussions on new applique techniques and a sweet closing poem about friendship, this episode was a total celebration of the maker spirit. We’re so inspired by Mac’s "old pro" energy and her love for all things bright and bold! Enjoy!Send a textFollow Leslie on Instagram at @leslie_quilts and Rochelle at @doughnutwarrior

This week, the girls catch up on Galentine's. Rochelle had 2, yes TWO, Galentine's Retreats back to back and they had quite the adventures! Meanwhile, Leslie's crushing it in the quilt kit business—she sold 60 kits in record time after Angela Walters told her to go big or go home. Rochelle dropped some serious wisdom bombs about fabric cutting efficiency, including the genius hack of using custom-cut plexiglass rulers from the hardware store (mind = blown). They geeked out over custom quilting projects, including Rochelle's challenge of writing entire Jelly Roll song lyrics in cursive on a quilt (harder than it sounds, folks). Leslie's grandmother's pixel quilt is getting the Proverbs 31 treatment with echo quilting techniques. Plus, there's drama at the dentist (nitrous oxide for the win), leopard print trench coats making their QuiltCon debut, and a 13-year-old designer getting an award. These two prove that quilting isn't just a craft—it's a lifestyle, a business, and a whole lot of fun! Enjoy!Send a textFollow Leslie on Instagram at @leslie_quilts and Rochelle at @doughnutwarrior

Welcome back to another fantastic episode of Inappropriate Quilters! This week, Rochelle and Inappropriate caught up on everything from wild weather adventures to heartwarming community connections. Despite challenging snow conditions affecting mail delivery and commutes, Leslie and family rallied together to support Sam through her recovery from a serious leg injury requiring surgery. The excitement continued with celebrations for the 100th day of school, complete with adorable personalized t-shirts for the grands! Family emergencies brought everyone closer as they navigated a late-night ER visit for vertigo, and the community spirit shone bright with plans to send Valentine's cards to kindergartners in rural Nebraska. The fun didn't stop there—Rochelle received the most delightful surprise packages featuring collectible "cats versus pickles" items from a mysterious listener, sparking joy and laughter all around! The creative energy was flowing as Rochelle shared her amazing quilt coat projects and needle felting adventures, while Leslie connected with inspiring quilters from Oklahoma and beyond at Angela's business class. Leslie shared exciting stories about long-arm quilting boot camp and ruler techniques, while Rochelle shared her Florida adventures. The episode beautifully showcased the quilting community's incredible generosity in sharing knowledge and supporting one another. From sea otter videos to the challenges of finding the perfect quilt rulers, this episode had it all! The conversation wrapped up with a touching reminder about the importance of treating everyone with kindness—a perfect note for this wonderful quilting family.To send a card to Thedford Public Schools Kindergarteners:Kindergarten Scholars, 407 Court St, Box 248, Thedford, NE 69166Send a textFollow Leslie on Instagram at @leslie_quilts and Rochelle at @doughnutwarrior

Get ready for a fantastic deep dive into the world of modern quilting! We sat down with the incredibly talented Matt Harr, a quilt designer and instructor, who gave us the lowdown on his upcoming fabric line with QT Fabrics, set for a hot July release. Matt also spilled the beans on a massive project: organizing the first official quilt fashion show at QuiltCon in Raleigh next month! Plus, we heard all about his popular quilt coat teaching classes in Oklahoma, his work as president of the Albuquerque Modern Quilt Guild, and his efforts to make his popular quilt coat pattern more widely available. This episode is packed with exciting project updates and major event planning—you won't want to miss Matt's vision for the future of quilt fashion.But the fun didn't stop there! The group dove into some great gear talk, covering essential sewing tools like sergers and Juki machines, and even had a laugh over a hilarious "Grandchildren's School Trip Ordeal" shared by Leslie, of course. We heard heartfelt personal stories about sewing journeys and family experiences, adding a wonderful personal touch to the conversation, and discovered that Matt is a trained tap dancer! On the planning front, they discussed the upcoming D-Stash event in Albuquerque and the Oklahoma group’s big presence at QuiltCon. We wrapped up with a vital reminder about prioritizing rest and self-care in your creative life—a perfect message to send you off on your next project!You can find Matt on Instagram ... follow him for all the latest greatest in quilty fun fashion and patterns!Send a textFollow Leslie on Instagram at @leslie_quilts and Rochelle at @doughnutwarrior

This week, the girls had a whole lot of fun catching up! Rochelle took us down memory lane with a fantastic story about her college friend Jarma and her accordion skills, all while sharing the latest scoop on her clogging classes. But the excitement didn't stop there; it was a rollercoaster of credit card adventures, including a swift response to fraud and some relatable tales of less-than-stellar customer service. In the midst of all the grown-up business, there was even chat about attending the American State Fair and the logistics of getting a cuckoo clock cleaned—because who doesn't need to discuss classic timepieces alongside credit card woes?We heard all about Rochelle and Lance’s very cold backyard camping trip, which was a true test of gear and endurance, followed by a thrilling outdoor climbing session complete with rope rescue techniques. Of course, the quilting world was buzzing, with exciting updates on a sold-out Quilt Coat class that both Leslie and Rochelle are joining, and a discussion about machine cleaning that turned into a DIY success story! Travel plans were also on the itinerary, covering everything from smart hotel swaps to navigating a fascinating multi-city route to Paris, including vital tips for staying healthy and comfy on international flights. Plus, there's 7 yards of Dallas Cowboy fabric just waiting for a quilt design idea—how fun is that!Send a textFollow Leslie on Instagram at @leslie_quilts and Rochelle at @doughnutwarrior

Hey, quilt-lovers! Get ready to dive deep into the mind of Julius from Julius Handmade! In this episode, he spills all the tea on his incredible journey, starting from making dog collars to becoming the foundation paper piecing (FPP) master we know and love. We get the inside scoop on his design philosophy, including why he’s obsessed with blender fabrics and how he miraculously keeps his projects to 20 fabrics or less! Plus, he walks us through his sewing machine setup, the real talk about binding, and where to find his awesome, beginner-friendly patterns. It’s a must-listen for anyone ready to level up their quilt game!But wait, there's more! The conversation then shifts to Julius's super-packed schedule, which includes an online FPP design class kicking off in March, teaching at Mad B’s in Mesa, and the scoop on his spooky-fun Halloween-themed retreat coming this October! They also had a quick chat about all things QuiltCon, where to snag the best sewing deals on Marketplace, and even a slightly serious moment trying to figure out the legalities of reselling old patterns. Get ready for some laughs, a dash of quilt gossip, and a peek into the fun side of the quilting community!Follow our friend, Julius on Instagram at @juliushandmade, on Facebook at @juliushandmade and on his website, www.juliushandmade.com.Send a textFollow Leslie on Instagram at @leslie_quilts and Rochelle at @doughnutwarrior

Hey, quilty friends! Leslie and Rochelle just had a wild chat covering everything but the kitchen sink. Rochelle is fully committed to her new life as a Clogger and Rock Climber, having danced for four hours straight and tackled a challenging climb. Meanwhile, Leslie is recovering from a baking disaster that involved a batch of burnt chocolate chip cookies. The entertainment front was equally chaotic, with a deep-dive on the book Project Hail Mary and a recommendation for the movie Song Sung Blue (yes, the one with Neil Diamond songs). They wrapped up this segment by discussing the concept of finding joy in the small stuff—the "borrowed light rule"—a perfect motto for this duo's adventures.The upcoming Galentine's event is set to be a blast, with 33 kits already cut for hilarious-sounding projects like 'Love Stinks' and the 'Mushroom King.' The biggest news is that the 'Inappropriate Quilters' retreat at Osage Hills Retreat Center is already sold out—talk about high demand! They even had a chat about the seasonal slowness of quilt production, which gives them time to plan for future fun like bunting and prosperity hens. Plus, Leslie's fabulous long-arm machine, Esther, got a shout-out. The immediate to-do list is focused on setting up a retreat waitlist and getting Rochelle the right tap plates for her new clogging shoes. Enjoy!Send a textFollow Leslie on Instagram at @leslie_quilts and Rochelle at @doughnutwarrior