Hot Tips of 2025! Tips and advice from the guests of 2025! - Ep. 184

This week on Not Your Granny's Quilt Show, we welcome in the New Year with Matt Wilding! Matt is a quilt pattern designer and all around creative guy. While being sculpture studies major at university, Matt found a connection to sourdough bread and sculpture that helped him finish his studies. The sourdough saga continued for him when he started baking for neighbors and friends during the lockdowns in 2020. While healing from a serious back injury, Matt had to find a new path that didn't have quite the same physical demand as baking. Matt turned to sewing, and produced an incredible peice called "Wings of Pride". Matt's wings won in the Quilt Creations category at Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, UK. The magnificent wingspan features precision piecing and details that stop people in their tracks. Matt has since designed and produced the pattern for a fun 3D bag pattern called Tessellated Heart. The pattern is now available on his website and you can find so many fun hacks to the pattern on his instagram! Matt will be teaching a workshop for his through Crafty Monkies, so check that out! Please enjoy Matt Wilding.  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.

This week on Not Your Granny’s Quilt Show, I’m thrilled to welcome Bianca Springer, the creative force behind Thanks I Made Them. Sew Can You. (@thanksimadethem). Bianca has an incredible eye for transforming second-hand clothing and quilts into bold, unforgettable garments that celebrate creativity, sustainability, and skill. She’s especially known for her striking dresses made from yoyos and discarded quilt tops, breathing new life into materials with history and heart. While Bianca is deeply passionate about upcycling, she’s equally committed to teaching sewing skills so others can make, mend, and care for their own clothes with confidence. Bianca has taught workshops across the community and has even more planned in the year ahead. She’ll be teaching at QuiltCon 2026, where she’ll also have a quilt hanging in the show, and in July 2026 she’ll be leading workshops at the Estelle Center for Creative Arts. For nearly five years, Bianca wrote and drafted bag patterns for Sew News. Now she’s reclaiming ownership of those designs and re-releasing them under her own brand. She’s also the author of the powerful embroidery book Represent!, which offers techniques and motifs that uplift people of color while centering allyship and community. Bianca is a true bright spot in the sewing world. Be sure to follow her work at @thanksimadethem, and enjoy 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 the incredibly talented UK quilt and textile collage artist Russell James Barratt. Born in Scotland and now based in London, Russell has spent the last two decades immersed in the world of fashion, costuming, and garment conceptual design. Textiles are in his DNA. His mother and grandmother both ran small sewing and knitting businesses, surrounding Russell with fibers, fabrics, and creativity from the start. His passion for upcycling and reimagining pre-loved clothing eventually led him to a professional career in fashion, where his bold, repurposed garments caught attention everywhere he went. Today, Russell brings that same sense of play, texture, and innovation to his quilting and textile collage work. As an Aurifil Artisan, he’s been experimenting with thread in exciting new ways, and giving new perspectives on how we view textiles. Follow Russell’s stunning work on Instagram at @russelljbarratt, and enjoy this inspiring conversation with an artist who’s truly one to watch! 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 so excited to finally sit down with Joshua Dunn of Lifting and Stitching, a maker who blends strength, science, and stitching in the coolest way possible. Joshua and I have spent plenty of time chatting behind the scenes, bonding over vegan food, lifting weights, and all the unexpected ways our creative lives overlap. His quilting inspiration often comes from the universe itself, using stunning images of space to spark bold, movement-filled designs. His quilt Red Giant, which hung at QuiltCon 2025, is just one jaw-dropping example of his cosmic creativity. Joshua also shares an exciting project for this year’s Quiltmas Spectacular quilt-along, where he’s one of the featured block designers! His candy cane–inspired block is rooted in a sweet childhood memory of hanging candy canes on the Christmas tree with his family, sentimental and festive all at once. With even more exciting projects on the horizon and inspiration that truly reaches beyond our home planet, Joshua is a maker you’ll definitely want to keep an eye on. Check out his brand new website at www.liftingandstitching.comand follow along on Instagram at @liftingandstitching and enjoy our chat!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 I’m joined by Sarah Ruth Morris of Ruthlessly Handmade. Education researcher, quilter, and mother of two boys in Texas. Sarah’s quilts are stitched with purpose: each one is part of her ongoing practice of learning to love more deeply.Through quilt fundraisers, she has rallied makers and supporters to uplift children in need. She raised funds for Isaiah 117 House in the fall and beginning a new fundraiser benefiting The Trevor Project in spring 2026. Sarah’s heart for care and community runs through everything she creates.In recent years, quilting has also become a space for Sarah to process and express her evolving spirituality. Her art-driven quilts explore the tender, complicated emotions of deconstructing old beliefs, imagery that has resonated powerfully with many survivors who see themselves reflected in her work.You can explore Sarah’s quilts and learn how to support upcoming fundraisers at ruthlesslyhandmade.com or follow her at @ruthlesslyhandmade on Instagram. Please enjoy this 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 honored to sit down with Hillary Goodwin (@entropyalwayswins) , the featured artist for QuiltCon 2026 and a creator whose work moves, breathes, and tells stories in every stitch. 🧵✨Hillary is an ER doctor, and quilting has become her refuge, a place where things can be imperfect, messy, emotional, and real. Her quilts capture that energy. Her style is full of play, motion, and meaning, honoring the long lineage of quilting tradition while boldly pushing into modern expression.It’s no surprise the MQG selected Hillary as this year’s featured artist. Her body of work isn’t just visually striking, it’s deeply human. When you spend days upon days with a single piece, how could it not absorb pieces of your life, your emotions, and your story?Check out Hillary’s stunning work at entropyalwayswinsblog.com while you listen, and enjoy this beautiful conversation about art, healing, and making things that matter.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 Jenni Engleman, owner of HandCraft Happy Hour in Baltimore. It's a cozy, colorful craft shop that feels like home the moment you walk through the door. ☕🧵💖 Jenni shares how a dream she once imagined with her aunt turned into a thriving community space where makers come to learn, laugh, stitch, snack, and sometimes just grab a hug and a cup of coffee. HandCraft Happy Hour is more than a shop, it’s a gathering place for creativity and connection. From classes and in-store retreats to 5th Saturday Sales and a calendar packed with fun events, there’s always something happening at HandCraft Happy Hour. Jenni tells the story of building this joyful hub and what it means to support makers of all kinds. Take a peek at everything they’re doing at HandCraftHappyHour.com, and enjoy this heartwarming 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 Laura Raquel Duran and Lina Owen of Quilting With Latinas, two passionate makers who are bringing bilingual resources and cultural connection to the quilting community! Laura and Lina are the co-authors of Learn-to-Quilt: Bilingual Guide Book, a first-of-its-kind quilting resource written in both English and Spanish. After realizing how few Spanish-language materials were available, they teamed up to create a guide that’s not only educational but also celebrates their cultural roots with stories and inspiration woven throughout. Their mission to make quilting more accessible has even caught the attention of big names like Moda, Riley Blake, Bernina, and Art Gallery Fabrics, who are working with them to expand language accessibility in quilting patterns and content.Check out their beautiful tutorials and vibrant community on Instagram and YouTube at @quiltingwithlatinas, and grab a copy of Learn-to-Quilt: Bilingual Guide Book to support their incredible work! ✨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 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