Not Your Granny's Quilt Show

This week on Not Your Granny’s Quilt Show, I’m joined by Kenneth D. King, couture designer, author, educator, and lifelong maker whose work spans custom fashion, doll couture, and museum exhibitions.

Kenneth is the author of Doll Couture and Doll Couture: Red Carpet, two books that showcase his extraordinary talent for designing and constructing high-fashion garments for dolls. He also teaches at the Fashion Institute of Technology and has created custom couture pieces worn by Elton John.

Yes, that iconic hat from the 1987 Diet Coke commercial launch? Kenneth designed it.

Kenneth’s love of dolls and fashion began in childhood. Growing up in rural Oklahoma, he quietly used fabric scraps from his mother’s sewing to create clothing for dolls he inherited from his sister. What began as a private creative outlet eventually became an internationally recognized career.

In 1980, Kenneth moved to San Francisco, where he built his design business before relocating to New York City in 2005.

In this episode, we talk about:

Kenneth’s journey from rural Oklahoma to the world of couture fashion

Designing custom pieces for Elton John

Teaching couture sewing techniques at FIT

Writing the Doll Couture books

The artistry and technical skill behind doll fashion

Creativity, identity, and following your artistic vision

We also talk about Kenneth’s glamorous “assistant,” Lola, along with Crazy Bella, two dolls who have become stars in their own right. Lola will be featured in the Dressing Dolls exhibit at the Museum at FIT from September 2026 through January 2027.

Explore Kenneth’s books, courses, and couture work:
Kenneth D. King official website

Follow Lola and Crazy Bella on Instagram:
@lolatheshowgirl24

If you love sewing, couture, doll fashion, and stories about creative lives, this episode is not to be missed.

Episodes are recorded, edited and produced by Amanda Oros.
Logo art by Myranda Mondry.
Want to see more? You can find it here:
Find Podcast Merch here! nygqs.printify.me
Follow along on Instagram:
Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/notyourgrannysquiltshow
Long-arming - https://www.instagram.com/sweetpeadesigncompany
Subscribe to YouTube: https://youtube.com/@notyourgrannysquiltshow
Support the show on 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 Tawnee Kinnebrew, owner of Wyldwood Creative, a modern quilt shop and sewing community built on creativity, connection, and the belief that making should feel welcoming and inspiring.

Tawnee has always been creative and credits the women who raised her with instilling a simple but powerful mindset: “How hard can it be?”

That attitude shaped her path. After considering fashion design school, Tawnee decided to trust her instincts and made her first quilt, a story she shares in this episode that will sound familiar to many quilters.

Before opening her shop, Tawnee worked in a demanding sales career that kept her away from friends and family during important moments. Realizing she wanted a different life, she left her job, ran the numbers, and turned her dream of opening a quilt shop into reality.

Wyldwood Creative opened in October 2019 with a vision to create a quilt and sewing store rooted in community and core values. Just months later, the challenges of 2020 forced a rapid pivot to online sales and social media. Tawnee adapted quickly, built meaningful relationships with customers, and continued growing the business.

As the shop expanded, Tawnee assembled a team of like-minded creatives who help make Wyldwood Creative the warm and welcoming space it is today.

Today, Wyldwood Creative offers quilting fabric, sewing notions, patterns, classes, and workshops designed to support makers at every stage.

Visit Wyldwood Creative:
Wyldwood Creative website

Follow on Instagram:
@wyldwoodcreative

If you love quilt shops, quilting business stories, and conversations about creativity and community, this episode is for you.

Episodes are recorded, edited and produced by Amanda Oros.
Logo art by Myranda Mondry.
Want to see more? You can find it here:
Find Podcast Merch here! nygqs.printify.me
Follow along on Instagram:
Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/notyourgrannysquiltshow
Long-arming - https://www.instagram.com/sweetpeadesigncompany
Subscribe to YouTube: https://youtube.com/@notyourgrannysquiltshow
Support the show on 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 Sarah Ruiz, a former NASA scientist turned quilt pattern designer, tech editor, and quilting educator.

Yes, we are talking actual rocket science.

Sarah grew up creative and made her first quilt in the early 2000s using t shirts from running events. After some time away from sewing, she found her way back through a beginner sewing class making pillowcases at Joann Fabrics. From there, her quilting journey took off.

Today, Sarah is known for her quilt patterns, technical expertise, and teaching through lectures and workshops that help quilters build skills and confidence.

In this episode, we talk about:

Transitioning from a career in science to the quilting industry

Writing quilt patterns and working as a tech editor

Learning quilting as a beginner and returning to the craft

Quilt design inspiration and process

The intersection of quilting and STEM

We also dive into Sarah’s Quarter Moon Quilt, which was being featured across multiple new fabric lines during the Artemis II mission around the moon. Sarah shares her connection to the mission, and we fully nerd out about space, quilting, and the significance of this moment in history.

If you love quilting, science, or hearing how creative careers evolve over time, this episode is for you.

Explore Sarah’s quilt patterns:
https://shop.sarahruiz.com/

Follow Sarah:

Instagram: @bysarahruiz

Subscribe for more conversations with quilters, designers, and creatives shaping the modern quilting world.

Episodes are recorded, edited and produced by Amanda Oros.
Logo art by Myranda Mondry.
Want to see more? You can find it here:
Find Podcast Merch here! nygqs.printify.me
Follow along on Instagram:
Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/notyourgrannysquiltshow
Long-arming - https://www.instagram.com/sweetpeadesigncompany
Subscribe to YouTube: https://youtube.com/@notyourgrannysquiltshow
Support the show on 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 Emile Ennis Jr., a TV host, content creator, and crocheter who is bringing joy, visibility, and personality into the fiber arts space. Emile first learned to crochet from his grandmother, but after her passing, he stepped away from it for a time. 

In 2020, he picked up his crochet hook again as a way to reconnect with his grief, his creativity, and the memory of his grandma. What started as something deeply personal has grown into something much bigger. 

In the summer of 2025, Emile casually included crochet in a social media post, and the response was immediate. People were drawn not just to the craft, but to the energy, confidence, and presence he brings to it. 

Now, he shares crochet content regularly, blending fiber arts with humor, psychology, and his signature clack fan. 

In this episode, we talk about: 

Learning to crochet and reconnecting with creativity through grief 

Representation and visibility in crochet and fiber arts 

Building a social media presence as a creative 

The unexpected power of sharing your craft online 

Finding joy, confidence, and community through making 

And yes, we talk about the clack fans. 

Emile has designed a line of bold, fun fans that are as expressive as his content, perfect for making a statement or just staying cool. If you are looking for inspiration, creativity, and a reminder that there is space for you in the fiber arts world exactly as you are, this episode is for you. 

Follow Emile and join his community: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emileennisjr/ 

Subscribe for more conversations about quilting, crochet, sewing, and the people shaping the modern fiber arts community. 

Want to see more? You can find it here: 

Shop Podcast Merch: nygqs.printify.me 

Join Patreon for Ad-Free video episodes: patreon.com/notyourgrannysquiltshow 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notyourgrannysquiltshow 

https://www.instagram.com/sweetpeadesigncompany 

Subscribe to YouTube: https://youtube.com/@notyourgrannysquiltshow 

Want to be on the show? Send us a message!

Episodes are recorded, edited and produced by Amanda Oros.
Logo art by Myranda Mondry.
Want to see more? You can find it here:
Find Podcast Merch here! nygqs.printify.me
Follow along on Instagram:
Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/notyourgrannysquiltshow
Long-arming - https://www.instagram.com/sweetpeadesigncompany
Subscribe to YouTube: https://youtube.com/@notyourgrannysquiltshow
Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/notyourgrannysquiltshow
Want to be on the show? Send us a message

Episode 200 of Not Your Granny’s Quilt Show is here, and I could not think of a better guest to celebrate this milestone than Karlee Porter. Karlee first joined me for episode 100, and her return feels like the perfect full circle moment. She is the creator of Graffiti Quilting, a free motion quilting method that has changed the way many quilters approach quilting as an art form. 

In this episode, we skip the origin story and dive straight into what is happening now. Karlee shares more about her upcoming Graffiti Quilting class, her growth as a business owner and advocate, and what she has learned after experiencing QuiltCon in multiple roles within the quilting industry. 

We talk about: Free motion quilting and the Graffiti Quilting method, Growing as a quilting artist and creative entrepreneur, QuiltCon experiences from different perspectives, The evolution of modern quilting and the quilting industry, Why quilting itself deserves as much attention as fabric and piecing.

 Karlee continues to push boundaries in the quilting world, encouraging quilters to explore their creativity and embrace quilting as a true artistic practice. She is also one of the biggest cheerleaders for the quilting community and is passionate about seeing the industry grow alongside the people in it. 

If you are interested in learning Graffiti Quilting from Karlee, you can check out her class here: https://www.karleeporter.com?ref=7262 Follow Karlee: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karleeporterdesign/ 

If you are new to Karlee’s story, be sure to go back and listen to episode 100 for her full journey into quilting. Thank you for being part of 200 episodes of Not Your Granny’s Quilt Show. Your support, listens, shares, and reviews have made this possible. 

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

Episodes are recorded, edited and produced by Amanda Oros.
Logo art by Myranda Mondry.
Want to see more? You can find it here:
Find Podcast Merch here! nygqs.printify.me
Follow along on Instagram:
Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/notyourgrannysquiltshow
Long-arming - https://www.instagram.com/sweetpeadesigncompany
Subscribe to YouTube: https://youtube.com/@notyourgrannysquiltshow
Support the show on Patreon: patreon.com/notyourgrannysquiltshow
Want to be on the show? Send us a message