Not Your Granny's Quilt Show

This week on Not Your Granny’s Quilt Show, my guest is Ian Danger Capstick, host of the Art Against Empire podcast, quilter, and former political pundit.

Like many of us in the fiber arts world, Ian’s introduction to making began in his grandmother’s craft cupboard. He learned cross stitch and rug hooking, and put it all away as an adult while he worked in Canadian politics. He famously brought his cross stitching with him to work in the meantime of appearing as a political pundit on Canadian television. It was not until the 2020 lockdowns that Ian fully dove into quilting.

As his quilting skills grew alongside major shifts in his professional life, Ian created a quilted banner as part of his capstone project for the horticulture degree he completed during lockdown. That project opened the door to a deeper exploration of banners, textiles, and the long history of fabric as both a cultural and political tool. Quilted banners became a focal point as Ian studied the origins of textile traditions and the ways fabric has been politicized, controlled, and reclaimed.

Through Art Against Empire, Ian examines how textile art has been used across time as a form of power, resistance, and reform. He speaks with artists from around the world, guiding listeners through the global landscape of fiber and textiles. When people reclaim mastery of textiles, Ian believes, it becomes an act of resistance and a path toward freedom.

Ian is also doing powerful work at The NOOK alongside Zak Foster and others, creating spaces that invite thoughtful conversations, including the uncomfortable ones.

To learn more about Ian, follow him on Instagram at quiltqueerly, visit iancapstick.net, and be sure to listen to the available episodes of Art Against Empire. Please enjoy this episode.

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This week on Not Your Granny’s Quilt Show, my guest is Cole Whitaker of Cole’s Quilts. Cole is an educator at Bellevue College in Washington, a quilt designer, and a custom longarmer whose work is as thoughtful as it is stunning.

Cole learned to sew at the age of five from his grandmother, planting a creative seed that stayed with him throughout his life. After high school, he channeled that creativity into the world of cosmetology, spending twenty years teaching and mentoring students. Over time, physical limitations led Cole to step away and seek answers, eventually receiving diagnoses of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and autism. Leaning into his love of learning, Cole earned a Master of Science degree in Psychology and found a calling in supporting neurodivergent students in higher education.

Throughout all of this, quilting remained a constant. Cole did not feel at home in traditional piecing and chose instead to trust his skills and pursue his own creative vision. That leap paid off in a big way. His quilt earned Best of Show at the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach, traveled to Houston, and later won second place for Piecing at QuiltCon. The experience was life changing and showed Cole that he could thrive in education while also creating quilts that deeply resonate with others.

Today, Cole balances teaching with quilting. He designs quilt patterns, sells kits, hosts sew alongs, and provides custom longarm services. His love for the quilting community shines through in everything he does. Visit www.colesquilts.com
to explore Cole’s work and learn more about Cole’s Quilts Academy. This is a powerful and inspiring conversation you will not want to miss.

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This week on Not Your Granny’s Quilt Show, my guest is Charles Cameron of Felt Like Sweets. If you know him, you know his work. Charles creates striking, expressive quilts and shares his thoughtful approach to improv quilting through workshops and lectures with guilds and quilters around the world.
Charles began quilting about seven years ago after discovering the work of Pie Lady Quilts. Her improv style struck a chord, so he ordered some fabric and jumped in with a stack of fat quarters and a prayer. By reverse engineering the styles that inspired him online, Charles developed his own improv methods, began designing patterns, and never looked back.
Since his first quilt, Charles’s work has been featured in Quilt Folk Magazine, QuiltCon Magazine, Curated Quilts, and more. His quilts are currently on display at the National Quilt Museum through March 24, 2026, and he will also be teaching a workshop March 12 through 14, so be sure to grab your spot.
Charles’s curiosity and willingness to dive in and figure things out have inspired quilters everywhere to think outside the box, explore new ideas, and trust the skills they already have. This is an energizing and encouraging conversation you will not want to miss.

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This week on Not Your Granny’s Quilt Show, I’m joined by Tori McElwain, author of Workshops Unleashed, host of the podcast Quilting on the Side, guide for the Self-Publishing Incubator, and a passionate supporter of creative entrepreneurs.

Tori learned to quilt as a young girl and has carried it with her through every season of life... college, teaching, motherhood, and multiple moves tied to her husband’s military career. Quilting has always been her constant, even as her life and priorities shifted.

When she realized that commission quilting wasn’t sustainable alongside life as a mom of two young kids, Tori made a smart pivot. She combined her deep sewing knowledge with her background in education to create tools that help makers design better workshops, teach with confidence, and build businesses that actually fit their lives.

Today, Tori offers an incredible suite of resources that empower creatives to share what they know without burning out. If you’ve ever dreamed of teaching, publishing, or growing your creative work in a sustainable way, this conversation is for you.

Learn more at www.heytori.tech
, follow along on Instagram @heytori.tech, and enjoy the episode!

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Patreon: patreon.com/notyourgrannysquiltshow
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YouTube: https://youtube.com/@notyourgrannysquiltshow
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This week on Not Your Granny’s Quilt Show, I’m delighted to welcome Kishanna Bousselaire of Black Girl Magic Quilting, a maker whose work is bursting with color, pattern, and playful creativity.

Kishanna loves working with bright fabrics and bold prints, creating quilts that feel joyful and intentional. She’s also the sample quilt maker for Sewlarium in Portland, Oregon, where her attention to detail and thoughtful fabric choices really shine. A self-proclaimed super fan of Ruby Star Society fabrics and designers, Kishanna enjoys finding fresh, creative ways to showcase their prints in her work.

Sustainability is an important part of Kishanna’s quilting practice. She’s always thinking about how to use every last bit of fabric, from playful scrap projects to her current favorite, fussy cutting adorable motifs and turning scraps into Christmas ornaments. 🎄

Kishanna is also growing her presence on YouTube, where she shares sewing tutorials, reviews, and behind-the-scenes looks at her process. Be sure to check out her beautiful work on social media and give her YouTube channel a like and subscribe. Enjoy this colorful and inspiring conversation with Kishanna Bousselaire!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackgirlmagic_quilting/
YouTube: @BlackGirlMagic_Quilting

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