Not Your Granny's Quilt Show

This week on Not Your Granny's Quilt Show, I'm joined by Brent McGee, a textile artist whose creative journey has taken him from the stage to the sewing studio.

Before quilting became his calling, Brent lived a life immersed in the performing arts. A professionally trained musician, he performed in musical theater and spent several years entertaining audiences in a New York City piano bar. Creativity was always part of his life, thanks to a family that encouraged artistic expression.

Everything changed during the 2020 lockdowns.

Taking an unexpected break from live performance, Brent's sister commissioned him to create a textile art piece for her new home. The satisfaction of completing that project awakened something new. What began as a single commission quickly became an artistic obsession fueled by curiosity, experimentation, and a desire to explore the possibilities of fiber.

Brent's early work explored hand-dyed fabrics and intricate hand quilting, culminating in his award-winning piece Intertidal Invertebrates. But instead of settling into a style, he challenged himself once again.

Today, Brent primarily works with unbleached muslin and wool batting, creating sculptural textile art that embraces the natural qualities of the materials. Rather than forcing the fabric into a preconceived design, Brent listens to what the fabric wants to become. Through that process, he has found a deeper connection between creativity, intuition, and spirituality.

In this episode, we talk about:

Transitioning from professional musician to textile artist

Finding a new creative path during the 2020 lockdowns

Hand quilting and sculptural textile art

Working with unbleached muslin and wool batting

Letting materials guide the creative process

Curiosity, experimentation, and artistic growth

Creativity as a spiritual practice

We also discuss Brent's piece Apollo and Python, which has been accepted into Quilt Visions at the Visions Museum of Textile Art. The exhibition runs from October 24, 2026 through January 16, 2027.

If you love contemporary quilting, textile art, hand quilting, or conversations about creativity and artistic growth, this episode is for you.

Follow Brent and explore his incredible work:
@brentmcgeequilts on Instagram

Subscribe for more conversations with the artists, makers, and innovators shaping the future of quilting.

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 Carolina Oneto, an internationally recognized quilt artist, teacher, and soon-to-be author whose work beautifully blends color, design, and artistic expression.

Born in Chile, Carolina's path to quilting was anything but traditional. Like many quilters, she began her professional life in engineering, working in the field for several years and teaching at her alma mater before ultimately pursuing quilting full time.

As Carolina developed her quilting skills, she sought out opportunities to learn from respected artists throughout South America, including mentors in Argentina and Brazil. A pivotal moment came when she studied color interaction and color theory with Lucia Stacchetti. That experience transformed the way Carolina viewed her work and helped her shift from seeing quilting as a craft to embracing it as an art form.

Today, Carolina creates award-winning quilts, teaches online and in-person classes around the world, and exhibits her work internationally. Her quilts are known for their striking use of color, movement, and thoughtful design, inspiring quilters to think differently about their own creative process.

In this episode, we talk about:

Transitioning from engineering to professional quilting

The role of color theory in quilt design

Studying with influential quilt artists in South America

Viewing quilts as art

Teaching quilting around the world

Finding and developing your artistic voice

Carolina's upcoming book project

We also discuss the evolution of Carolina's work and how continuing education, experimentation, and curiosity have shaped her creative journey.

If you're interested in color, quilt design, textile art, or hearing how artists develop their unique perspective, this episode is one you won't want to miss.

Learn more about Carolina, her classes, workshops, and newsletter:
Carolina Oneto Official Website

Follow Carolina on Instagram:
@carolina_oneto

Subscribe for more conversations with quilters, artists, educators, and creatives shaping the future of quilting.

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, the guest is... me!

When I'm not behind the microphone, I'm running my longarm quilting business, Sweet Pea Design Company, helping quilters finish their projects and bring their quilt tops to life.

In this episode, I'm sharing my updated guide to preparing a quilt for longarm quilting. While I've covered some of these topics before, it felt like the perfect time to revisit the process, answer common questions, and explain the reasoning behind many of the requests longarm quilters make.

Whether you're sending your very first quilt to a longarmer or you're a seasoned quilter looking for a refresher, this episode covers practical tips to help your quilting experience go smoothly.

We'll talk about:

How to prepare your quilt top for longarm quilting

Backing fabric requirements and common mistakes

Choosing the right batting for your project

Different batting options and how they affect the finished quilt

How to select a pantograph design

Why longarm quilters have specific preparation requirements

Building a successful relationship with your longarm quilter

Every longarm quilter has their own preferences and process, but these tips are based on years of experience and my commitment to delivering the best possible results for every quilt that comes through my studio.

Most importantly, I hope this episode helps demystify the longarm quilting process and encourages quilters to communicate openly with their longarmer. The relationship you build with the person finishing your quilt can make all the difference.

Have questions after listening? Reach out! I'm always happy to help fellow quilters better understand the longarm quilting process.

Thank you for listening, watching, and supporting Not Your Granny's Quilt Show. I appreciate every one of 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 Steph Skardal, quilter, fiber artist, software engineer, and the featured artist for QuiltCon 2027. Steph’s work has been exhibited in quilt shows and featured in books and magazines, earning recognition for her innovative approach to quilting and textile art.

Whether she is designing quilts, experimenting with color, or exploring new artistic concepts, Steph is always pushing the boundaries of what quilting can be. By day, Steph works as a software engineer, and that analytical mindset led her to create Quilty Solid, a free app designed to help quilters make more confident fabric and color choices. The tool allows users to explore and compare solid fabric collections from multiple manufacturers, making it easier to visualize color combinations before cutting into fabric.

In this episode, we talk about: 

Preparing for her featured artist exhibit at QuiltCon 2027 

The intersection of technology and quilting 

Using color intentionally in quilt design 

Developing the Quilty Solid app 

Creativity, experimentation, and artistic growth 

Pushing boundaries in modern quilting

Steph also shares insights into her recent work and the creative process behind building a cohesive body of quilts for a major exhibition. We discuss how her perspective as both an engineer and artist influences her design decisions and why she is passionate about creating tools that help quilters spend less time second-guessing fabric choices and more time making.

We also chat about her recently announced color palette for the Windham Fabric Challenge and what excites her about the future of quilting and textile art. If you love modern quilting, color theory, quilt design, technology, or seeing artists challenge expectations, this episode is for you. Learn more about Steph, her quilts, classes, and creative work: https://www.stephskardalquilts.com/

Follow Steph on Instagram: @stephskardal

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 Marion Keller, the Lead Artistic Program Designer for Carrefour European Patchwork Meeting, one of the most unique and internationally celebrated quilt events in the world.

Marion never expected to work in the quilting industry or spend her days surrounded by quilts and textile art, but after six years with Carrefour, she considers herself an honorary member of the quilting community.

In this episode, Marion shares the story behind the show and explains why the breathtaking valley of Alsace creates the perfect setting for this immersive four-day quilting and textile arts experience.

We also dive into the fascinating history of the event. The original 1995 symposium in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines commemorated the 300th anniversary of the Amish movement. Because Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines is considered the birthplace of the Amish faith, the gathering brought together historians, descendants of Anabaptist communities, textile enthusiasts, and artists from around the world. That symposium eventually evolved into the internationally recognized Carrefour quilt show.

What makes Carrefour so distinctive is its curatorial approach. Rather than displaying individual quilts from many makers in one shared exhibit, invited textile artists present cohesive bodies of work that transform each venue into a complete artistic experience.

The exhibitions are spread throughout four villages in the valley, creating an unforgettable mix of quilting, textile art, history, architecture, and culture.

In this episode, we talk about:

The history of Carrefour European Patchwork Meeting

Quilt exhibitions in Alsace, France

Textile art and curatorial design

The connection between Amish history and quilting

International quilting communities

Creating immersive artistic experiences through quilts

Learn more about Carrefour and upcoming events:

https://patchwork-europe.eu/en/home/

Follow along on Instagram:
@carrefour_patchwork

If you love quilting, textile art, quilt history, or dream of attending an international quilt show, 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