I’m so excited about my first book I can hardly stand myself! I have wanted to write this book for a long time, now, and now it is here! I am so pleased to introduce my new release A Passion for Piecing!

I have been quilting since 1991, when I was dragged, kicking and screaming, to the Minnesota Quilt Show by my friend, Jan. She kept telling me I would love quilting. I kept telling her I would never have time! I was still working as a costume designer then. Now, I am retired and do almost nothing else BUT quilt…and design quilts and quilt patterns, teach quilting, design quilting fabric, and now write quilting books. How did she know?

From the beginning, I have never been able to make a quilt the way the pattern said to do it. That is, I always have to distort the block, add another block (or two), and change the colors. One of the first classes I took was a simple pineapple quilt class from my good friend and mentor, Shirley Kirsch.

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I came to class with my fabric mock-up, figured out so there was a primary pattern, a secondary pattern and it was a medallion quilt, rather than the traditional pineapple layout. Shirley said to me “Can’t you ever make a quilt the way you’re supposed to?” The answer is–”No, I can’t”, and I’m willing to bet there are many others out there, just like me, who want their quilts to look different, to put their own individual stamp on their work, but maybe they just don’t know how to go about making the change.

"Fine Feathered Friends" from A Passion for Piecing

"Spicy Hot" from A Passion for Piecing

That’s why I wrote this book–to help you more adventuresome quilters bridge the gap, take the leap, do something a little different. Think of this book, as a toolbox or a pile of building blocks or an open doorway into a room piled high with toys.

There is a whole section called “Infinite Possibilities.” You can use the 16 projects, the fabric insights, and setting suggestions to make your own unique designs. Now, do you see why I’m so excited? I hope you enjoy my new book! 

"Prickly Pear" from A Passion for Piecing

Visit Claudia’s website at NightOwlQuilter.com and check out her patterns at 2MuchFunQuilting.com.