When I asked my mother to teach me to quilt in 1989, I had no idea it would change my life. She had just begun quilting in her 60s and seemed to be having such a grand time, I wanted to try it too.

When my mother died, I inherited her fabulous stash, if not her artistic ability. I now quilt obsessively, attend every quilt show I can manage, and belong to my local guild. I mostly piece and quilt by hand, I’ve finished a couple dozen quilts, and like most quilters, have given away more than half of the quilts I’ve created. My quilts tend to be updated traditional patterns, from books, magazines and my own designs, usually made using bold, bright contemporary fabrics. I simply can’t make enough, or see enough quilts.

Quilting became part of my professional life in 2001, when I began to think there was a book in it and started my research. I’ve approached the quilt world as though I were still at the Wall Street Journal and the editors put me on the “quilt beat.” I’ve spent 6 years researching and writing my new book, “The Quilter’s Catalog,” to be published by Workman Publishing in early 2008.

In 2005, I accepted an invitation to join the board of the non-profit Alliance for American Quilts, whose mission is to preserve and share the stories of quilts and quilters. This allows me another platform both for learning about the quilt world, and spreading the word on the glory of quilts.

I’m not just interested in the latest quilt products and prize-winners, but also in covering the movers and shakers behind the scenes. I want to know all about the top teachers and quilt businesses, and why 21st century American women find quilting such a blissful, addictive pursuit. I want to know what comes next in this fast-changing, high-tech quilt world. Don’t you?

My mission is a double one: to spread the joys of quilting, and to help elevate the level of writing on quilts. If the worlds of wine and poker are worthy of good journalism and national attention, doesn’t the quilt world deserve as much?