Laura Veenema is an educator and writer turned quilting artist who loves unexpected color combinations, thinks pins are almost always optional, and believes slow-made, one-of-a-kind textiles can transform a home (maybe even the world). She hopes her work helps others experience the life-changing power of beauty and find comfort in the redemptive practice of making broken pieces whole again. In her quilting, writing, teaching, and parenting, Laura emphasizes intentionality, good humor, creative freedom, and redos. Before pursuing her creative endeavors, Laura taught middle school Language Arts and then went on to study and work as a Reading Specialist. She and her husband welcomed four beautiful babies into their family, too. Sewing had been a self-taught hobby until a diagnosis forced Laura to make a career change. In 2018, her then 11-month-old developed Type 1 Diabetes, which requires constant blood sugar management. She left her job in education to care for her baby full time and began to build her modern improv quilting business, selling products and patterns from her home in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Since then, Laura has sold modern improvisational quilts and accessories worldwide, built a robust consumer following, had products featured in international magazine publications, and partnered with local businesses to produce and sell specialty quilted products. Laura enjoys building relationships with individual custom-quilt clients, customers she meets at various artists’ markets, and fellow quilters. Besides quilting, writing, and teaching, Laura loves long walks, Michigan summers, quilty snuggles with her family, Sunday morning hymns, and cake. newsongquilting.com