This is a beautiful book! And the quilts are lovely, too.
Yes, she takes a square of fabric and appliques shapes/designs over the top with the finished piece duplicating a "pieced" block. I would compare her finished product to looking very much like a Dear Jane block - and her designs are able to be made into whatever size block you are desiring.
she uses freezer paper templates and .........well, heck, I probably shouldn't give all of her secrets away! ha
I think I will enjoy doing it this way. I might even get my Dear Jane finished! Many of her blocks are just like or very close to the original designs.
Lynn