The most beautiful gemstones capture light and reflect it back to us with unique brilliance, revealing their fiery personalities. Every gem has a story to tell…just like people.

This slide lecture and trunk show chronicles my own story – my 20+-year adventure learning how to create the biggest diamonds in the world in cloth. Most importantly, though, the underlying message to my audiences throughout my presentation is the importance
of choosing joy and saying “no” to fear, both in our creative lives and in our personal lives.

During my presentation, I'll discuss how I've learned to spot gemstones with personality – the unique configuration of light and color that translate into a successful work of art. I'll discuss my techniques to create and assemble the hundreds of pieces in each diamond, materials I use to create the wash of color and light across a gem's surface, and the quilting techniques that enhance a gem's facets. We may even talk a little bit (maybe a lot) about Kentucky Bourbon, as I describe the gem quilts in my series “Bourbon Diamonds”!

And as so often happens with any artist's decades-long journey, I'll share insights gleaned from my walk away from the Corporate Life and into the Creative Life.

Lecture included with admission to the quilt show

No registration required

MJ Kinman is our Quilt Arizona! 2024 keynote speaker. Her passion is creating textile artwork inspired by faceted gems.

Her first book, Gemstone Quilts, was released in 2020.

Learn more about MJ: MJ_Kinman_bio.pdf

Visit MJ's website:  https://mjkinman.com/