Gems & Joy: Featuring the Gem Quilts of MJ Kinman Program March 19, 2026

When people ask MJ Kinman what she does, she likes to tell them, “I make the biggest diamonds in the world . . . but instead of using the hardest substance on earth, I use the softest– cloth!”

MJ says, “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 chronicle my own story – my 25+-year adventure learning how to create the world’s biggest diamonds 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 corporate life and into the creative life.”

MJ has been featured in many of the world’s top quilting magazines. Her work is included in collections as varied as Maker’s Mark Distillery, the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, KY (where she has also taught workshops and had a solo show) and the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, NE. We are honored to have her here in Boise!

Website: mjkinman.com