A Gem for Every Month: The Birthstone Series

A Gem for Every Month: The Birthstone SeriesIt was a challenge bringing 12 birthstone block patterns to market, but MJ Kinman loved every step of the way. She loved finding the gems that inspired each design. She loved charting out the design and the colors so that the gems sparkled with the fewest amount of facets. This was important to her, because she wanted to be sure that the blocks were not overwhelming to makers and did not have so many fabrics that they broke the budget. She knows that small pieces are hard to manage for people with dexterity issues. “I have some arthritis in my hands, so working with tiny pieces isn’t fun. I wanted my blocks to be a joy to put together. I wanted the pieces to be manageable for all makers.”

A Gem for Every Month: The Birthstone SeriesSewing enthusiasts are getting creative with the Birthstone Series. Not only are they creating “Jewel Box” quilts with all 12 blocks, they are making smaller quilts that celebrate the birthday month of each family member. Some enthusiasts are even making mini-quilts with gemstones to celebrate a wedding engagement or the arrival of a new baby. The most surprising development of all – the one that absolutely delights MJ – is that some makers are swapping the fabrics between blocks, creating entirely new gems in gorgeous colors. MJ says, “I’m amazed at the ways people are putting their own creative twist on these patterns.”

A Gem for Every Month: The Birthstone SeriesAs she was designing blocks, MJ fell in love with Paintbrush Studio Fabrics’ line of solids, Painter’s Palette. Together they have packaged little Birthstone Bundles, fat-quarter bundles for each gemstone. (www.pbsfabrics.com) However, MJ wanted to make her blocks accessible as possible, so she has translated the birthstone colors into additional lines of solid fabrics. To find the color translations for Kona Cotton, Michael Miller Cotton Couture, and Hoffman’s 1895 Bali Batiks, visit http://www.mjkinman.com/birthstones/resources/. Scroll down to “Fabric Translations” and click on the documents you’ll find there.

A Gem for Every Month: The Birthstone SeriesYou can find MJ’s Birthstone Series patterns at your local independent quilt shop, on your favorite online retailer’s site, or at MJ’s website at www.mjkinman.com/patterns.

 

Image of MJ Kinman MJ Kinman’s Gems of Wisdom . . .

Recommendation: I use SCHMETZ Microtex needles to piece my hand-dyed cotton sateen fabrics. I love the way they glide through the fabric and result in perfect stitches.

Tip: Change your needle every 5 hours of stitching or at least with every new project. Your machine, your quilts, and your blood pressure will love you for it!

 SCHMETZ Chrome Microtex Needle     SCSHMETZ Microtex Needle

 

MJ Kinman – Textile Artist

 

MJ KINMAN – TEXTILE ARTIST

MJ Kinman Fall International Quilt Market Houston TX 2018

MJ Kinman
Fall International Quilt Market
Houston TX 2018

One year ago, MJ Kinman and her unusually large gem quilts burst onto the quilting scene like a 4th of July Fireworks Finale. The first time she was a vendor at the International Quilt Market in 2017, it looked like a rock concert was happening in her booth. The quilting world had never seen anything quite like her large gemstone quilts … it was like you were looking into a gigantic glittering diamond.

Since that explosive beginning, MJ’s quilts have been exhibited in galleries, museums, national juried competitions and private collections. Maker’s Mark Distillery commissioned a “Bourbon Diamond” for their permanent art collection. Her work has been featured in Quilting Arts Magazine, McCall’s Quilting Magazine, France Patchwork, Make Modern Magazine, and Online Quilt Magazine. Quilting Arts TV is currently airing three episodes featuring her unique quilt patterns on PBS stations around the country, and The Quilt Show is preparing to broadcast three segments featuring MJ’s techniques and patterns in Spring 2019.

To the seasoned quilt store owners crowding to get into MJ’s booth at that first market, MJ’s gem quilts felt like an amazing “overnight success” story. But the truth is, MJ’s success is a culmination of 25 years of hard work — learning how to take the gemstone images in her head, develop techniques to translate her vision, then building her business to brand and market her one-of-a-kind gem quilts.

Click HERE to read the full story about MJ Kinman and her one-of-a-kind gem quilts.