April 23 & 25, 2025

AQS Quilt Week

(Paducah, Kentucky)

Color Play: Beyond Color Theory

April 23 (SOLD OUT)

Josef Albers, the great artist/educator of the 20^th Century, acknowledged how tricky colors can be. In his words, “Colors deceive continuously.” As artists, how do we navigate this world of deception?

Luckily, by using a few simple rules, we can predict how color will try to deceive us and thereby increase our color confidence.

In this hands-on class, I’ll introduce you to the four rules of color interaction and show you how to apply them to your own quilt design to create dramatic effects – regardless of your subject matter. For example, using strips and squares of solid fabric, I’ll show you how to:

• Add sparkle (“bling”!) to your quilts.
• Create dramatic focal points.
• Add exciting visual movement.
• Make your quilts glow.
• Create powerful transparencies.
• Alter the appearance of a color simply by pairing with another color. 
• Create the illusion of metal surfaces without using metallic fabric or thread.

This class is based on my new book, “Cracking the Color Code: Master the Magic of Color Interaction”, which will be released Summer 2025.

Improv Gems

April 25 (SOLD OUT)

MJ Kinman, maker of giant gemstone quilts, will show you how to create sparkling gem blocks in a whole new way using the power of improvisational piecing.

Learn how to use improvisational strip-piecing techniques to create emerald-cut, baguette-cut, and Asscher-cut diamonds. These are diamonds that feature long, lovely facets – the “hall of mirrors” that highlight the interior clarity of a gem.

During class, MJ will discuss color selection for gems. (Hint: there is no wrong answer!). She’ll show you how to make your gem sparkle with value contrast, and how to make your gem glow with saturation contrast. Finally, she’ll demonstrate simple assembly techniques to piece together your lovely creation.

Activities include:

• Creating a color palette that brings you joy.
• Playing with high value contrast and saturation contrast to incorporate sparkle and glow into your gem.
• Strip-piecing the interior facets of your gemstone.
• Assembling the strip-pieced facets to create your own unique gemstone.

Download the overview and supply list below.

May 4, 2025

All-Star Sampler Platter

Global Quilt Connection (online; via Zoom); 3 – 6 PM Eastern

I’m delighted to join 8 marvelous quilt instructors for the Global Quilt Connection’s May All-Star Sampler Platter on May 4!

Here’s the line-up for Sunday, May 4th. (And don’t forget that there’s a full line-up on Saturday, May 3rd, too!)

Brandy Maslowski – Scrappy Hexie EPP
 Daisy Aschehoug – Any Curve Anywhere Sewing Quarter Circles
  MJ Kinman – Lit From Within: Make your Quilts GLOW Using the Magic of Color Interaction
  Mel Beach – Fabric Printing FUN in the SUN!
  Ellen Lindner -Takeoff with Technique: Ellen Lindner’s Favorite Techniques
 Jane Haworth – Fabric Collage is Easy: Let’s make Wildflowers.
  Cathy Perlmutter – Turned Edge Piecing for Cityscape Quilts
  Diane Harris – Fabric Savvy Secrets from Stash Bandit
  Jen Simonic – HOW NOT TO LEAVE A MESS with the Loose Ends Project

The event begins at 3 PM Eastern time and ends at 6 PM. To register now, CLICK HERE!

Color Play: Beyond Color Theory

Half-day class; Friday, June 20; 10:30 – 11:30 AM

Josef Albers, the great artist/educator of the 20^th Century, acknowledged how tricky colors can be. In his words, “Colors deceive continuously.” As artists, how do we navigate this world of deception?

Luckily, by using a few simple rules, we can predict how color will try to deceive us and thereby increase our color confidence.

In this hands-on class, MJ Kinman, maker of giant gem quilts, will introduce you to the four rules of color interaction and show you how to apply them to your own quilt design to create dramatic effects – regardless of your subject matter. For example, using strips and squares of solid fabric, MJ will show you how to:

• Add sparkle (“bling”!) to your quilts.
• Create dramatic focal points.
• Add exciting visual movement.
• Make your quilts glow.
• Create powerful transparencies.
• Alter the appearance of a color simply by pairing with another color.  
• Create the illusion of metal surfaces without using metallic fabric or thread.

MJ’s class is based on her new book, “Cracking the Color Code: Master the Magic of Color Interaction”, available in class and on her website.

CLICK HERE to register now!

Improv Gems

Half-day class; Friday, June 20; 1:00 – 4:00 PM

MJ Kinman, maker of giant gemstone quilts, will show you how to create sparkling gem blocks in a whole new way using the power of improvisational piecing.

Learn how to use improvisational strip-piecing techniques to create emerald-cut, baguette-cut, and Asscher-cut diamonds. These are diamonds that feature long, lovely facets – the “hall of mirrors” that highlight the interior clarity of a gem.

During class, MJ will discuss color selection for gems. (Hint: there is no wrong answer!). She’ll show you how to make your gem sparkle with value contrast, and how to make your gem glow with saturation contrast. Finally, she’ll demonstrate simple assembly techniques to piece together your lovely creation.

Activities include:

• Creating a color palette that brings you joy.
• Playing with high value contrast and saturation contrast to incorporate sparkle and glow into your gem.
• Strip-piecing the interior facets of your gemstone.
• Assembling the strip-pieced facets to create your own unique gemstone.

CLICK HERE to register now!

The Magic of Color Interaction

Lecture; Saturday, June 21; 10:30 – 11:30 AM

Josef Albers, the great artist/educator of the 20^th Century, acknowledged how tricky colors can be. In his words, “Colors deceive continuously.” As artists, how do we navigate this world of deception?

Luckily, by using a few simple rules, we can predict how color will try to deceive us and thereby increase our color confidence.

MJ Kinman, maker of giant gem quilts, will introduce you to the four rules of color interaction and show you how to apply them to your own quilt design to create dramatic effects – regardless of your subject matter. For example, MJ will show you how to:

• Add sparkle (“bling”!) to your quilts.
• Create dramatic focal points.
• Add exciting visual movement.
• Make your quilts glow.
• Create powerful transparencies.
• Alter the appearance of a color simply by pairing with another color.  
• Create the illusion of metal surfaces without using metallic fabric or thread.

MJ’s class is based on her new book, “Cracking the Color Code: Master the Magic of Color Interaction”, available at the lecture and on her website.

CLICK HERE to register now!

June 24-25, 2025

HandiQuilter Academy

Salt Lake City, UT

I’m teaching and lecturing at the Salt Lake City HandiQuilter Academy this year. CLICK HERE for details.

June 27, 2025

The Quilted Beehive

Ogden, UT

Half-day class; Friday, June 27; 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Cracking the Color Code:
Master the Magic of Color Interaction

Josef Albers, the great artist/educator of the 20^th Century, acknowledged how tricky colors can be. In his words, “Colors deceive continuously.” As artists, how do we navigate this world of deception? Luckily, by using a few simple rules, we can predict how color will try to deceive us and thereby increase our color confidence.

In this hands-on class, MJ Kinman, maker of giant gem quilts, will introduce you to the four rules of color interaction and show you how to apply them to your own quilt design to create dramatic effects – regardless of your subject matter. For example, using strips and squares of solid fabric, MJ will show you how to:

• Add sparkle (“bling”!) to your quilts.
• Create dramatic focal points.
• Add exciting visual movement.
• Make your quilts glow.
• Create powerful transparencies.
• Alter the appearance of a color simply by pairing with another color. 
• Create the illusion of metal surfaces without using metallic fabric or thread.

MJ’s class is based on her new book, “Cracking the Color Code: Master the Magic of Color Interaction”, available in class and on her website.

CLICK HERE for details.

July 15-16, 2025

Gwinnett Quilters’ Guild

Snellville, GA

Master the Magic of Color Interaction

Lecture; Tuesday, July 15

Josef Albers, the great artist/educator of the 20^th Century, acknowledged how tricky colors can be. In his words, “Colors deceive continuously.” As artists, how do we navigate this world of deception?

Luckily, by using a few simple rules, we can predict how color will try to deceive us and thereby increase our color confidence.

In this hands-on class, MJ Kinman, maker of giant gem quilts, will introduce you to the four rules of color interaction and show you how to apply them to your own quilt design to create dramatic effects – regardless of your subject matter. For example, using strips and squares of solid fabric, MJ will show you how to:

• Add sparkle (“bling”!) to your quilts.
• Create dramatic focal points.
• Add exciting visual movement.
• Make your quilts glow.
• Create powerful transparencies.
• Alter the appearance of a color simply by pairing with another color.  
• Create the illusion of metal surfaces without using metallic fabric or thread.

MJ’s lecture is based on her new book, “Cracking the Color Code: Master the Magic of Color Interaction”, available in class and on her website.

CLICK HERE for more information.

Color Play: Beyond Color Theory

Half-day class; Wednesday, July 16

Josef Albers, the great artist/educator of the 20^th Century, acknowledged how tricky colors can be. In his words, “Colors deceive continuously.” As artists, how do we navigate this world of deception?

Luckily, by using a few simple rules, we can predict how color will try to deceive us and thereby increase our color confidence.

In this hands-on class, MJ Kinman, maker of giant gem quilts, will introduce you to the four rules of color interaction and show you how to apply them to your own quilt design to create dramatic effects – regardless of your subject matter. For example, using strips and squares of solid fabric, MJ will show you how to:

• Add sparkle (“bling”!) to your quilts.
• Create dramatic focal points.
• Add exciting visual movement.
• Make your quilts glow.
• Create powerful transparencies.
• Alter the appearance of a color simply by pairing with another color.  
• Create the illusion of metal surfaces without using metallic fabric or thread.

MJ’s class is based on her new book, “Cracking the Color Code: Master the Magic of Color Interaction”, available in class and on her website.

CLICK HERE for more information.

August 14, 2025

Silicon Valley Modern Quilt Guild

Zoom Meeting

Gems & Joy

Lecture; Thursday, August 14; 7 PM Pacific

The most beautiful gemstone captures light and reflects it back to us with unique brilliance, revealing its fiery personality. These are the divas and the drama queens of the gem world. Every one of them has a story to tell…just like people. This slide lecture and trunk show chronicle my story – my 25-year adventure in learning how to create the biggest diamonds in the world in cloth.

During my presentation, I’ll discuss how I select gems that qualify as “divas and drama queens” and what they teach us about how to add sparkle to any art quilt. I’ll talk about the 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. And as so often happens with any artist’s decades-long journey, I’ll share what I’ve learned from my leap from the Corporate Life and into the Creative Life.

CLICK HERE for more information.

August 17, 2025

Textile Artists of Virginia (TAVA)

Zoom Meeting

Master the Magic of Color Interaction

Lecture; Sunday, August 17

Josef Albers, the great artist/educator of the 20^th Century, acknowledged how tricky colors can be. In his words, “Colors deceive continuously.” As artists, how do we navigate this world of deception?

Luckily, by using a few simple rules, we can predict how color will try to deceive us and thereby increase our color confidence.

In this hands-on class, MJ Kinman, maker of giant gem quilts, will introduce you to the four rules of color interaction and show you how to apply them to your own quilt design to create dramatic effects – regardless of your subject matter. For example, using strips and squares of solid fabric, MJ will show you how to:

• Add sparkle (“bling”!) to your quilts.
• Create dramatic focal points.
• Add exciting visual movement.
• Make your quilts glow.
• Create powerful transparencies.
• Alter the appearance of a color simply by pairing with another color.  
• Create the illusion of metal surfaces without using metallic fabric or thread.

MJ’s lecture is based on her new book, “Cracking the Color Code: Master the Magic of Color Interaction”, available in class and on her website.

CLICK HERE for more information.

September 4-6, 2025

The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show

Madison, WI

I’m going to have a booth at The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show this year! I’ll have all my patterns, fabric kits, my new book (!), and more. You’ll have the chance to visit scores of other vendor booths and even take classes. I hope to see you there!

CLICK HERE for more information.

September 23, 2025

The Kokomo Piecemakers

Kokomo, IN

Gems & Joy

Lecture; Tuesday, September 23

The most beautiful gemstone captures light and reflects it back to us with unique brilliance, revealing its fiery personality. These are the divas and the drama queens of the gem world. Every one of them has a story to tell…just like people. This slide lecture and trunk show chronicle my story – my 25-year adventure in learning how to create the biggest diamonds in the world in cloth.

During my presentation, I’ll discuss how I select gems that qualify as “divas and drama queens” and what they teach us about how to add sparkle to any art quilt. I’ll talk about the 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. And as so often happens with any artist’s decades-long journey, I’ll share what I’ve learned from my leap from the Corporate Life and into the Creative Life.

CLICK HERE for more information.

Improv Gems

Half-day class; Tuesday, September 23

 In this class, I’ll show you how to create sparkling gem blocks in a whole new way using the power of improvisational piecing. Learn how to use improvisational strip-piecing techniques to create emerald-cut, baguette-cut, and Asscher-cut diamonds. These are diamond styles that feature long, lovely facets — the “hall of mirrors” that highlight the interior clarity of a gem. I’ll demonstrate different styles of piecing, as well as discuss how to make your quilts sparkle and glow by selecting fabric of different values and saturation levels.

Activities include: • Creating a color palette that brings you joy.
• Playing with high value contrast and saturation contrast to incorporate sparkle and glow into your gem.
• Strip-piecing the interior facets of your gemstone.
• Assembling the strip-pieced facets to create your own unique gemstone.

CLICK HERE for more information.

October 6-11, 2025

Quilt Festival

Houston, TX

I’m teaching 6 classes and giving 2 lectures at Quilt Festival this year! Here are the details…..

Color Shifting:

Transform the Appearance of Color Using the Magic of Color Interaction

Half-day class (no sewing); Tuesday, October 7; 9 AM – Noon

Josef Albers, the great artist/educator of the 20th Century, acknowledged how tricky colors can be. In his words, “Colors deceive continuously.” As artists, how do we navigate this world of deception? Luckily, by using a few simple rules, we can predict how color will try to deceive us and thereby increase our color confidence.

In this hands-on class, MJ Kinman, maker of giant gem quilts, will introduce you to the four rules of color interaction and show you how to literally change the color of fabric right before your eyes simply by pairing it with another color. For example, MJ will show you how to make one color look like two, and two colors look very similar – RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES!

This is a NON-SEWING class. MJ’s class is based on her new book, “Cracking the Color Code: Master the Magic of Color Interaction”, available in class and on her website.

CLICK HERE to register now! Registration opens in May 2025.

Dive Deep Into Transparency

Half-day class (no sewing); Tuesday, October 7; 2-5 PM

Josef Albers, the great artist/educator of the 20^th Century, acknowledged how tricky colors can be. In his words, “Colors deceive continuously.” As artists, how do we navigate this world of deception? Luckily, by using a few simple rules, we can predict how color will try to deceive us and thereby increase our color confidence.

In this hands-on class, MJ Kinman, maker of giant gem quilts, will introduce you to the four rules of color interaction and show you how to place colors to create credible and dramatic illusions of transparency.

This is a NON-SEWING class. MJ’s class is based on her new book, “Cracking the Color Code: Master the Magic of Color Interaction”, available in class and on her website.

CLICK HERE to register now! Registration opens in May 2025.

Lights! Camera! Action!
Add Sparkle, Focal Points, and Movement to Your Quilt

Half-day class (no sewing); Wednesday, October 8; 9 AM – Noon

Josef Albers, the great artist/educator of the 20^th Century, acknowledged how tricky colors can be. In his words, “Colors deceive continuously.” As artists, how do we navigate this world of deception? Luckily, by using a few simple rules, we can predict how color will try to deceive us and thereby increase our color confidence.

In this hands-on class, MJ Kinman, maker of giant gem quilts, will introduce you to the four rules of color interaction and show you how to apply them to your own quilt design to create dramatic effects – regardless of your subject matter. For example, using strips and squares of solid fabric, MJ will show you how to:

• Add sparkle to your quilts.
• Create dramatic focal points.
• Add exciting visual movement.
• Add metallic effects (without using metallic fabric or thread)

This is a NON-SEWING class. MJ’s class is based on her new book, “Cracking the Color Code: Master the Magic of Color Interaction”, available in class and on her website.

CLICK HERE to register now! Registration opens in May 2025.

The Magic of Color Interaction

Lecture; Wednesday, October 8; 2-3 PM

Josef Albers, the great artist/educator of the 20^th Century, acknowledged how tricky colors can be. In his words, “Colors deceive continuously.” As artists, how do we navigate this world of deception? Luckily, by using a few simple rules, we can predict how color will try to deceive us and thereby increase our color confidence.

MJ Kinman, maker of giant gem quilts, will introduce you to the four rules of color interaction and show you how to apply them to your own quilt design to create dramatic effects – regardless of your subject matter. For example, using strips and squares of solid fabric, MJ will show you how to:

• Add sparkle (“bling”!) to your quilts.
• Create dramatic focal points.
• Add exciting visual movement.
• Make your quilts glow.
• Create powerful transparencies.
• Alter the appearance of a color simply by pairing with another color.  
• Create the illusion of metal surfaces without using metallic fabric or thread.

MJ’s lecture is based on her new book, “Cracking the Color Code: Master the Magic of Color Interaction”, available in class and on her website.

CLICK HERE to register now! Registration opens in May 2025.

Cracking the Color Code

Full-day class (no sewing); Thursday, October 9; 8 AM – 5 PM

Josef Albers, the great artist/educator of the 20^th Century, acknowledged how tricky colors can be. In his words, “Colors deceive continuously.” As artists, how do we navigate this world of deception? Luckily, by using a few simple rules, we can predict how color will try to deceive us and thereby increase our color confidence.

In this hands-on class, MJ Kinman, maker of giant gem quilts, will introduce you to the four rules of color interaction and show you how to apply them to your own quilt design to create dramatic effects – regardless of your subject matter. For example, using strips and squares of solid fabric, MJ will show you how to:

• Add sparkle (“bling”!) to your quilts.
• Create dramatic focal points.
• Add exciting visual movement.
• Make your quilts glow.
• Create powerful transparencies.
• Alter the appearance of a color simply by pairing with another color.  
• Create the illusion of metal surfaces without using metallic fabric or thread.

CLICK HERE to register now! Registration opens in May 2025.

Bite-Size Gems

Full-day class; Friday, October 10; 9 AM – 5 PM

MJ Kinman, maker of giant gem quilts, will show you how to create sparkling gem blocks using the design and piecing techniques she relies on to create her signature quilts. During this fast-paced class, students will create their own singularly beautiful work of faceted light.

Freezer paper piecing techniques are powerful techniques that can transform any quiltmaker’s ideas into reality. MJ’s inspiration is gemstones, but yours might be landscapes, florals, portraits, abstracts, or any other kind of inspiration. The technique works for all!

MJ is quick to point out that this technique is NOT foundation paper piecing. There’s no sewing to paper or tearing paper out of the back of your quilt block when finished. Instead, this is traditional piecing using freezer paper as your templates. If you can put two pieces of fabric, right sides together, with a quarter-inch seam allowance, you can do this!

Over the course of a single day-long session, students will learn how to:

• Create a freezer paper pattern based on a mock-up of a bite-size gem that I provide.
• Understand how different types of fabrics impact the flow of light and color across their design.
• Assemble the fabric facets to create their own block of faceted color.

Activities include:

• Prepare square freezer paper template (recommended size: 18”).
• Transfer the mock-up design to the freezer paper by using a simple grid technique.
• Create a color palette.
• Code the facets in their template to designate position, color, and adjacency.
• Cut apart their freezer paper template and sort by color code.
• Iron freezer paper facets to their painted fabric according to the color codes.
• Cut the facets and organize them by section code.
• Learn techniques to piece facets.

CLICK HERE to register now! Registration opens in May 2025.

Improv Gems

Half-day class; Saturday, October 11; 8 AM – Noon

MJ Kinman, maker of giant gemstone quilts, will show you how to create sparkling gem blocks in a whole new way using the power of improvisational piecing.

Learn how to use improvisational strip-piecing techniques to create emerald-cut, baguette-cut, and Asscher-cut diamonds. These are diamonds that feature long, lovely facets – the “hall of mirrors” that highlight the interior clarity of a gem.

During class, MJ will discuss color selection for gems. (Hint: there is no wrong answer!). She’ll show you how to make your gem sparkle with value contrast, and how to make your gem glow with saturation contrast. Finally, she’ll demonstrate simple assembly techniques to piece together your lovely creation.

Activities include:

• Creating a color palette that brings you joy.
• Playing with high value contrast and saturation contrast to incorporate sparkle and glow into your gem.
• Strip-piecing the interior facets of your gemstone.
• Assembling the strip-pieced facets to create your own unique gemstone.

CLICK HERE to register now! Registration opens in May 2025.

Playing With Pixels

Lecture; Saturday, October 11; 2-3 PM

MJ Kinman, maker of giant gem quilts, will share one of her favorite ways to find inspiration for new work or a new series – playing with images in a photo editing app. These apps allow you to manipulate images in infinite ways, transforming them into intriguing ideas for new work.

MJ will show specific examples of the process she has used to create new mock-ups of current and future work.

Additionally, students will learn more than 20 different ways to manipulate images to create fascinating designs. For example:

• Want to turn a ruby into an emerald? MJ will show you the tool to use.
• Boost the saturation of an image to make your image glow.
• Add a gentle curve or tight twist to your image.
• Pixelate your image into squares or triangles of different sizes.
• Slice your image into segments horizontally, vertically, or both.
• Create an infinite variety of kaleidoscopic images. (Caution: this is addictive!)
• Melt your image into waves of color.
• Tilt an image backwards, forwards, or side to side to add perspective.
• ….and more!

CLICK HERE to register now! Registration opens in May 2025.

April 19 – 24, 2026

Empty Spools Seminars

Asilomar Conference Center;
Monterey, CA

Treasure Hunting:
A 5-day Adventure in Design

Week-long Seminar

Join MJ Kinman for “Treasure Hunting: Designing with Freezer Paper”, an immersive, hands-on adventure in design. MJ created this class specifically for quiltmakers who want to create a quilt in which every piece is a different size and shape but aren’t quite sure how to execute it.

The secret is freezer paper, that wonderful product that adheres to fabric when you heat it with an iron. MJ’s freezer paper piecing techniques are powerful tools that can transform your ideas into reality. While MJ finds her inspiration in gemstones, your inspiration might be landscapes, florals, portraits, or abstract images. MJ’s techniques apply to them all.

MJ is quick to point out that this is not foundation paper piecing. There’s no sewing to paper or tearing paper out of the back of your quilt block when finished. Instead, MJ refers to her technique as traditional piecing using freezer paper as your templates. If you can sew together two pieces of fabric with a quarter-inch seam allowance, you can do this!

Using images of gemstones (which MJ will provide) — or any other image you want to use as your inspiration – MJ will work with you step-by-step to transform your design into a quilt. Here’s just a few of the skills you’ll master that week:

• Transform an image into a quilt design by charting the “through lines” in your image.
• Understand the visual clues and codes that will help you put your quilt together with confidence.
• Evaluate fabric’s impact on the “clarity” of your design.
• Create a color palette that makes your heart sing.
• Create focal points, visual movement, and “bling” in your quilts with value contrast.
• Make your quilts glow with saturation contrast.
• Create powerful transparencies by manipulating alignment, middle mixtures, and depth order.
• Build your color confidence by mastering the rules of color interaction.
• Master piecing techniques specific to freezer paper.

Additionally, MJ will also show you….

• How to use photo-editing apps to find inspiration for new work or a new series
• Fabric painting techniques
• Finishing techniques for your quilt (i.e., quilting designs & gallery facing)

Make plans to join MJ for a week of design inspiration and create your own singularly beautiful work of faceted light!

Note: This class is also open to anyone who wants to work on one of my gem patterns ( i.e., Birthstone Series or Diamond Divas Series) during the week. The curriculum will inform those students’ work, as well.

CLICK HERE for more information. Registration opens on April 26, 2025.