When people ask me what I do, I like to tell them “I make the biggest diamonds in the world… But instead of working with the hardest substances on earth, I work with the softest …. cloth.” The idea to create giant gem portraits took hold of my soul 20 years ago and has grown into a passion that has enriched my life as a textile artist.   

The adventure started years ago when, as a novice quiltmaker, I discovered an image of a gorgeous gem. With only a basic understanding of quilting techniques — and no knowledge whatsoever of gemology — I was unsure how to transform that image into a pieced work of art. However, I was convinced there had to be a way. And I was determined to find it. After several years of research and experimentation, I made my first gem portrait.

I work with fabric and paint to create larger-than-life portraits of colored gemstones. Inspired by the image of an actual stone, I study the gem to understand its particular personality — the play of color and light across its facets. My goal is to capture the luminosity of these “divas” and “drama queens.”

I prefer to work in a large format in order to convey the story of light and color encased in a gemstone. The larger format also provides viewers with a more intimate experience, inviting them to discover greater levels of detail as they approach the work. While I prefer to work in a series — my most recent series, “Bourbon Diamonds”, celebrates Kentucky’s iconic spirit — each piece is a unique, one-of-kind design. Planning is underway for a new series based on the National Gem Collection housed at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

I was delighted to have been invited to have a solo show at the National Quilt Museum (Paducah, KY) in 2020. The NQM subsequently acquired one of my Bourbon Series pieces, “Char #4”, for their permanent collection.