Portraits of Stone begins with this interpretation of a Bumblebee Jasper from my personal collection. I am fascinated by the geological processes that, over immense spans of time, create its intricate textures, patterns, and vivid colors. Formed from sulfur, realgar, and manganese oxides, the stone reveals the remarkable mixture of earth elements.

Beneath its striking beauty lies an element of danger. Bumblebee Jasper contains arsenic-bearing minerals, a reminder that nature often balances beauty with risk. This tension between attraction and hazard gives the stone an energy that inspired me to translate its character into cloth.

Cotton fabrics and threads, wool batting, monofilament thread

Turned-edge applique piecing, free-motion quilting