Essence of Sonia Delaunay
2019–2023
Collaborative quilt · Improvisational piecing · Domestic-machine quilting
53 × 56 inches
Overview
Essence of Sonia Delaunay is a collaborative art quilt created through Bee Sewcial, inspired by the color, rhythm, and geometric language of Sonia Delaunay’s work. Each contributing artist interpreted a shared visual framework, resulting in a composition shaped by both individual decision-making and collective dialogue.
Rather than replicating a single aesthetic, the quilt explores how Delaunay’s ideas translate through multiple voices. The finished piece reflects variation within structure—an accumulation of choices, contrasts, and visual energy that emerges only through collaboration.
Contributing artists:
M-R Charbonneau — @quiltmatters
Leanne Chahley — @shecanquilt
Marci Debetaz — @marci_girl
Karen Foster — @capitolaquilter
Debbie Jeske — @aquilterstable
Felicity Ronaghan — @felicityquilts
Stephanie Ruyle — @spontaneousthreads
Silvia Sutters — @astrangerviewquiltmatters
Finished quilt hanging
Finish quilt hanging
Finished quilt hanging
Closeup of the quilting
Closeup of the quilting
Closeup of the quilting
In process of quilting
Individual blocks created by my Bee mates in response to the Sonia Delaunay prompt, shown before assembly
Sonia Delaunay
Example of Sonia Delaunay's work
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Year: Begun 2019 · Completed 2023
Status: Completed
Dimensions: 53 × 56 inches
Materials: Cotton fabric; batting, backing, binding, and thread to be confirmed
Techniques: Improvisational piecing; domestic-machine quilting
Piecing: Blocks by Bee Sewcial members; composition and assembly by Kenny Smith
Quilting: By Kenny Smith on a domestic sewing machine
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This quilt began as a collaborative experiment. I received individual blocks from my Bee mates, each measuring 12.5 x 24 inches, created in response to a simple prompt: to work in the style of Sonia Delaunay. I had no control over the colors, shapes, or compositions they would create, and no advance knowledge of how the blocks might relate to one another.
My role was to take these independent responses and connect them into a cohesive quilt that felt like the essence of Sonia Delaunay rather than a direct reference to any single work. The challenge was finding visual rhythm and flow across blocks that were never intended to be seen together, while still honoring each maker’s contribution.
The quilting phase became its own turning point. I initially started with a plan that didn’t work. Removing the stitched thread took time and forced me to slow down. During that moment, I received encouragement from Kelley, who reminded me that I had already pieced together a strong and meaningful top, and that rushing through the quilting would diminish the work rather than finish it.
That pause changed my approach. I committed to treating the quilting as an equal part of the composition, not a final step. I matched both the top and bobbin thread colors to the fabric, avoiding neutral threads so the surface would remain saturated and vibrant. Each color area was quilted with its own distinct design, and I intentionally avoided crossing quilting lines, which meant burying a significant number of threads.
I often joke that I spend more time quilting than piecing, but this piece clarified why. The quilting added depth, movement, and clarity, reinforcing the visual language of the top rather than flattening it. This experience has continued to shape how I approach quilting in my work moving forward.
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Essence of Sonia Delaunay draws inspiration from Sonia Delaunay’s approach to color, movement, and abstraction. Rather than referencing specific works, this quilt reflects the underlying principles of her visual language, particularly the use of rhythm and contrast to create dynamic relationships across a surface.
Through improvisational piecing, the quilt explores how color and geometry interact to produce a sense of motion and cohesion. The work embraces intuition and responsiveness, allowing structure and spontaneity to coexist within the finished composition.
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Exhibitions
Bennington Quilt Fest — Quiet Valley Quilters Guild, Bennington, Vermont, 2023 (non-juried)
QuiltCon — Modern Quilt Guild, Raleigh, North Carolina, 2024
A Vermont Quilt Sampler — Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, Vermont, 2025
Award
QuiltCon 2024 — Group or Bee Quilts, Second Place