• Year: 2023

• Status: Completed

• Size: 53 × 56

• Materials: Cotton Fabric

• Techniques: Improvisational piecing

• Piecing: Blocks provided by BeeSewcial Members, assembly by Self

• Quilting: Domestic Sewing Machine by Self

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.

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.

Exhibitions

Bennington Quilt Fest 2023, Quiet Valley Quilters Guild, Bennington VT

QuiltCon 2024, Modern Quilt Guild, Houston TX

Vermont Quilt Sampler Exhibition 2025, Billings Farm and Museum, Woodstock VT

Awards

QuiltCon 2024, Group/Bee Category, Second Place