The Christmas Quilt
The Christmas quilt really isn’t a quilt involving Christmas at all. Over the months leading up to Christmas, I kept referring to it as the Christmas quilt in my To Do Tuesday posts, so I went with that for my title of this post.
It all began with a conversation between my son and I about vaporwave aesthetic, an art form that he likes. I had never heard of it, so he was showing me some of his favorites. Of course, I immediately began thinking about how fun it would be to create a quilt using this art as inspiration. I pondered for a bit, and then this photo came to mind.
As much as it looks like it, this is not a staged photo. My son was standing by the window one day, and Wilbs jumped up on his shoulder. I happened to be sitting right below them, so I snapped this photo. It is one of my favorite photos of the two of them. Wilbs is happy whenever he can be close around Cal.
My plan was to print the photo on fabric using our printer. However, I discovered that I have the wrong type of printer, so I had to find an alternative. Spoonflower to the rescue. Before ordering from Spoonflower, I used Prisma app on my phone to change the photo to a black and white graphic.
It took about 10 days for me to get the Spoonflower order. I hadn’t done this before, so I was worried it wasn’t going to be the right size, but it was just right. It’s about 11 inches square.
The bigger challenge was adding the rest of the design. I had great ideas in my head, but getting them to fabric form was going to be tricky. In the end, it’s much more rudimentary than the amazing things I was seeing in my brain!
The easy part was the pink moon, thanks to all my fun with curved piecing lately. I once again used the templates from Jen Carlton Bailly to piece the moon, then cut through it to add the blue strips.
Once the moon was done, I added some leftover strips from my Marcia Derse The Blue One fabric. It tied in quite well with the other colors and added some fun graphics.
The upper left corner was a last-minute addition, because that space just needed something. I used my bias tape maker to make the strips and machine stitched them to the quilt. The photo was added last, also machine stitched to the quilt top.
I had some fun with the quilting using pink, blue, light blue, and gray Aurifil thread. Wavy lines, both narrow and wide, just added where I thought best. To anchor the photo, a little echo stitching was pretty fun. All the the quilting was done with my walking foot.
Although we had talked about vaporwave aesthetic and the possibility of quilt designs, Cal had no idea I was making this for him as a Christmas present. It was very fun to watch him open it, and see his grin.
So the Christmas quilt is really the vaporwave quilt. All I have left is the hanging sleeve and the label. Knowing Cal likes it made this all worthwhile.
Linking up today with:
Wendy
To Do Tuesday 47
43 Comments
Riceford Streams
The Spoonflower print turned out great with Cal! You did a cool job of interpreting all of this. But best of all is definitely that he likes it. What a fun surprise!
Stitchin at Home
What a lovely quilt! I can see why Cal likes it. Off to google vaporwave. Spoonflower does a nice job of printing, I’ve used them a few times.
Molli
What a special quilt for Cal! And so creative on your part! Will be checking out vapor wave!
nanamickie
I just love this quilt!!! I also love hearing about the process of putting it together. That photo is awesome and was meant to be in a quilt!!! What a great present for Cal!
Quilting is in my Blood
What a cool and super meaningful project. Changing the photo to B&W really made it look more “artistic”. And I really like that segmented moon. Have a great day, Mary.
karenfae
that is so neat – what a neat photo and quilt!!
My Sewful Retirement
Hi Wendy! I’m just getting home and what a pleasure to see such a beautiful quilt! What a truly heartfelt gift for your son…I enjoyed reading your process pulling it together…I have to admit I don’t know anything about vaporwave so I’ll have to look it up! Happy Wednesday.♥♥
Sandra Walker
What a fantastic quilt full of meaning. That Wilbs is such a character! Love all the piecing details.
thedarlingdogwood
Wow, what an awesome gift! The spoonflower printing turned out great and I love that you combined an art form he loves with an art form you love plus a great photo.
Helen
love, Love, LOVE!
Janine @ Rainbow Hare
This is a great photo and you’ve created a fantastic quilt. I love the way you’ve put all the elements together. It’s a wonderful personalised gift and also a striking piece of art 🙂
Robby H.
The best part is finding a way to interweave creativity and ideas/interests from you and your son. Fantastic results, plus an immortalized Wilbs. Total win.
Vicki in MN
I was worried I had missed seeing Cal’s quilt! You did an awesome job on it, so cool to hear the story about it too. Echo quilting set the photo off perfectly.
Nita
You are SO creative my dear! Do you share your spirit? Yes, I think you do, through your quilts! Love ya! Nita!
Louise Hornor
What a super little quilt! I’m sure Cal loves having a custom portrait. It’s a real work of art 🙂
Nancy Bekedam
Very deep, heartfelt quilt, Wendy! Great job on the Spoonflower. I was going to ask why the moon is pink, but then I googled vaporwave aesthetic, and that seems to be a thing. Such a nice gift for Cal.
Linda
Wow Wendy this is impressive! And pretty too, or in the case of Cal and Wilbur I should say handsome. I love the moon and the added pieces of the quilt with the long name 😉 You are so talented.
Diann@ Little Penguin Quilts
I hadn’t heard of vaporwave aesthetic either, so I had to look it up to see examples. Your quilt fits right in with that type of art, Wendy – you are so creative! I love how you incorporated that great photo of your son and Wilbur into the quilt design, too. I’m not surprised that he loved it!
Needle and Foot
Wendy – this is fantastic. You’re interpretation of the Vaporware aesthetic is spot on. And I know this because I just googled it and looked around so I am now nearly an expert on the subject! Love the photo – Spoonflower did a great job printing it. Black and white was a great choice – it looks so cool. Well done making such a meaningful gift for Cal. I love it
Brenda @ Songbird Designs
This quilt is absolutely awesome, Wendy!! How wonderful you could capture that picture and have it printed! The rest of it just adds so much! I must admit I haven’t heard of vaporwave aesthetic either! But it’s very interesting!! I know your son will cherish this!!
Diane Harris
♥ ♥ ♥ This. Is. Perfect.
rl2b2017
Hi Wendy! What a fun story to go along with a fabulous photo. Great interpretation of the waves – this piece was just meant to be. It’s definitely a priceless gift and memory that Cal will have forever. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne
ROCHELLE SUMMERS
Hi Wendy. I’ve never heard of vaporware art and will certainly be investigating. I think this is an absolutely beautiful quilt and love both photo and the graphic you created from it. I can only imagine how pleased your son was. You continue to amaze me with your talent and fearless experimentation.
Cheree Hull
Ha ha! Funny cats! (Our older cat Tasha has always treated my youngest son as her fav, kinda like her own–we got her when he was a toddler. I think I mentioned already that every time he’s home she sleeps with him still.) I love everything about this from the variegated thread on the quilt in the first pic to the story behind it. What a great way to preserve this! Super, super job Wendy! Made me tear up. Your son is lucky to have such a great mom!
Barbara
Well, your quilt turned out gorgeous! Really love the fabrics. I’m going to have to look more closely at Spoonflower. I ordered some specialty fabrics when I did the Solstice to Solstice quilt, but I haven’t really looked beyond that. Might be fun to do something with a different project.
Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl
Oh, what a fun surprise for Cal and I bet watching him open the gift was a big treat! The slice and inserts look wonderful and I like the addition in the upper left. What a fun gift!
Carol A LANGER
i use junctionfabric in sturgis south dakota for printing on fabric…will do any size and priced well…just send a picture…easy
laura bruno lilly
Aside from the great personal story behind this & it being a special gift for your son – this in and of itself is a Modern Quilt work of art.
Great job, Wendy.
Preeti Harris
It is true that what we imagine is always grander than what we can translate into fabric and thread. That said I am awed by what you created. And also glad that the background set-up for the Cal+Wilbs picture is not so grand that it overpowers the subject of this piece. I am sure his grin was worth all the effort 🙂
quiltinggail
WOW!!! Very creative!!!
Sarah Craig
Super quilt, Wendy! I love the picture, and you turned it in to a fabulous art piece.
Diane Muldoon
This is wonderful, creative and touching…good job…
marissthequilter
What a special gift and remarkable quilt.
Joan Sheppard
WOW! That’s it in a nutshell – WOW!
Kathleen McCormick
So, I looked at vaporwave aesthetic and you nailed it. I love the picture of Cal and Wilbs and then your quilt. I am blown away! I need to try Spoonflower for something, but I think first I will order some swatches and color charts…just for kicks. Did you like the quality of the cotton?
Kathy Swallows
Wow! I’m not familiar with the vaporwave aesthetic, so can’t comment there, but what a wonderful photo quilt.
Kristie Jarchow
Wow that is very cool!!! glad you shared the process.
piecefulwendy
Thank you!
The Joyful Quilter
Incredible, Wendy!!!
piecefulwendy
Thank you 😊
Carol Andrews
Wendy the Christmas Quilt or vapourware quilt is beautiful and so fun and bright. I’m sure Cal loved it 😁
Kris
That is amazing, Wendy! Love it!
Dione Gardner-Stephen
Amazing! I had to google vaporwave, and you’ve nailed it in quilted form. Actually, not only did you nail it, but you personalised it and made it generally accessible to a broader audience too. You are a genius!