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With quilt designs gracing the covers and
inside pages of leading quilting magazines and books, Robert Callaham
continues to amaze and inspire quilters by combining traditional piecing
with stunning floral appliqué. The popularity of his designs lies in his
inherent talent in blending textures and shading colours to create
dimensional quilt designs. When asked why so many quilters have responded to
his designs, Robert replies, "I think people are drawn to my quilts because
they reflect a traditional look from the past with a contemporary design
twist. I try to create quilt designs that inspire and challenge quilters to
reach for that next level."
A professed self-taught quilter, Robert first began quilting almost twenty
years ago when he decided he wanted to own a Double Wedding Ring quilt After
following his sister's advice, Robert purchased a quilting book and began
making his project. Interested to see if what he was doing was correct, he
brought his quilt to Piecemaker's of Costa Mesa, California. After seeing
Robert's work in progress, Piecemaker's asked if he would be interested in
teaching, an offer that he enthusiastically accepted. Robert has been
quilting ever since.
Robert's style of quilting blends traditional patchwork and floral appliqué.
His quilt designs are inspired from the nineteenth century, especially
Baltimore Album era quilts, as well as from the 1930s and 40s. Robert's love
of floral appliqué is a reflection of his love of flowers, a passion that he
cultivated over the thirteen years of managing a garden centre in Orange,
California. He uses several floral appliqué techniques, including
dimensional flowers, stuffed flowers, broderie perse and traditional floral
appliqué, using needle turn and prepared appliqué. Robert uses a hidden
blind stitch with all floral appliqué. "The magic of your appliqué,"
expresses Robert, "is in your ability to hide your stitching and secure your
valleys."
In addition to using hidden blind stitches, colour and texture are integral
elements in appliqué design. Robert explains, "The more colours and textured
tonal fabrics you mix into your appliqué and pieced work, the greater depth
and dimension you are able to achieve. Sometimes the images you try to
portray can get lost in a quilt. By emphasizing colour and texture, you can
create wonderful secondary designs." Robert believes in using a variety of
different background fabrics. He advises, "The background fabrics used in
your quilt can sometimes soak up your appliqué or patchwork. It is important
to use a background that best accentuates your work. The more textures you
mix into your background, the more interesting your backgrounds will be."
Another signature of Robert's is his scrap style approach to quilting. "I
prefer scrap quilts to planned quilts, because I find it more interesting
and challenging to work with a variety of colours and textures to create a
unifying design," admits Robert. Pieced borders are another favourite design
element in Robert's quilts. "With the number of different fabrics and
colours that I showcase in my pieced blocks and floral appliqué designs, I
find that pieced borders help to best define and highlight my projects."
With his talent and unique design approach, Robert Callaham continues to
attract audiences all over the world. After meeting the demure Robert, it is
comforting to know that his celebrity has not gone to his head. Robert
enjoys meeting and talking with quilters every opportunity he gets. For
Robert, it is the warm response that he receives from the quilting public
that inspires him. "It is the greatest honour to have my designs published
and to hear all the positive feedback and enthusiasm from the public that my
quilts have generated. It is what inspires me to continue designing quilts."
Robert Callaham is a quilt design consultant for RJR Fabrics. He also
lecturers and teaches at quilt shops across the country.
Robert's Magazine Projects
for McCall's Quilting
Robert's Floral Garden (6-part series)
Album of Memories (6-part series)
Wilson Canyon Thistle Rose (2-part series)
Crowns of Decoration
Smithsonian Charm
Grandma's Country Album I (6-part series)
Grandma's Country Album n (6-part series)
Medallion Serenade (3-part series)
Garden Maze
Spring Rhapsody
Uncle Robert's Nine-Patch Chain
Kitty Cat Charm
Friendship Knot
Rainbow Around the World
Pinion Pine
Wilson Canyon Star
Aurora
Dresden Plate
Houses & Trees
Crossroads
Lover's Links
Robert's Pattern Books
Grandma's Country Album I
Grandma's Country Album n
Tree of Life
Best of Robert Callaham
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