Craig Wickham

Plymouth, Michigan

About Craig Wickham...

I've been quilting since… The summer of 2009, however I have been sewing for 11+ years.

I began quilting because… Well at the time I was living abroad in Glasgow, Scotland pursuing a Double Masters Degree in Opera Performance at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, and when on summer break at home in the States I wanted to make a bed quilt to bring back with me.  Lets just say Scotland can be a wee bit wet and cold in the fall/winter months, who am I kidding… 90% of the time!  During that summer break I made 4 quilts in 4 weeks… I think I was hooked.

I learned to quilt… Well I would say it began in grade school when I started to copy my mother’s cross stitch, then some time later I entered the arts… painting, weaving, drawing, sculpture, and music. I then earned a Bachelors in Apparel Design. So I would say design school is where I really learned to sew and fine tune my skills. However, my mother always has something to add, or directs me to her quilting library.

My quilting style is… Fearless, only because I don’t know any better… yet. Clean, color conscious, and a bit off. So basically I am anal retentive, detail orientated, and love the unexpected. I would like to believe my roots are firmly rooted in tradition (thanks Mom), my design aesthetic on the other hand gives it a good nod.

A person who inspired me… Thats a tough one, I can’t say there is one specific person.  There is still so much to learn and explore. I feel I can learn something from everyone. There are so many fabulous artists out there!

My imagination is sparked by… I pull my design inspiration from everything I see, hear, feel, and experience. But I am mostly inspired by color and texture.

My favorite techniques… Machine piecing, and hand applique. But I’ll do whatever it takes to achieve the vision in my head.

Colors or fabrics I'm attracted to... I am attracted to saturated colors, so Kona Cotton Solids are my addiction. Prints on the other hand need to speak to me.  So most of the time when I walk into a quilt store all I hear is yelling, “Buy me! Hey over here! Pick Me!” There is so much to choose from, it really is sensory overload, so most of the time I run over to the solids for refuge. Normally I will go to the store with a project in mind and have a color story figured out, so I only buy what I need, but sometimes something grabs me so violently I leave with the whole bolt of something I didn’t need. Basically I am a fabric addict with self control, mostly!

My fabric stash... I am a newbie with a whole lot of student debt! My stash is so tiny it can fit into a plastic storage bin... sad isn’t it (my mother’s on the other hand is half the basement).

My quilting community… Mostly I crash the groups my mother belongs too. Poke & STAB at St. Thomas A’ Becket in Canton, Michigan; Material Girls, a social group of my Mother’s quilty friends; and Canton Quilters - formerly known as The Cherry Hill PM Group.  I am also a member of ManQuilters an online community where men have the chance to promote their quilting and share their experiences with the rest of the quilting world. A personal getaway with other guys who quilt.

My additional hobbies/interests… I would say I am a well versed artist, in a variety of mediums. Apart from having a degree in Apparel Design, I have two Masters in Opera Performance, I am a classically trained singer, Bass. I love to spend time with friends and family, and to travel when I can.

I entered Quilt Design Star™ 2011 because...  I love design and what better way to start a possible career in the quilting Industry. Plus it is a great platform to challenge myself and my skills.

Links...  I don’t have a website or blog as of yet, I will keep you posted. But you can check out my page at ManQuilters.

What you should know about me… I am single and looking for a full time job with benefits or I will be forced to go back to school LOL.

Scarab (below) is Craig's Quilt Design Star™ 2011 entry quilt.

Not Your Grandmother's Flower Garden (below) is Craig's Quilt Design Star™ 2011 Challenge 1 quilt.

Plucked (below) is Craig's Quilt Design Star™ 2011 Challenge 2 quilt.