Friday, July 16, 2010

Inspiration - Where do you find yours?

As mentioned on a recent post, I've been book shopping.


From top to bottom:
Handmade Beginnings by Anna Maria Horner
City Quilts by Cherri House

I find I am using books like these ones more and more for general inspiration and less and less for the actual patterns they contain. For me it's all about the eye candy .... not just the quilts themselves but also the settings in which they are photographed. Beautiful textiles in gorgeous photographs make me feel good! They give me inspiration to sit down at the sewing machine and start playing with fabrics.

But I find that the actual patterns are so (often) self-evident or rehashed from previous books, that I tend not to actually use them. I guess there's not a lot new about patchworking. There's only so many ways one can sew squares, rectangles and triangles.

In addition to these sorts of books, I have begun looking to general design and pattern books for inspiration. Books about interiors. Books about architectural style. Books full of lovely photographs to inspire the imagination.

Where do you look for your creative inspiration?

Andi :-)

13 comments:

  1. KateJuly 16, 2010 at 11:18 AM

    Nice books! I do the same buy them for the eye candy and the inspiration.

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  2. StephanieJuly 16, 2010 at 11:48 AM

    Love those books! Just saw the City Quilts book the other day and it is yummy! I love to find inspiration in those kids of quilt books and I have bought quite a few, since I am a new quilter. I also love to find inspriation in Scrapbooking supplies, books and magazines and from nature itself!

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  3. Claire - Matching PegsJuly 16, 2010 at 12:12 PM

    I just use the fabric itself to be inspired, because it is all about the colour combinations to me.

    I also do plenty of doodling, and lately I have been enjoying looking at the "Modify Tradition" site for quilt block inspiration.
    http://modifytradition.blogspot.com/

    Apartment Therapy is a good browse, but you can get lost for hours.

    Thanks again for the fabric Andi- AS you saw, it looks great on Mum.

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  4. Cathy @ CabbageQuiltsJuly 16, 2010 at 2:56 PM

    I love these books too Andi, but lately I have learnt to look at pattern and design in the world around us. Of course coming to other wonderful blogs is very inspiring too. xo

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  5. CurlyPopsJuly 16, 2010 at 4:58 PM

    I mainly use books just as eye candy too. I don't really buy magazines anymore. I get more inspiration from blogs and tv shows.

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  6. andrea createsJuly 16, 2010 at 10:13 PM

    I like trying out new patterns to see if I can learn a new way of doing something.Sometimes I give up and do it my way anyway,lol.
    I love going through magazines,books,blogs,shops...I find inspiration just about anywhere. Usually inspired by color.Love good eye candy :)

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  7. missi muJuly 16, 2010 at 11:20 PM

    I agree- I use books for inspiration and take little snippets but make them my own.

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  8. Copper PatchJuly 17, 2010 at 7:50 PM

    Yep, books are fabulous inspiration. I often flick through them when I have something in mind and that is the springboard for some creativity. I rarely actually make something straight from a book. Loving the new AMH. Soooo pretty!
    Ab

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  9. GypsyJuly 18, 2010 at 8:12 AM

    I love to flick through books for general ideas and inspiration, but also rarely follow the patterns. I get inspired by blogs, looking at pictures of beautiful creations being made every day by crafty peeps (part of the reason I stalk your blog Andi!)

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  10. quiltmom annaJuly 18, 2010 at 12:08 PM

    Andi,
    I love looking at quilt books and magazines for inspiration- I also enjoy reading other people's blogs and seeing the quilts that they are creating- I especially like it when they share their process- because it helps me think about my process.
    One pair of quilters I really love are Freddy Moran and Gwen Marston- they have done two books together and their books are saturated with gorgeous fabrics and color,
    I have the Kaffe Fassett book as well and it is wonderful for looking and enjoying fabrics.
    I hope that I might win the City Quilts book as it looks like another wonderful source.
    Happy experimenting,
    Regards,
    Anna

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  11. dragonflyJuly 19, 2010 at 2:04 AM

    I was looking through some books and magazines today with a friend and we were oohing and aahing over Marie Claire Idees when we suddenly realised that we don't actually need to understand the language to find the inspiration! We were totally happy just looking at the pictures!

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  12. CitricSugarJuly 19, 2010 at 7:30 AM

    I find that anything with fantastic photography or design can be great - National Geographic, annuals from photojournalism magazines, Communication Arts magazine. The latter blows me away sometimes.... Mind you, I don't always act on the inspiration; I usually get swallowed into pages and lose all track of time...

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  13. AnonymousJuly 21, 2010 at 1:41 AM

    City Quilts is on my list for sure.

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