Inspirations: Moda Charm Pack Give-Away

 
Inspiration for my designs comes from many things. It's often a flower, bird, or a landscape that calls to me to be interpreted in fabric design or that might translate into a quilt. Often, architectural elements speak to me. I've always been fascinated with windows. Openings to new possibilities, new worlds, new opportunities. They intrigue me and I have many sketches and snapshots of diverse architectural windows from my travels. Such was the case when I visited Fatehpur Sikri near the Taj Mahal. Built by the Moghul Emperor Akbar between 1571 and 1585, it is a now-deserted but beautifully preserved city that is a fusion of many styles of architecture. 
     An intricately carved screen that serves as a ventilated window in one of the castle walls seemed like it would translate well to a quilt wall hanging. I played with different fabrics and moved them around until I liked the combinations. I like to work on a layout pad first, which is what I am sharing here. You get the idea of where I am going with it.    
     What inspires you when you create. Whether its a quilt or paper collage...a sewing project or a sketch? Is a something from your travels, a book you have read? What is your muse?
     Let's share. Leave a comment and tell me what inspires your creative pursuits. Just to make it fun, I'll use a random number generator and give away two charm packs of my fabrics for Moda. Giveaway ends September 12 at midnight EDT.
April
Feel Beautiful, Be Beautiful, Live Beautiful

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38 comments:

CD Duplication said...

cool pics

wende said...

I get inspired by the photographs I take of my everyday life. The color palettes I capture on film often dictate what I'm working on in my studio.

Lilli in Vancouver said...

What inspires me as a quilter? Fabulous fabric with floral designs and eye-catching colour contrast !

RURAL said...

The oddest collection of things inspire me, a flash of a birds wing, the feathers blending in with branches. The way flowers look as they bend in a breeze, creating a blur.

The beach,with the early mornings sun just touching the edges of the pooling water in the sand.

And architechural details, I love them.

I love your quilt also. Great giveaway.

Jen

Sherri said...

As a quilter lately I've been inspired by Japanese craft and sewing books. Even though I can't read the directions or captions...the photos are so inspiring!

Anonymous said...

So many things... My top three would be 1. Nature, 2. Urban landscapes, 3. The movies.

Thanks for the giveaway!

Suzanne said...

At the moment fabric designers inspire me. There are so many great ones out there and I love to see what I can interpret out of their creations!
- Suzanne
justanotherhangup.blogspot.com

karen @ badlandsquilts said...

Just the fabric itself conjures up the image of what it should be...

thanks for the giveaway!

Kathy Howard said...

For the quilts for family members, that I have been doing for Christmas gifts over the years, I have been inspired by whatever theme was chosen for each quilt. Sometimes I have chosen the theme and colors and sometimes the recipient has requested a theme and/or colors. It challenges me to use colors that I don't normally use.

Jocelynilla said...

I get my inspiration from a thought, a place, a scene. A lot from old beautiful fairy tales I devoured as a kid :)

Nova said...

Materials, interesting patterns, sewing books...

Unknown said...

When I create...

I am passionate about rich color, nature (ie. tiny cottage roses and small dainty flowers to trees and their branches -cherry trees are my song), old stone middle eastern, moorish, victorian, renaissance, French cottage and gothic architecture, religious edifices, keys, portals, water, eyes, sparkles, faeries, ethereal themes, the moon, strawberries, blueberries, something vintage or chippy, ethnic, spiritual...

All [but not limited to] are incorporated into my scrapbooking ideas, the accessories, wooden pieces and boxes for the home that I like to paint and use mixed media with, into the jewelry I fashion and women's and home decor accents/accessories I hope to learn to fashion...

LJ said...

What inspires me as a quilter is to create something beautiful and pass it on to warm the heart and body of someone I love dearly. :)The reciepient's personality is what inspires the quilt that I make. I try to reflect who they are in the fabrics I chose and the design I come up with.

Dawn Heese said...

My inspiration comes from many different places. Usually when I am not looking for it. Seems like my best designs are the ones that just come to me. If I try too hard it's never there.

kate said...

Most of the time inspiration comes to me at the most random times. It can come in the form of a natural object- or the design of a cereal box. Or the pile of dirty laundry, where to T-shirts lay next to each other and I think "There it is! This is the color combo I've been waiting for!" I don't discriminate when I comes to what inspires me!

Augusta's Grandma said...

Color combinations seen anywhere and everywhere from each season. Thanks for the great give-a-way.

Nancy said...

The thing that inspires me the most is other people's creativitiy. I love to create, but usually I do so through copying what others have done. Also we generally have really great sunsets here in AZ and I find the colors in them pretty inspiring! But that is just me.
spackattak7 at hotmail dot com

ikkinlala said...

For me it's usually nature. Not so much flowers - a lot of the time, they seem like enough on their own - but leaves and pine cones, water and wasps' nests.

Unknown said...

Music is my inspiration! When I hear music, I see colours and patterns, textures... Lately I've noticed a surge in creativity when I'm on the table at the chiropractor! The combination of energy flow (entrainment) and background music (usually something Celtic or New Age) makes it very difficult to relax, as I let my mind play with all that beauty! I wish I could record it all somehow; it's hard to remember it all and translate it to a design page later...

Sue Cahill said...

I am inspired by antique quilts, quilts in magazines, books etc. Also by flowers, butterflys, birds and tile floors. I try to keep my eyes open and look closely at whatever speaks to me.

Sue Cahill (sbonetsue at yahoo dot com)

Anonymous said...

As a writer and a quilter I find inspiration in poetry. Right now I'm attracted to Rumi and to Japanese Haiku. For me poetry evokes emotion and often stimulates ideas. I've posted some of the poetry I find inspiring on my blog http://kisstheground.wordpress.com

Di~ said...

MMM my heritage, what my grandmas and aunts created with their own hands, namely quilts, linens, a crisp clean home, etc. Thanks for a wonderful giveaway. I do so love fabric!

TZel said...

I would say that what I see others creating gets me excited too- especially online. Thanks for sharing your creations!

KindredEsprit said...

I'm mostly a paper crafter & I usually draw inspiration from patterned papers! I love both clean, streamlined designs and vintage, wornlook designs. I love picking out colour combinations from these papers...love making cards, scrapbook pages, wallart, jewelry from these pretty papers.

melissa said...

Nature, favorite books, stories, and songs, pictures of my three boys.

Jennifer said...

I am mostly inspired by photographs, catologs, and items others have created. I especially like perusing blogs and Flikr.
I love a lovely giveaway!

vivian said...

I get inspired whenever I am with creative people seeing what they are doing. Show and tell...
Jane

Martha said...

I love textiles -- the textures, the colors, the feeling they create, the colors in them and in combination with others. That is why I love your work so much with textiles. When I make a quilt or sew something, I always want to create a feeling with colors and textures. I

Merbon said...

I am inspired by fabrics that look beautiful and tasteful. I try to find great fabrics, then try not to ruin them! (I am a new quilter).

Tiffany said...

I would have to say that nature inspires me the most. That is where all the color comes from in the first place. Love your fabrics!

Tami Jo said...

I find my kids an inspiration. Also things with a nostalgic value, old photographs, quilts, teacups.
I have a thing for old tricycles too.
Tami

Linda Linstead said...

What inspires you when you creat? Inspiration to create a quilt! Just about everything inspire me, flipping through the pages of a black and white photo album inspires a memory quilt, cozy soft flannel for that beautiful bundle of joy, full bold colours screaming out for that wild teen, sweet feminine floral prints to wrap around you on a sunny, but cool morning while sipping hot coffee on that favourite balcony. Not to forget bold plaids with scenes of nature for that special man in your life. Whether your inspiration comes from books, music, nature walks, or television, it all pours out from your soul into a product of warm love to cherish and share happiness, and friendship, to the whole world!

Linda Linstead

Pam said...

I live in a beautiful canyon in New Mexico. Nature is my bigest inspiration as well as old adobes and the vibrant colors that surround them. Old quilts and fabrics as well as old post cards. Other peoples work with a personal twist. Very good question.

Tanis said...

Inspiration for me comes from so many places...
Pretty sure that color and pattern are my top 2.
If I see a cool color combo in an ad, or a piece of art, or a pattern in clothing or furniture, it gets my creative wheels going :)
Thanks for the giveaway!

Nerissa Alford said...

Your piece is absolutely Amazing! I'm inspired by so many things: architecture, vintage ephemera, other artists/blogs & just playing with my art materials. Thanks for sharing this piece!
Nerissa

Tina Marie said...

Getting out into the country - whether it's just driving through on a Saturday afternoon or a weekend escape to the cottage with family and friends. The relaxed, homey atmosphere outside of the city calms my nerves, rejuvenates my soul, enabling me to tap into my inspired, higher creative self.

Unknown said...

What a great giveaway! I am inspired by the artistic women in my family. They would never call themselves artists, but their beautiful quilts made from old clothes, flour sacks, and fabric scraps have brought an artistic sensibility to everyday living in my family for generations.

stephenmorphey said...

I get inspired from many different places. I have also visited Fatehpur Sikri and it is an awesome place. Your designs are awesome. I would suggest one design like the SIDDI SAYYED'S in Gujarat. Please do a google image search. You should like it.

r4 ds

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