Where do you get your inspiration?

**quiltinmom** · 08-06-2012, 12:37 PM

I've had the hardest time with my latest project--a quilt for my baby boy due this fall. I went to the fabric store no less than 3 times looking for fabric (I usually pick the pattern first, then get fabric to match, but I did it the other way around this time). The first two times I ended up leaving empty handed, frustrated that all the fabrics were too feminine--even the blues were covered in flowers and hearts. I finally found a really cute rocket ship fabric, and bought 4 other colors (with subtle patterns) to match. They are perfect together. Then I thought I had the block all picked out, but now I'm second guessing it. I was going to use a star pattern to go along with the rocket ship theme, but with the size of print it seems like the pieces will be too small to really see the print. The rocketships are about 2 inches in length or so, and 1-2 inches apart. I don't want that adorable print to get lost in tiny pieces. And I want it to be different from the quilts i've made for my other kids. Most of the "traditional" blocks seem too grown up for the personality of the fabrics. I could do just 6 or 8 inch squares all pieced together, but that doesn't seem very interesting (or as much fun to make). Then I thought I might use the coordinating fabrics to make the top, then use the rocketships for the back....or save the rocket ship fabric for something else entirely (but I have no money to buy more fabric). I just can't seem to find the right way to put these fabrics together.

Anyway....where do you get your inspiration? I can't seem to find mine.

**ckcowl** · 08-06-2012, 12:43 PM

browse magazines, books, on line galleries, the picture section here---relax- maybe you are 'over-thinking' it...stop at the magazine rack at the grocery store & thumb through a couple quilt magazines- lots of on-line quilt shops have galleries of customer quilts---just browse- at some point the perfect quilt will jump out at you---you will know it when you see it.

**JEM2012** · 08-06-2012, 12:50 PM

How about something like this? It's from the Fat Quarterly Shape Workshop for Quilters book. If you make it smaller, it would be great for a kids quilt, and with the bigger centers to the blocks you could actually see the rocket ships on the fabric (where the bird print is in this picture). https://craftfoxes.com/blog/fat-quar...p-for-quilters

I love this pattern - I am planning to make it with the Oh, Deer! line from Momo

**Patti25314** · 08-06-2012, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by JEM2012

How about something like this? It's from the Fat Quarterly Shape Workshop for Quilters book. If you make it smaller, it would be great for a kids quilt, and with the bigger centers to the blocks you could actually see the rocket ships on the fabric (where the bird print is in this picture). https://craftfoxes.com/blog/fat-quar...p-for-quilters

I love this pattern - I am planning to make it with the Oh, Deer! line from Momo

That is a really cute quilt, and I like her idea of putting the rockets in where the birds are. Can't wait to see what you do. More ideas might come if you post a picture of the fabrics.

**clsurz** · 08-08-2012, 06:33 AM

I get my inspiration from fabrics. I view fabrics as a map to my creativity and go from there. I do not use "cookie patterns" and design and create my own patterns. When I see a fabric I immediately know how I'm going to use it in some project that I haven't designed yet. Thats how I roll.

**DogHouseMom** · 08-06-2012, 01:19 PM

One of the things I do when I need to find the right pattern, or fabric, or quilting motif is to lay out the offending pieces in a conspicuous place where i see it all the time, in different lights of the day. I walk past it several times a day - can't miss it.

You never know where or when inspiration can strike.

Most of my quilts are my own design, or modified designs. Most of my "designed" quilts started with just a basic idea and "morphed" into what they became. I have yet to design the complete quilt on paper - and make it exactly as designed. Something always happens and I get a different idea at some point down the road and ~poof~ the design has changed.

A possible solution for your current block dilemma ... how about making the block you wanted to make but make them BIG blocks to highlight the rocket ships. Perhaps 3 BIG blocks set in a single vertical row. Border those with small blocks using the same fabrics (except the rocket ships). Small plain border in a solid color, then a large border of the rocket ships to pull it from the 3 big center blocks. Will that work??

**JEM2012** · 08-06-2012, 01:44 PM

I like pinterest for inspiration - just google boards with "quilt" in the title, and people have pinned so many beautiful things! It's easy to find one with your aesthetic.

**KarenK** · 08-06-2012, 06:30 PM

I agree with DogHouseMom about using larger blocks.

My favorite block for a baby quilt is Friendship Star. It is graphically simple, has a large center, can easily be made any size, can be set with sashing or not, and can be set with other blocks. I like using 4 or 9 patches with it. And some borders.

On page 2 of the link, there are examples of quilts using this block.

http://www.quilterscache.com/F/FriendshipStarBlock.html

**Peckish** · 08-06-2012, 02:46 PM

Pinterest!

**Ngeorgia** · 08-06-2012, 02:52 PM

I know it is used a lot but with a D9P the rocket could be the bigger block and the other that are cut would be smaller.

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