I like to go through my quilt library for inspiration, and my stash for scrappy fabrics. On occasion, I am forced (pretend I hate it) to buy more fabric. Sometimes I start a quilt with no regard for how it will ultimately look, other than the fact that I know what the block will be. Of course, I do lots of graph paper sketches to scale before I cut anything, so I guess I do know what to sort of expect. I also like to look at blocks and devise speedier construction methods when I can.
One day a friend came over with a pattern she had picked up at a store. I took one look at it, and knew that was the perfect pattern for all my batik fabrics. Really easy, really fast, and I think I made a queen size top in a day or two. This year, I have been all about making simple, fast quilts. Next year, my goal is to make 3 complicated quilts.