I am so glad I found this thread. I have been a "modern" quilter at heart ever since I started quilting two years ago. I love the bold patterns and colors of such lines as Amy Butler, Robert Kaufman, Kaffe Fassett. And lucky for me there is a Modern Quilt Guild in my city so I will be at their next meeting. Traditional quilt patterns can be awe inspiring but the block piecings (ie star, maple leaf patterns) have never really appealed to me though I love looking at the mastery of other quilters. I like the artistic nature that "modern" quilting gives rise to such as dyeing fabrics to get the colors you want and using different texture fabrics (ie silks, velvets, fine wale cords)to give a different feel to a quilt.
I am a life long sewer so have been at this sewing thing for over 40 years but just got into quilting and now I am hooked. I started looking online for quilt patterns that inspired me and along the way started quasi designing my own quilt patterns (borrowing elements of several different quilts that I liked). I used this technique when I use to make clothing, I would dream about what I wanted to create and would sometimes use up to four different patterns to create one look. In design school I learned to draft and drape my own patterns so now I am applying these techniques to my quilting. I am working out my kinks on quilts I am making for family and friends.
Soon and very soon, I know I will be looking at some original quilt designs fashioned by me. I feel it as I work on my techniques now to be firm in my quilt footing.