Jean and Valerie Wells . Their books are so creative. They make taditional patterns new and exciting. Design, colors and fabric use is wonderful.
Ruth B. McDowell: Any of her landscape and floral books are first rate. I have never attempted a landscape but would follow her techniques when I do!
Susan Carlson: Total out of the box fabulous and creative art quilts
Maxine Rosenthal & Joy pelzmann: One Block Wonders. their simple concepts have taken piecing to a whole new level. A lot of us have made fabulous quilts using their techniques.
As for fabric, there is no one designer I absolutely love. I don't shop for fabric by designer but by seeing the fabric first and falling.....