Inspiration comes from lots of places, not just quilts. I saw a sun wall hanging that I might be able to adapt into a quilt. Many times floor tiles or patterns on carpets may inspire you, or just elements of anything including quilts. For one quilt I knew I wanted an applique in the center, surrounded by a block. I used something like the outside of a carpenter's wheel block as the frame, then a HST border around that for the quilt. Sometimes just looking at color combinations in quilts or clothes will give you ideas.