I love my fiskar thread snips and I love my mini iron and small iron board/cutting board combo. It sits on my sewing table next to my machines.
I'm crazy about color, so I enjoy low immersion dyeing my muslin fabric.
I really like modern quilts and especially landscape quilts. I enjoy an artsy quilting magazine called Quilting Arts--there is also a program on PBS by the same people. I record it on my VCR, along with Fresh Quilting.
You might enjoy those for inspiration; especially with a background in art.
Welcome from a very snowy KY
Janelle