I typically work in scrap quilts where I have dozens/hundreds of fabrics, but I have a box of "potential projects fabrics" that is groups of fabric that will work well together but don't have a plan yet. When I'm looking for something new to do, I look at that box first to see if anything moves me. I've got some striking black and reds, a juvenile collection, a set of dog fabrics, several others, probably about 10? projects in there just waiting to find the right outlet.
Once I kit them out they become UFOs/WIPs and don't last long because they are officially on my to-do list. Kitted, for me means the fabrics have been gathered, the pattern chosen and drafted and everything is pretty much ready to go, just needing my labor and time to complete.
I've had a lot of troubles motivating myself this year. I usually do about 6 tops per year. Not this year... I haven't done anything this year I had planned to do last year. That's ok, I've done some things and those projects and fabrics will still be there next year, including the kits. It's nice that the only real deadlines I face are ones that I create.
I've been quilting a long time now, some 40 years and I've done a lot. Most of what I've done is completely original, or at least based on traditional blocks. For the last 20 years particularly, I very rarely ever copy someone else's project or buy a pattern, have gotten rid of most of my books as well other than a few reference materials and favorites. Mostly I start with a vision and draft and start cutting/sewing. I do have a style and preferences, but one thing I don't have is problem choosing fabrics. Kits in general (or specifically that just include someone else's choices of fabrics) are not for me -- but if you give me that kit of fabric I can figure out something to make with it.
This year though -- guess I'm getting tired of my style
I did the Round Robin with the fervent hope that the center I started would come back not looking like my work.
I'm going to do the Bonnie Hunter Mystery again, just to be pushed into having something to do and keep moving. It's kind of freeing going into a project knowing in advance you probably aren't going to love it 100%, but that you are willing to learn something and see what happens.