Inspiration

Since finally finishing and posting my piece(s) for the Sea theme, I've made another.  My missing creative mojo had a good kickstart and I'm definitely not finished with this theme yet!  

A Life on the Ocean Wave

Aside from the theme as a prompt, inspiration for this new piece came from an odd place, about which more later. It made me think about where my inspiration usually comes from and I'd really like to know where you find yours.

Sometimes something I've read sparks an image in my mind, and sometimes inspiration comes from a visual source like a lovely set of shapes - like the way edges of buildings come together, for example -

or a combination of colours in rusty paintwork. 

 This doorknob became a quilt! 

I think some textures are really beautiful - like these cracks in concrete

and squirrel away a mental picture to ponder on at night. Mobile phone photography is a wonderful thing, but it does mean that I now have more than a lifetime's worth of inspiration snaps waiting to become quilts.

For materials and techniques I get a huge amount of inspiration from the adventurousness of the Endeavourers and often see something and think 'ooh, I must try that out!' or realise that suddenly I now know a way to express something I've been thinking about.   The fish in this quilt are made by cutting up the metal from tea lights, shaping them with the end of a teaspoon handle and embossing them.  The inspiration to do this came from Fiona here - I tucked that knowledge away at the back of my head and it was just what I needed.  

Anyway, as I mentioned, the inspiration for this current piece came from a surprising source - the side of a coffee pot.  It was sitting on my blue and white seersucker tablecloth and I was transfixed by the reflection on its shiny surface because suddenly I saw a beautiful wave shape and immediately knew what I wanted to do with it - though I have been thinking about it for a year and a half!

Luckily for the sailors on the boat the colours of my tablecloth suggested fair weather, even though the sea is rolling!

The boat itself is inspired by the jolly little fishing boats in the harbour at Cockenzie down the coast from here. 

The seagulls are made from modelling clay, supported on silver wire which is inserted into the top seam of the quilt - that inspiration just came into my head - pling! It is lovely when that happens.

I am always hugely grateful to be a part of the group - it is a luxury to have the theme as inspiration to mull over, and to also be inspired by and learn such a lot from the other members.   So, I would be very interested to know - where does your inspiration come from?