inspiration: colour vs. pattern

What inspires you? Is it shape and design that you love? Or are you drawn to that unexpected touch of colour, that perfect palette that gets your creative cogs turning?

Of course, the things that inspire us most usually have both elements -- an interesting design in colours we love. But I've found that I often miss out on sources of inspiration, simply because I can't see past the colours used. And so, I'm trying to train my brain to accept inspiration in both forms. Here are a few examples of patterns that appeal to me in spite of their colours.



These sandwiches combinations inspire me to try mixing half-square triangles of different patterns, or even different textures. (Corduroy with cotton? Denim?)

I'd love to have a go at a solid quilt, with star sashing -- perhaps all in black and white.



This modern sampler is beautiful, but I might ordinarily skip over it simply because of my awful bias against anything that uses the colour green!



And this little town can easily be adapted to any color scheme and style (though I might keep the pink and black...)

On the other hand, for a little colour inspiration, have a look at some of the colour mosaics over at Stitched in Colour. And if you happen to like a certain Red Red collection, feel free to cast your vote!

(images sources: 1, 2, 3, 4)

{paper cut lyrics}

Who's that over there, taking photos of the rubbish bin? Why, that's me, of course...

Through real-life eyes, I loved how the wood around some of the letters had chipped off, making the text look like a paper cut. Once I ran the photo through a grueling marathon of Camera+ effects, I loved how the letters seemed to glow, like Elvish letters thrown into the fire. One bin to rule them all... 

Anyway, it reminded me of a post over at The Fable of the Table a few weeks ago, showing how you can make your own virtual designer paper cuts, courtesy of Victorinox. 

I ran a couple of favourite song lyrics through their very fast paper-cut-erizer, and loved the results. Totally inspired to whip out a knife and start slicing up some paper. Well, that, or whip out Photoshop and use these to make some prints, minus the Christmas trees and company logo.

(Lyrics by Mumford & Sons, and Paolo Nutini)

Pop on over and have a go -- I'd love to see what you make with it!

{inspiration: large art for cheap}

Over the years, we've collected several pieces of art that we really love. As we've had to move every year, and have been on a small budget, almost everything has been 8x10" or smaller.

Now, looking for a way to fill our ginormous living room wall, our pint-size frames simply aren't cutting it. Still on a budget, though, and with giant paintings not coming cheap, I've decided to create the art myself. These are a few ideas, none of which I've committed to yet, which all look beautiful and make-it-yourself-able.

Colour Blocks via Apartment Therapy. Modern art, simply by framing layered pieces of paper. 

Striped Panels by 4 Men 1 Lady. Though the colours here aren't my cup of tea (a little too green tea), I'm imagining that in red, yellow and orange this would look rather Kate Spade.

Tandem Canvas via Apartment Therapy. What's cheaper than one giant canvas? Four small canvases hung next to each other. 

Abstract Tutorial by Oh Happy Day. I do love these, but I'm a little afraid it might look as if Tilly got hold of some oil pastels. Maybe I should give her some oil pastels (in a well-covered and confined area) and see what happens... 

Potato Print Dots by Oh Happy Day. This idea can actually be done with the kiddos -- potato prints and dots. Plus, she shares her secret of cheap framing.

Golden Mesa I by Sean Jacobs. This one isn't really a DIY-- it's an actual piece of art from World Market. But it looks easy, doesn't it. Deceptively easy? Probably.

Sun Shower by Today's Nest. A collage of droplets, which could be made it any colour scheme. I love the idea of using a bunch of different papers -- anything from birthday cards to junk mail could lend itself to this.

Four flowers via Decorno. This is my favourite right now, but again, not really a DIY, just art that I'm wondering if I could knock off. What is it -- framed paper? Canvas? I can't tell. But I love it, nonetheless.

Giant Portrait via Pinterest. Can I please live here, please? That giant portrait peeking through the doorway is just so clever. Can I make it? No. But look closer -- can you see the painting of a dog with a fish bowl for a head? It totally reminds me of Justin's birthday card to Tilly -- her head on a dog's body! We could paint that one, I think.

So, what do you think -- do any of these ideas seem do-able? Or perhaps you've got other ways of filling up giant walls that you'd like to share -- please do, we're all ears!

{creativitity is...}

(Creativity Is Papercut by Julene)

I love this quote for all that it includes. How often do we feel defeated because of a mistake, or think that experimenting is a waste of time? I'm a firm believer that creativity goes beyond the sewing machine, and can be lived out in all areas of life -- from cooking up new and exotic meals based solely on the four ingredients in your fridge, to working out how you're going to entertain your neighbour's rambunctious five-year-old for ten hours tomorrow. Invent. Experiment. Enjoy. Repeat.

[inspiration: below the red kite}

Textile artist, Janet Bolton, seems to agree with my theory on colour: every piece of art needs some red!

This beauty, "Below the Red Kite" makes me so excited for my parents, who are just about to move back to the English coast, and for our upcoming family holiday to the sea in Denmark. Oh, to walk along a sandy beach in a loose red dress!

{inspiration: manhattan}

This quilt by Bernadette Mayr, from The Art Quilt Collection, just stopped me in my tracks yesterday. What is it about little houses that makes me just fall in love?

One day, I'm going to make a quilt based on this. A redder version, perhaps, and not so much in tribute to Manhattan, or any big city, but to represent the way I want our home to be -- filled with stories, people and windows onto different worlds, with a space always free for family and friends to stay.

Redder. Definitely redder.