Keeping an Inspiration Notebook…preview

A few weeks ago I did some posts about playing with color. If you missed them you can find them here. The problem is that once you start collecting these paint chips you can easily get overwhelmed with little cards of color. In additions to color inspiration, what about all those quilting magazines you’ve been collecting for years? I’ve started using a little store bought scrap book to store all these little bits of inspiration that come my way. To make things a little more..um..inspiring, I’ve designed this cool cover to make the book fun to use. This week I’ve put together some tutorials so you can make your own.

Here is a glimpse of what I’ve been putting in my book.

Here are some inspiring quilts I’ve cut from magazines. I don't know about you but I have years worth of magazines sitting here.

Remember those paint chips? They’re in there too, along with the fabric that inspired me.

Speaking of paint chips, I picked up a copy of Martha Stewart Living a few weeks ago because I liked the cover design. I thought that the wall art was some custom mosaic. When I looked closer I really laughed. What I thought was a fancy ceramic mosaic was all done in paint chips…and it was really pretty. Who knew?

Comments

[Mary on Lake Pulaski]

Oh wow (again) Erin - your inspiration book is beautiful!

[Linda]

I love the colors on your book cover. Did you do the quilting too? Very pretty

[Mishka]

Gorgeous Erin. I love the applique on the cover.

[Junco]

It's so cute. After seeing this, I feel my inspiration notebook is very dull. You are the source of inspiration, Erin.

[paula]

I have kept an (art) journal for years. Everything is fair game for my journal: doodles, quilting designs, glue, tape, ephemera, fabric, sketches, to-do lists, magazine clippings. Sometimes the pages in my journal get so heavy and loaded with stuff they splay out. Your notebook is much neater than my journals. I even sometimes overlap items so just a portion is showing.

[erinrussek]

sounds cool

[Gina E]

CONGRATULATIONS on being a Design Star finalist! I am working your BOM and it is wonderful! I hope you win!

[LINDA]

Erin:
I voted for you and was happy to find out you are a design star finalist. Wonderful news. Congratulations.
Linda

[Denise :)]

Congrats! I like your design idea notebook...good idea! :)

[erinrussek]

thanks

[erinrussek]

thanks

[erinrussek]

thanks

[Elzaan]

What a great idea to store your inspiration. Love the cover! It looks fantastic...Beauritful!

[www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawnO_wEF0-TlakmfGeoW5oxoTatydeyR-MI]

I really like the idea of keeping an inspiration notebook. I've been following your blog for sometime, I was glad to see you were nominated for McCall's Quilt Design Star....you've got my vote!

[Elaine Susan Howard]

Erin, I just love the colour of the note book cover material and the colours you chose for the flowers compliment it so well. Congratulations on being a finalist for Design Star, hope you win. I might add that I am enjoying your B.O.M. as well. You are a busy person indeed, thank you for sharing with us.

[Eileen Keane]

Erin,
It doesn't tear at your heart to rip up the old magazines? I can't bear to part with them even though I know they'll be kindling when I'm gone.