More WOW from Sissy Dunnit!

This quilt, in fabrics by Mary Englebreit - one of my favourite designers ever - was hand pieced then quilted with a cherry shaped stitch all over, by my Sissy. Then folded into a neat rectangle, garnished with a big purple ribbon and posted to me. For me! For keeps! Isn't it gorgeous. It's fair to say that last time we were together I may well have 'gone on' about the number of lap quilts adorning her comfy chairs and I may have even whinged slightly about how badly I needed one. But to be fair to my ugly inner me me me, I never dreamed that she'd find time or inclination to make me one! I thought at best that the next time we got together, she'd force me into having a go at one myself. Clearly the whinging is one of my skills - because it worked! I'm a July baby, so this is a birthday present - but it's a totally normal, nothing special number of years, so to be able to mark it with a gift that's an heirloom is wonderful, doncha think? Given the WOYWW picture that we posted here last week of another gorgeous creation, I wonder if Steph works on more than one at once? And do ideas for quilts bounce around her head when she sees (or indeed, designs) a fabric that speaks to her? Is the creative process similar to the way I come up with cards after a quiet chat with a rubber stamp or a scrapbook page after I've spotted THE paper? Dunno. Will have to find out. Steph arrived at the textile skill after working through paper crafts - that is not to say that she no longer does any - her scrapbooking is, in american parlance, awesome. But it would be wouldn't it!

But actually - what is your leap off point? Is it an image, a photo or the paper? Or do different things spark something in you that ends up a LO? Or a card? Certainly in card terms, it's definitely the stamp image that talks to me. I rarely make a card that doesn't feature some stamping, so perhaps that's obvious. I am utterly unable to look at a blank card and see possibilities, for sure! BUT, in scrap booking - it is the blank (usually heavily patterned, actually) page that speaks to me. I MAKE the photos work on it (or not!) because I want to use the paper. But that's slightly different because I do have 8 kerjillion photos to scrap, so I can cast aside and start again when they don't bend to my will! I have recently been in over-kill and over-use of a pad of Que Sera Sera papers from K & Co (you will have noticed if you visit this micro space of interweb reasonably regularly - sorry!). I can't help it. I'm frightened by the artsy, altered, colourful style of the papers but drawn to them because they work with everything! I even (and this is unusual) bought some of the matching elements to go with. And am having no trouble using them up either. And this was merely because Willowy Blonde happened to comment to me that a single sheet could be cut up and used as a nice accent here and there. Well I started like that, but am in total immersion now - not many 'accent' pieces going on - just full on pages! Is that all it takes? Or is it the photos for you? I know it isn't for me. I've got marvellous pictures of various occasions and holidays and blah - totally untouched. So, after you've admired my new quilt, consider your inspiration point and please share it with me; I might be able to alter my perspective through your wisdom. Oh, and you may want to offer my lovely Sissy some advice - how on earth is she going to follow that for Christmas?!!