Design Inspiration At Large

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve approached a stranger to either compliment them on their beautiful item of clothing or, even more bold on my part, ask if I could take a photo of the garment they are wearing. One day I may receive a less-than receptive response to the above social interactions, but so far the subjects of my inspiration have been friendly and seemingly flattered by my interest in their wardrobe choices especially when I share the fact that I make my own clothes.

Here are some of my favorite inspiration photos:

1. A “Moto Jacket” with a combination of leather pared with knit center panels and sleeves.

2. A herringbone tweed sport coat with unique piecing detail in back:

3. Fixed, looped lacing detail on a woven v-neck top.

I’ve also been inspired by architectural elements for potential quilt design themes. Here are some floor tiles from Sainte-Chapelle in Paris that caught my eye the last time I visited this beautiful landmark:

Lastly, I’ve found that museums provide wonderful design inspiration as well. I love Sashiko embroidery and plan to incorporate this Asian style of embellishment on a garment or perhaps a quilt sometime soon. Here is a sample of the “real deal” I saw at the textile portion of the deYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco: