As a visual artist, I often function best with my palette in front of me.  I use fabrics and found objects to inspire a design goal.  I pull all the potential inspirations and then purge the less desired like a reality show elimination ceremony.  For me, the inspirational pieces must touch all my senses and elaborate my most felt design elements; texture, tone, balance, contrast, seduction, sparkle just to name a few.  I often fall in love with something I'm working on and when that happens, I know its right.