Perhaps . . . I had an idea to add beads to the trim of the Ren Faire dress when the embroidery machine failed me, it was inspiration, after hours of thought and beading, that led me to the exact idea I was looking for. Perhaps inspiration is the messenger of the idea? Inspiration is for ideas that aren't conscious? Some ideas, maybe, aren't as easily accessible, and present themselves as inspirations, or with inspirational thoughts leading the way?
It would seem that not all ideas do not need inspiration to exist, while inspiration would seem to need ideas. But some ideas, particularly those of the subconscious mind, manifest with the assistance of inspiration where conscious effort is incabable of reaching them . . .