Inspiration can sometimes be elusive when you are creative person. But luckily they are lots of ways to get the creative juices flowing. Here are a few things that have gotten my 2012 off to a creative start, maybe they'll inspire you too.
The book that has me disproportionately excited:
Why this books is stoking my creative fire:
I had a vague thought I'd like to design fabric. I figured fabric design and cloth doll design could be happy bedfellows. I hadn't realised how much this book would open my eyes to the possibilities offered by surface design. Suddenly in my mind, I am Amy Butler. In my mind, I have an assistant and an empire chock full of aesthetic appeal. I am now enrolled in an Introduction to Illustrator course at the Fashion and Textile Museum and it's all this book's fault. I read about other designers and how fabric design slots into their creative lives in the pages of this book and I thought "I can do that" and the book even told me how. Move over Amy, make room for me!
The blogs that are currently floating my boat:
Why this blog is keeping me interested:
Kim Kight, author of my new favourite book (see above gushing) writes a blog all about fabric, all the time. There's fabric and more fabric, plus interviews with fabric designers and even a forum that you can join to discuss, guess what, fabric.
Why I "heart" this blog:
A blog I found, through Kim Kight's book A Field Guide to Fabric Design: Design, Print & Sell Your Own Fabric; Traditional & Digital Techniques; For Quilting, Home Dec & Apparel, Tara Reed talks all about art licensing, a world I never really contemplated (or understood) before. I particularly loved this post about not staying in a place that is not working for you that Tara just posted. If that doesn't inspire you, I don't know what will.
The movie that makes me feel positive:
You know when you start thinking that your day is utterly hopeless because your waistband on your trousers didn't quite dry before you put them on, and you had to spend an hour on public transport sniffing someones armpit that was sitting exactly at your eye-level and you didn't have time to get a coffee and you just finished your book and have nothing good to read, and the list goes on. If you are having a "bad day", this is the movie you watch. Anna Friel being cheerful in the face of the Blitz, unfriendly in-laws and an unfortunate lack of indoor plumbing will make you feel shame for ever having complained about stinky armpits. Plus, she sews. And looks glamorous doing it.
What's inspiring you right now?













Nothing's inspiring me right now, because my life is too busy! But I loved reading your post! That book does look amazing!
Posted by: Stephanie in Mi | January 20, 2012 at 04:10 AM
YOU inspire me. Your endless energy and creativity are truly amazing. I am always SOOO proud of all you accomplish. Wow!!
Posted by: Kitty Babcock | January 19, 2012 at 08:07 PM