Sometimes the hardest part of fabric design is just getting started. It’s common to feel completely uninspired, but luckily there are a million ways to get the creative juices flowing. Today we’re sharing our favorite places and ways to find inspiration. How do you get inspired? Please share in the comments below!
1. Visit somewhere new.
Hit the streets in a urban area to be inspired by the city buzz and bright lights. Take a drive out to the country. Or take a break online and look up photographs and videos of places where you’d like to be.
2. Meet some new friends.
Go to the zoo, go for a walk and look around outside, or hang out with your pet friends. Animals are the perfect subjects for your first (or next) fabric design.
3. Get close with some fruit and veg.
Check out your local farmers’ market. Let the hard work and bountiful harvests of local farmers inspire you. Or open your crisper drawer and get inspired by the natural world.
4. Get out.
Go outside and clear your head with a little fresh air. Can’t get away? Take a minute and think about the last time you felt a cool breeze on your skin.
Featured design: Come Hike With Me by vo_aka_virginiao
5. Learn something new.
Spend time at a museum, either online or in person. Find inspiration from a place filled with historical creatures, beautiful paintings and creepy crawlies!
Featured design: Museum Animals, Dinosaur Skeletons by bohobear
6. Perk up.
Go visit your neighborhood coffee shop. Spend the afternoon sipping on a warm up of coffee and taking in the inspiring tastes, smells and views.
Featured design: “c0ffee” pots with “black coffee” Beans and Cream by victorialasher
7. Get moving.
Go for a long drive or train ride. Take in what you see around you.
Featured design: Dancing Roads by lucybaribeau
8. Relax with loved ones.
The best ideas can come during a break—so take a few minutes to relax and chat with friends.
9. Look through old photos.
Reminisce about your history, remember old memories and create a beautiful design inspired by loved ones or a great adventure!
10. Go look at things made by hand.
Visit a handmade market. Look through a book of craft work. Check out what other creatives have made and are making, along with what they use to motivate their own work.
Featured design: Air Plants in Hanging Glass Terrariums by amy_g
Walking in nature is my biggest inspiration. The next best thing is walking in areas with beautiful architecture surrounded by lush landscaping. And finally inspiration pops up out of the blue, from a book, the Internet, a movie, almost anything.
Nature and my imagination always inspire me…great way to kick-start the holiday design inspiration.
I get inspired by everything, though mostly history, high days and holidays, it’s putting the ideas into practice to form a cohesive and different design that I have the most difficulty with!
I normally get inspired by strange forms in nature to imagine fairy tales atmosphere, with creatures coming out of a child mind. And also the draws of my daugther (5yo) are great inspiration.
Most of my inspirations come from the outdoors, my surroundings and going to small shops. I love to go to fabric shops and look at all the designs. I also like to look at Pinterest, so much to see and all the colors. Watching children’s movies and shows are so inspirational to me. I just sat and watched Finding Nemo the other day. Wow, what great colors and textures this movie had!
The produce section in our grocery store always inspires me. Its easy to get caught up in getting what I need and getting out but when I slow down and enjoy all the colors, shapes and textures, its impossible not to be inspired.
My inspirations are vintage clothing from the 1940’s, trees & the colors (blue & greys) of glaciers.
Great inspiration! I look through photos I’ve taken over the years, think about the things I love and enjoy and go from there 🙂
Antique stores, Spoonflowers contests :), how you are feeling about a certain event of what is happening in your life or around yo, or ask a friend or family member to write out a list of 10 items total of favorite words or phrases….
I find my inspiration by heading out for photo hikes. I grab my camera and look for the unusual on a walk through the woods, my neighborhood, a downtown area, etc. It’s amazing what we miss in the hustle & bustle of every day life.
I’m inspired by my friends and their families. I’m more inspired to do things for other people than just for myself, so they get my ideas going.
I enjoy going to museums. Recently I found a treasure trove of artifacts on display at the “Gene Autrey’s Route 66: The Road and the Romance” exhibition. The finds included (among others); Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” manuscript; “Western Motel’s” neon sign; and Thomas Hart Benton’s “Boomtown,” 1928, oil on canvas.
A lot of my inspiration comes from photos I take–usually of nature–the beach, flowers, sunrises and sunsets, landscapes, etc.
Great ideas to get me started!
I think of the beach.The sea shells,coral reefs,sand,and pelicans.
Key West ,FL would be my Inspiration I love calming of the color hues.mainly the pastels soft and Bright!
I try to use the world around me, old photos and new photos of my own and family, too.
I may do an online search, but usually only when it is a theme with which I’m not familiar. I really try not to be influenced by the work of others any more than I can help it. Saying that, the theme of my Winter Toile that I have just started was inspired by an art quilt. I have not gone back to view it with the fear of being too influenced by it. I want it to stay just my inspiration.
This is great!
I’d like to add that our own home libraries (or a used book store) may be another good source of inspiration. My hoard includes old picture books, science books, decorating books and photography books.
Fantastic inspiration! 😀