As with most creative people I’m constantly asked where I find my inspiration and how I keep coming up with new ideas to create and share.
The short answer?
Off the top of my head, I honestly don’t know but I’ll dig deeper and let you in on the parts of my inspirational idea discovering process that I can actually articulate into words below:
Scanning and running my hands along the amazing variety of fabrics hung on the racks at the thrift shop always provides the spark of an idea. Sometimes when I pull out an item the exact refashion I’ll be doing with it hits me immediately but most of the time I’ll simply take it home and let it sit in my stash until the perfect idea presents itself.
When it comes to brainstorming and creative flow I’m completely old school and keep track of my thoughts in an ever-growing collection of scrapbooks and notepads. If a project idea strikes me I write (or badly sketch) it down immediately regardless of where I am at the time – I always carry a small pad & pen in my bag, if something attracts my eye in a magazine I chop it out and add it to a scrapbook, if my attention is drawn by a funky streetstyle outfit I snap a pic for future refashioning inspiration.
The wonderful worlds of film, television and music continually influence and expand my creativity. Inspiration can be found directly by spying an awesome outfit or groovy bit of background décor on the screen or abstractly through meaningful music and lyrics.
For over 20 years I’ve not only travelled but actually lived and worked throughout the world, discovered and adapted to a variety of cultures and learned new languages and skills which has given me a wealth of creative and inspirational life experiences to draw upon.
YOU inspire me dear readers! I frequently receive messages asking for help with specific refashioning and upcycling projects which of course gets my DIY diva brain working on solutions for you and even leads to future posts and step-by-step tutorials!
There are absolutely no rules when it comes to finding your inspiration. Everyone has their own distinct creative methods that work for them but it is my sincere hope that I am able to help enhance your creativity through my vast and varied Confessions of a Refashionista content.
Stay tuned for more of my backstage of blogging series and feel free to request a behind-the-scenes topic that you’d like to learn more about in the comments below.