Quick Poll

When I am not feeling creative or want to be inspired, I love to go through my books! Lots of books. I pull them from my library and start paging through them spending time sketching, until I am ready to work again.

What about you?

When you are not feeling inspired to create, do you have a routine that you do to get inspired?

Do you do the same things every time or try a variety of techniques to inspire yourself?

Thanks in advance for your input, I look forward to the discussion.

Be Inspired - Amazing Fibers

Words to Inspire

The best changes often start as single, simple thoughts. Think big, and discover how to make your dreams real.

Idea to Inspire

There are so many beautiful fibers! Find a ways to add fiber to your art work, learn to knit or crochet and make yourself a scarf, go to a yarn store and walk around and enjoy all the inspiring colors and textures.

Photos to Inspire

Today an amazing collection of fiber from Flickr. The color, texture, and shapes are very inspiring, enjoy these beautiful pictures.

Beach by gramarye

JSI by Kirpernicus

freeform knit & crochet fabric closeup by freeform by prudence

Regalia Pendant close up by fancypicnic

Creativity Boost - Friendship

It is a day to cherish friendships...including the one with yourself.

The Awe-Manac by Jill Badonsky

Need a creative boost? Try stepping away from your work and take a day off creating what you have to create, and use your time to create something for a friend.

Take a few minutes to reflect on a friend you have not seen or talk to in awhile and create something just for them! You want the piece to reflects their likes, color choices, and style.

Once you complete their piece, give them a call and set up a date for you to meet and give them the piece you created, and enjoy your time together.

When you step away from a project and create a something from the heart, it's a great way to recharge your creative spirit.

Do you create for family and friends?

Speculation

This past weekend I saw the movie Wall Street 2. I found the movie interesting, and if you are interested in wall street or the financial market then you may enjoy this movie as well.

There was a lot of talk about speculation of the market, in the movie and it got me thinking about art and selling on line.

As artists we speculate what we think will sell everyday. At the beginning of the spring season I was really excited about two new collection Hardware in Bloom, and Vibrant Hardware. I thought they were really cool and would be fun to wear. Well, to make a long story short, I did not sell one piece. (I still have a few piece available in my Zibbet shop, if you would like to check them out.)

After spending the summer revamping my Etsy shop taking all new pictures, working on my tags and titles, updating my shop policies and bio, I realized what was selling best in my shop were the item made with only hardware and not embellished.

I speculated that my customers wanted something different because I did. As artists we get to decide what we want to create, but we speculate what will sell.

I always create items that I like, use materials that work for me, but I have found that I only list the items that I think have the possibilities of selling.

I would love to hear your thoughts! Do you create and sell what you like regardless of if it would sell or not? Do you create only item you know will sell?

Journal Prompt - Vision Board Mission Statement

On Friday I had a post about creating a Vision Board. Today you can take your vision board to the next level by creating a vision mission statement. Creating this plan is not only a great way define your creative path, it will also help keep you on track of your creative vision.

Quick tip for creating your mission statement:

Review the vision board you created.

Make a list of your overall theme and ideas that show up on your vision board.

Your emotions play a big part of your creative vision. Create a list that defines how your vision board make you feel.

Use your lists to create your statement.

Remember this statement is just for you. You don't have to invest days or weeks into writing it, all you need are a couple of sentences that will motivate you and keep you on track.

Once you complete your statement keep it in your sketchbook, or journal, or post it where you can see it everyday. Read it when you need to be motivated, feeling in a creative slump, or need a boost to stay on track.

Have you created a mission statement for your creative venture?

Create a Inspiration Board

Inspiration boards can give you insight to what trends, styles, or designs are important to you right now.
Creating a board is easy and requires only a few supplies. It can be created in a day or take weeks to complete. Their is no right or wrong way, it's all about what inspires you at the time.

You can make your inspiration board any size and it can be created on paper, poster board, canvas, a cork board, or any other type of board you may have.

Working on a cork board is the most versatile; you can change it as often as you want and do it for certain projects, different seasons, or the mood you are in at the time.
There are no rules to creating your board. It’s just a matter of finding photos, objects, fabric, examples of texture and colors that you can pin to your board.

Three tips to remember when making your board:
1. Nothing is off limits - keep your eye out for anything that inspires you. Photos, magazine pictures, fabric, personal memories.

2. Follow your instincts -let your subconscious guide you. You don't have to understand why it inspires you at the moment; you just have to find it interesting.

3. Embrace fantasy - ignore realities of everyday life. Again just choose what really inspires, even if it not something you would ever choose.

A small list of sources for inspiration:

European fashion magazines - they push the style envelope, so you will see more innovative and cutting-edge photos.

Home and garden magazines - great source for textures, fabric, patterns, and shapes.

History, old movies, and pop culture - use the web for pictures you and easily print and add to your board.

Celebrity photos - always a rich source of inspiration.

Your favorite web sites and blog - another great source.
Once your board is complete you will want to take a little time to analyze what you have on your board. You may see a pattern of what style or direction you can take your art in right away, or you may find your board random with no clear pattern. Sometimes you just have to walk away for awhile and when you comeback your theme will be clearer to you.

Creating your board should be fun, and having the option to change it as often as you like will make your board a great source of inspiration.

Have you created a inspiration board?

Check This Out...

This is a monthly post where you can share 3 things about yourself or your business. Giving us an opportunity to get to know each other and our businesses.

Suggested ideas:
-business goals or goals you have met
-books you are reading
-a new project you are starting or doing
-places you have visited
-blog posts you have enjoyed
-a post you have written that you would like to share
-new items you have added to your shop
-new materials you are working with
-family plans or an event you are excited about
-need help with an idea - ask for help

All I ask is that you are a follower of my blog to participate and that you check out a few links from the other people who leave comments.

Let me know if you have any ideas or questions, I would love to here your suggestions. You can contact me at additionsstyleblog@gmail.com.

Be Inspired - Wire Inspiration

Words to Inspire

“Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.”
Benjamin Spock

Idea to Inspire

I love wire and I'm very inspired with everything about wire. I can look at objects or pictures of anything wire and have to break out my sketchbook and design. Take a look of the one thing that inspires you most and use it to come up with a new idea.

Photo's to Inspire

Today's Flickr collection is a showcase of wire inspirations. These photo's show finished objects and found objects and I hope one of them inspires you to find a new idea.

Handmade "Love" of wire... by ivy style33

Nevena Uzurov - Wire by venkane

rolled wire by loryraffa 15

Fractal sine waves (wire rendering) by roddh

Wire Tower #07 by Tetsuya Blues