Inspiration is defined as:

“The process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.”

As a designer, I feel like I am constantly looking for inspiration throughout my life. When I’m not looking for inspiration, I am still receiving it in bits and pieces to use for later. Is it that amazing layout in the newest Esquire magazine I received in the mail, or that ugly ring that my cup of coffee left on the table this morning? I feel like I am inspired by art in the literal sense: I see printed pieces and get that spark of an idea that I needed to start or finish my project.  On the other hand, I feel like I am more often inspired to create art by the less tangible ideas: the way something makes me feel. I think music, movies, television, art, etc, all have this evocative property to them that is so much more inspiring than someone else’s finished printed design.

So what about the in-between? Sometimes, I’ll see something that just moves me. It’s not ‘art’ per se, but it is inspiring. I will design an entire collection around this one little piece, and the end result is often so far from that original idea, but it all flows together and makes my creative process make sense to me.

I love that I am inspired by the world around me. I am naturally drawn to organic, clean elements that together make a bold statement. When my husband gave me these log slices, I was inspired. I instantly started dreaming up ways to use these creatively, or even just use them as a base for a new collection.

Sure, there are days that I’ll go all day without feeling that “Ah HAH!” moment, but then there are days where simple things like this make it all worth while. I still don’t know exactly what I’m using these slices for, but I am inspired … and that’s what this whole process is about.