[Guest Post] Stripes & Sequins // Finding Inspiration

We are in for a real treat today! Major bloginista and DIY-extraordinaire Grace of stripes & sequins is sharing tips to get out of a creative rut! She inspires me on a daily basis, so I’m thrilled that she stopped by today to bring some of her vast knowledge to us. If you haven’t heard of her (where have you been?) you MUST check her out!

Hi Small Shop readers!  Grace here, from the fashion + DIY blog, Stripes & Sequins.  I’m so honored to be guest posting for Erika.  A lot of people ask me where I get the inspiration for my DIY projects, so I thought I’d share a few tips and tricks for that have helped me to find inspiration when I’m in a creative rut.

Look Beyond Your Usual Places.

I remember when I worked in marketing for Sally Hansen.  One of our VP’s told me that catalogs from home stores (he swore by Crate + Barrel in particular,) were one of his favorite sources for inspiration for new colors.  Who would have thought?  I apply this mindset in my everyday routine, and have found that it helps me to stay inspired.  Are you an interiors blogger?  Try reading only fashion blogs for a day.  (And vice-versa, if you write about fashion.)

Step Away from the Computer.

I know, I know… easier said than done, right?  But you’ll be so much more inspired if you get out of your office and away from the computer.  Go to the farmer’s market… the flea market… the bookstore.  Those are just a few of my favorites…

Shift Your Mindset.

If you’re anything like me, you don’t always have a lot of extra free time to seek out inspiration.  A little trick that has helped me is to shift my perspective.  When I’m at the hardware store, the drug store, all of the places I have to go to regularly (even Bed Bath & Beyond,) I’ll play a little game where I pretend everything in front of me is hardware for a potential jewelry/DIY project.  I’ve gotten some of my best ideas for projects doing this!

Go Vintage.

Ever hear the saying, “Everything Old is New Again?”  One of my favorite things to do on the weekends is hit up vintage shops.  In New York, my favorites are Pippin Vintage Jewelry, and the Brooklyn Flea Market… but anything goes – Goodwill, Salvation Army, you never know what you’ll stumble upon and find inspiration from.

image credits:  1, 2, 3, 4