E29 Section 1 Intro
Okay, last week we were talking all about where to find inspiration. We explored some pretty unexpected places like the cool lines of architecture or even a quirky vase from the thrift store. You might’ve even found yourself looking at the world a little differently after that, seeing inspiration in all sorts of places.
But finding inspiration…is only half the battle.
What happens next? You need a plan to take that spark and actually do something with it. It's like finding the perfect fabric and buying it - but not quite knowing what you’re going to make with it yet. Then when you do figure that out – you can’t find the stuff! You can’t remember where you put it…and the magic fades.
So today, we’re going to chat about how to organize that inspiration. I mean, we’ve all had that moment where we're full of ideas, but when it’s time to actually start creating, we can't seem to find the right thing in the pile of sketches, photos, and swatches we’ve been collecting. Total inspiration fail, so let’s avoid that, m’kay?
I’m going to share some tips today on how to keep track of your creative ideas, how to organize them so you can actually access them when it’s time to get to work—and how a little structure can make all the difference in turning inspiration into reality. So let’s dig in and make sure those brilliant ideas don't just sit in limbo, waiting to be used. Let’s turn them into something real!
Remember- This isn’t about getting everything 'perfect'—it’s about creating a system that works for you. Let’s get started!
Let’s first talk about organizing a physical inspiration board—whether it’s a corkboard, a bulletin board, or maybe even a wall where you pin up all your ideas. This is where we bring all those ideas together in a tangible way so you can actually see them and get motivated.
The first thing I do is pull the photos, tear sheets from magazines, sketches or even doodles that really caught my eye. Whether it's a photo snapped on a walk, a picture from a catalogue, or an interesting shape, I pin the most compelling finds onto my physical inspiration board in my design room. (You can also use Pinterest if that’s more you’re style – and we’ll talk about digital boards next.)
Now here’s a few ways I keep this big physical board organized
I start by trying to group these items by theme. Whether it’s patterns, shapes, colors, or textures, grouping them into loose categories helps me see themes I might not have noticed before. This can help foster ideas that could shape my next project. For instance, I might notice that certain color combinations or shapes keep popping up. This might work for you too!
Next, I like to keep the board fresh by layering new things over old ones, or replacing them. If an idea no longer excites me, I just swap it out for something new. This helps keep everything lively and constantly evolving. Sometimes, things can stay on the board for weeks, or even months, and then one day, I realize it’s time to replace them with something else. It’s all about making sure the board reflects where my creative energy is at that moment. But again, watch for patterns that keep repeating—they might be telling you something! For example, I had a vintage lace jacket hanging for a while, when I found a newer lace jacket in a catalog one day, I did NOT discard the old one but simple hung the new one over it. I found yet another and another and noticed that there was an underlying design theme in all of them. This was an indication for me to tug on that thread a bit, and eventually led to a theme of a wedding collection.
BUT - I don’t just leave everything sitting there either. You don’t want your inspiration board to become part of the regular “background” décor…I make it a habit to review my board every week. I ask myself, "Does this idea still excite me?" If it doesn’t, out it goes. But if it still makes me feel that spark, I keep it on there.
One last thing I love to do is highlight my favorites with a colorful pin or sticky note. These are the ideas I’m really excited about, the ones I’m ready to dive into next. It’s like giving myself a visual reminder of what’s calling my attention. My method may be a little quirky, but I use plain wooden push pins for the entire board so they don’t stand out. BUT I love to use really wild push pins to highlight a special group or collection.
When you organize your physical inspiration board this way, it becomes more than just a random collection of things—it turns into a tool that keeps your creative flow moving. Every time you walk into your studio, it’s right there, sparking new ideas, guiding your next steps, and helping you move from inspiration to action.
Now let’s talk about digital inspiration libraries. If you’re like me, you might have tons of photos, images, and ideas stored on your phone and computer. The beauty of going digital is that everything’s accessible with just a few clicks. I personally save all my inspiration in a dedicated "Inspiration" folder on my computer. Inside that, I’ve got subfolders for different themes like architecture, nature, color palettes, and more. It keeps everything organized and easy to find when I’m ready to dive into a new project.
One key point before moving on. You must have a back up. I back up to the cloud but I also back up all my photos to an external drive for safe keeping. If you’re just starting don’t worry about this. I’ve been at this inspiration organizing game for over 30 years so I have it down to a science.
Here’s how I keep it all straight: I use folders within folders. I start with broader categories—like "patterns" or "colors"—then create smaller subfolders under each one. For example, within the "patterns" folder, I’ll have folders like “vintage,” “geometric,” or even “swirls.” This system makes it super simple to find exactly what I need when I’m brainstorming or starting a project.
I also make sure to name my images appropriately and add tags or short descriptions to each file. It sounds simple, but trust me, it helps a ton when you’re trying to find a specific image. For instance, tagging a photo with “bright colors” or “geometric shapes” helps me pull up exactly what I’m looking for. And while it’s tempting to just save everything, I find it’s more useful to tag them, too, so I can search by mood or theme.
And let’s not forget duplicating them. So let’s say I take a picture of a gorgeous door to a church that has beautiful carvings on it. I like not only the shape of the door, but Ilike the little curls in the carving and the geometric cutouts along the edges. This exact photo would end up in three subfolders: doors, geometrics, and swirls.
Now, one of my go-to methods for organizing inspiration digitally is using a platform like Pinterest. It’s a great way to keep all your visual ideas in one place, and you can create mood boards, add notes, and save links to other sources of inspiration. Plus, it’s portable—so whether you’re working on the go or at home, you can easily access your ideas.
I also set aside a little time each month to review my digital collection. I update it by removing outdated ideas and adding new inspiration. One little secret I’ll share—I rarely delete digital files. You never know when an old image or idea might come back around and inspire you in a whole new way! And here is an insider tip: If you have some physical photos that you want to takeoff the physical board but don’t; want to throw it away, why not snap a photo with your phone, or scan it, and save it to a digital folder. Now you still have it, organized, and not taking up space in a file cabinet in the garage.
By organizing your digital inspiration library like this, all your ideas are just a few clicks away.
Alright, let’s talk about my favorite little sidekick—my sketchbook. Honestly, I never leave home without it. It’s my trusty creative companion, always there to capture those spontaneous ideas, sketches, and bits of inspiration that pop up throughout the day. It’s kind of like my “brain dump” book—everything goes in there, from quick doodles to notes on things I want to explore.
But there’s a trick to make it useful: I keep it organized. Yup, I’m one of those people who numbers the pages of every new notebook and creates an index in either the front or back. It might sound a bit extra, but trust me—it works. As I add stuff to my sketchbook, I make sure to jot down a little note about what’s on each page, so when I need to find a particular idea later, I know exactly where to look. I just scan through the index, and BINGO, I find a tag word or description of exactly what I’m looking for. It’s a game-changer, especially when inspiration strikes at odd moments.
Now, if I create something really important—say, a sketch that I want to keep as a reference or use later—sometimes it gets its own treatment. I’ll scan it into my computer, or if it’s something too big for the sketchbook, I’ll just tear it out and file it in a binder. I know it’s not always conventional, but it helps me keep my ideas neat and accessible. Plus, I can decide to use only one side of the page if I really like the sketch, so I can easily remove stuff when I want to. Little tricks like that help me keep things organized and simple.
As I’m transferring ideas from my sketchbook to my digital files or inspiration board, I’ll categorize them in ways that match the other systems I use—so it all aligns. Whether you’re working with a notebook or a digital archive, the key is making sure you can access and use your inspiration when the time is right.
Here’s the bottom line: collecting inspiration is just the beginning. The real magic happens when you actively organize, refine, and, most importantly, USE those ideas. When you start experimenting, selecting standout pieces, and bringing them to life, that’s when inspiration turns into real creative fuel.
And one more tip here – if I DO use the inspiration for a real project, and possible sale of said project, I document that on the page of move the picture to a folder. I do this for several reasons – one to not duplicate, two to make sure it stays proprietary if necessary, and three to reference back if I want to build it into a series later.
Alright, we’ve explored how to find inspiration, how to organize it, and how to turn it into something real. But here’s the million-dollar question—what do you do once you’ve got all this inspiration sitting pretty and ready to go?
Let me give you a few simple steps to keep that creative momentum moving forward. These are the steps that I use to stay on track and actually create something with all the ideas I’m collecting. Let’s call it your “Next steps checklist.”
First up, review your inspiration regularly. I do this every week—spend about 10 minutes looking at your inspiration boards, sketchbooks, or digital collections. Ask yourself, "Which of these ideas still excite me?" This helps you stay connected to the most inspiring stuff and lets you toss out the things that no longer spark that creative fire.
Next, create a shortlist. Pick 2 or 3 ideas from your collection that you’re most excited about. Write down a potential project or design inspired by each of them. This is about getting specific and thinking, “What could I create from this?” Play with hem a little bit. Whether it’s a new garment design, a piece of artwork, or a fresh color palette, you want to hone in on what stands out to you the most.
Then, it’s time to sketch or swatch. Take that one idea and turn it into something tangible however small—whether it’s a quick sketch, a collection of swatches, or creating a mini prototype. This is where you start to see your inspiration take shape.
Once you’ve got your idea on paper, it’s time to set a small goal. What’s one thing you can do in the next 24 hours to move your idea forward? Don’t worry about perfection, just take action. That one small step will get the ball rolling. This is of course not news to any of you..
Finally, celebrate progress. It’s easy to get lost in the next step or worry about not being perfect, but every step you take matters. So, even if it’s just one small thing, take a moment to recognize it and feel good about the fact that things are starting to gel.
Remember, this creative journey is uniquely yours. The steps I’ve shared today are just a starting point to help you organize, prioritize, and transform those brilliant ideas into something real. So go ahead—pick an idea, take action, and watch your inspiration come to life!
