As quilters and creatives, we’re often on the lookout for ideas. We save images (either electronically or by tearing out of magazines), collect fabric, flip through books, take photographs, and fill our minds with possibilities (thank you Instagram!). I'm always on the lookout for the perfect colour combination, natural elements with interesting shapes (see lichen in the above photo😍), or a new approach to embroidering or painting fabric.

I've been teaching a lot over the past few months, and have heard time and time again from my students, that "they aren't creative enough" to come up with original ideas. I don't believe it. I think it just takes some practice to stretch your creative muscles and look for a style that feels artistically you. 

Here are some ideas for those of you looking for clues to find your creative voice. I still return to these suggestions when I need a push! 

There is something interesting that happens when we take a moment to notice what we notice.

By paying attention to the things that catch our eye, we can uncover so much about our artistic personalities.  

Take a look at your camera roll

Open the photos on your phone and scroll back a little. Don’t look for quilting inspiration, just take a minute to notice what you’ve been photographing.

Are there lots of close-up details? Lake photos? Wide Prairie sunsets? Tangled branches or photos of trees? I know I take endless pictures of flowers, but rarely photograph an entire garden - why? I am drawn to reflections in water - especially with an interesting sky... and I can always see so much of what I love in these collections of photos.

I encourage you to think about what your photographs might be telling you. Perhaps you’re interested in texture more than subject matter. Maybe you love patterns or the way light enters a space. You might be drawn to unexpected colour combinations, or rusted items from days-gone-by... these are clues to unlocking your own unique creative ideas. Look at what you photographed and ask yourself, what was it, about that item or moment that made you want to keep it?

Notice the art you love

Think about the art that stops you in your tracks. The art that makes you wish you could take it home with you to enjoy. The above photo is a hand embroidered landscape by Linda Balding of Australia. It literally stopped me in my tracks as I was touring an exhibit at Carrefour in France last year. Her colour✅ The stitching✅ Those shadows!✅ I just loved it.

What kind of art do you like? Is it bold and graphic, with strong shapes and bright colour? Or do you prefer work that feels calming, quiet, and full of tiny details? Are you drawn to abstract paintings, intricate drawings, or landscape art? Notice what lights you up! You don’t have to make art like the artists you admire. Just pay attention to what you admire and find your own way of exploring it in fabric. Sometimes I admire a piece of art because I love its subject (hello, landscapes🙋‍♀️), but sometimes it’s the movement, the colour or the textures that really speak to me. I consistently admire details that I know were painstakingly slow to complete - and I carry this thoughtful detail into my own stitching. 

Follow your colour instincts

Colour is another wonderful place to look for clues into our creative preferences.

When you’re browsing fabrics, which colours do you reach for first? Which combinations make you excited, even if you can’t quite explain why? Are you always drawn to earthy tones (like me), or do you love the energy of bright, unexpected combinations?

Think about the colours you choose in other parts of your life, too. The clothes you wear, the paint colours  you save, or the interiors you admire. Can you see a pattern? These preferences can be useful starting points when you’re making design decisions. It can be a fun challenge to stretch yourself to adding one or two new colours into your usual palette. Trust your instincts, and don't feel that you need to reinvent the wheel every time. 

Pay attention to the things you collect

Not all inspiration comes from images. Check out this fabulous scarf I found in a local vintage shop! Maybe you collect old buttons, interesting papers, vintage hankerchiefs, stones, shells, postcards, or little objects you find on walks. What is it about these things that makes you want to keep them? Is it their history? Their tactile quality? The marks left by time? The way they feel or the way several small objects look together? 

The things we collect often reveal interests we haven't consciously named - it might be the patterns or textures (as with the scarf above), the beauty of the handmade, the history or the evidence of age - did I mention I also have a collection of very old children's books?😆 Try to bring these observations into your quilting practice. You might find that by looking at the items you have been saving for years, you can learn something about your creative interests. 

 Be curious about the process

One of the best things about quilting is that we can translate an idea through so many different materials and processes. By using the techniques we like to use - the colours we are drawn to - the fabrics that we notice first - the possibilities are endless, and there is no single correct way to create. 

The next time something catches your attention, pause for a moment. Get curious about what you like about it. There is almost always something there that can be learned about our creative identity and that could be explored with fabric and thread.