15 things you can do to get your creative mojo back.

You probably heard of writer’s block, but, just like writers, artists and crafters can hit a creative block and you simply don’t know what to design next. So here are some simple ideas to get your creative juices flowing again.

1. Have notebook on hand – Wherever you are, whether at home, in bed or out and about, take a notebook with you to capture your ideas. Often I get the best ideas for designs when I can’t sleep, so having scraps of paper or a notebook next to you on your bedside table comes in handy. This is also useful when you are ill and have to take an enforced break.
2. Visit galleries and museums – This is not only a fun activity, but can also be inspirational.
3. Check out the work of your peers – Obviously this is not to copy their designs, just another way to get inspired.
4. Go on a course to learn a new technique or teach yourself – Learning and experimenting with new techniques can often spark new design ideas.
5. Use a material you haven’t used yet – I recently bought copper clay I want to play with. It’s a new material I have not used before and it will be interesting to see what creations I can come up with using this and my torch.
6. Go through your past commissions – If you are in the lucky position to work on commissions your customer will often be the inspiration. You could also look back at past commissions and think about how you can make changes to an already existing design to create something completely new.
7. Read magazines – Some of the magazines I occasionally buy, such as Making Jewellery, Art Jewelry and Polymer Café, serve as inspiration for new design ideas. I rarely re-create the projects, but occasionally get inspired to use different techniques and materials.
8. Read books on your chosen craft – I have quite an extensive library which includes books on wirework, metal smithing, bead work, metal clay work and polymer clay. I very much treasure these books as they always give me ideas, plus I learn a lot from them. “7000 Years Of Jewellery” by Hugh Tait (a Valentine’s gift from my husband) is a beautiful book with plenty of photos of jewellery – perfect for getting inspired and learning a lot about the history of jewellery.
9. Browse the net for free or paid-for tutorials – Again this is about learning a new technique. Once you learned a specific technique you could change it, adapt it and come up with something unique. YouTube has plenty of tutorials if you like watching videos.
10. Look at your own designs – What do you like about them, what don’t you like about them. Is there anything you would change if you would create one of them again? Use this as a starting point for something new.
11. Tidy or re-organise your work space – You might be surprised what you end up finding. I sometimes find abandoned projects, beads or tools I haven’t used in ages.
12. Go window shopping – If you love shopping for clothes and accessories- then use your shopping trip for research.
13. Or go for a proper walk in the forest or on the beach– Nature is always inspiring – certainly for me as I love animals and natural structures.
14. Have a break  – Sometimes having a break can recharge your batteries and you find inspiration when you least expect it.
15. Books and films – A lot of film franchises eventually come with their own often naff merchandise – think Twilight, Lord of The Rings or The Hunger Games. Maybe you watched a film or read a novel which left a deep impression on you and you can use this as a starting point. After all it was Emily Bronte’s novel Wuthering Heights which gave Kate Bush her first number 1.

I am sure I can think of even more ways to get you creative again. I hope you find some or all of these ideas useful.

Let me know – I would love to hear from you.

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