Lack of inspiration

[Louieedwards]

Today I'm having a day where I'm majorly lacking in inspiration. I made 8 bracelets over the weekend and I'm working towards having enough stock to go to a craft fair in March.

I'm really stuck with what to do. I have no inspiration to create anything today which obviously isn't good for business. I think one of my problems is that business is really quiet for me and I need ways to promote but I have a lack of funding (I work in a supermarket to try and fund the business) and I haven't got a regular area to work. I have no workshop or spare room to work in so everytime I make something I have to make sure I finish it so that I can pack everything away to be able to do other things i.e when I work on my bed or on the dining room table.



What does everyone do when they're having an off day?

[lorrainepang]

Sorry to hear you're having a rubbish day. Being a fellow creative, I fully empathise with that horrible feeling of zero mojo. It's not something you can turn on and off like a tap!

When I'm lacking inspiration, I try not to get frustrated because it only makes things worse. Instead, I like to kick back and indulge myself. I'll cruise around the internet reading blogs, listen to some good music, go for a walk with my camera, go for a run, potter around charity shops, mooch around my local fabric shop. Generally give the impression that I'm a time waster but it's really good for restoring creativity!


On the issue of not having enough space, I recently moved to a studio flat and OH MY GOD! It's such a squeeze! The only thing I can recommend is to try and be organised with where everything is kept. And if that fails, just accept that your home will never look like an Ikea catalogue. Tidying up can cause more problems that it solves!

All the best,
Lorraine.

www.nostalgiaknits.co.uk
http://www.facebook.com/NostalgiaKnits
www.twitter.com/nostalgiaknits
www.folksy.com/shops/nostalgiaknits.

[Louieedwards]

Thanks Lorraine. I'm currently living in the box room at my parents house. My boyfriend (bless him) has said that when we move in together we'll get a 2 bed place so the spare room can be a work room. So eventually I'll be able to have the space I need.

I'm thinking that once I've been to an appointment later I'll try making some necklaces - maybe it's because I'm trying to make bracelets and need to move onto something else.

I think one day I'll go and take a walk around the museum - I haven't got time today unfortunately - hopefully it'll give me some inspiration!

[lordlancaster]

I think you've just got to accept that some days are a bit of a write off when you just can't get motivated - the rubbish weather doesn't help.

I find myself getting inspired and full of ideas by reading quite widely (books and magazines on the bus/metro into work).

It's also really good to get out of the office/studio for a complete change of scenery. Sometimes I'm so busy 'doing stuff' in front of a PC but it's really refreshing to go to an external event full of like-minded people. Even just taking a complete break to go for a walk, to the gym, to the cinema or for a meal/drink could be just what you need.

Also, if you can spare 11mins of your time, for inspiration I recommend you take a look at the interview I did with Wayne Hemingway (http://www.shell-livewire.org/video-lounge/wayne-hemingway/) in which he talks about how he took Red Or Dead from humble beginnings on a market stall into an award-winning international business.

[Louieedwards]

I'll watch the video today. Hopefully it will inspire me. I just need one person to think 'hey lets place an order' and I'll get my mojo back because I love discussing with clients what they want and sketching ideas. It's just getting that one person to notice.

[lordlancaster]

Cool, leave a comment at the bottom if you like it. You should go for that walk around the museum sometime soon...

[Louieedwards]

It's in another part of town so I'm gonna go for a walk round there hopefully tomorrow morning but if not Friday for definate )

Once I've got the inspiration I need to think of the funding.

[James Smith]

A walk is a great way to clear your head and get the body relaxed and a little exercise.

[Louieedwards]

Unfortunately its just started to rain ... not happy because I was gonna go for a walk to the woods with my sketchbook but now the paper will just get wet

[Louieedwards]

I have to go to a meeting with a friend so as soon as its over I'm hoping when I come back I'll be refreshed enough to do something!

[Set up a Company]

I always find that showing somebody what I am doing, and talking them through it step by step, can really help with my motivation and enthusiasm.

Most of us choose the job we are in because we are better at it than the average person. Surely that is what encouraged us to start out in business in the first place? “I’m good at doing this, and therefore I can earn money doing it”.

Reigniting that confidence in yourself can really help you realise why you are doing what you are doing. And there is no better way of achieving this than somebody saying “wow that is awesome, I could never do what you do”.

So show off a bit, but try not to go over the top

Rob