things that inspire me

Phoeknits is having a contest. She wants you to either (or both) take some pictures and let her know three things that inspire you and email a link to your blog post or you can enter for a secondary prize just for emailing about that one. Pretty simple really? This idea of what inspires you intrigues me so I'm taking the bait and posting up some of my favorite things. I won't be surprised if I go over three either because so much IS inspiring.

I'll try to explain why but my thoughts are often so hard to put to words that make any sense language wise.

First up, the babies of course, my muses...

Curious, Inquisitive, learning

growing, changing, happy-go-lucky

enthusiatic, loving, accepting, content

What isn't inspirational about animals? They take what life gives them and get the most they can from it. Whether they are family pets or wild animals. Their worlds change, sometimes turned upside down, and they adapt. Its an admirable trait. (Um...we also notice when I say muses, I mean the constant photo taking of my four...)

Second, the forest behind the house (nature in general I'd say)...

There is a consistency and beauty in cycles. Its what I love about seasons, about nature, about the sunshine. You know that eventually everything will make it back to what it started from.

Buds on a tree. Fruits falling. Seeds sprouting. New growth, new life. Meets the old life head on. This small seed will grow to be a giant tree. And, if its left to its own devices, there is little doubt that its true. It will grow to be its own giant. It happens again and again. Will it look like its parent before it? Its doubtful it could ever be exactly the same, but it will still have the constant ebb and flow that all of nature has. The CYCLES. Those inspire me.

The constant changing. The constant sameness. Both expected and yet exciting. Every season that comes and goes brings what we expect (weather, etc...), but in the end its all different then what we imagined and remembered. I love the changes in the light. The way the trees "bloom" in just a week or two. From no leaves at all to fully green and full. The thinning of the leaves and thickening of the undergrowth in summer. I love to watch the leaves change color, brown and fall in Autumn. The starkness in the winter of the naked branches. The cycle. The consistency.

I'm inspired by time I think really. Its got that same ebb and flow of nature. The same consistency, the same cycles. It creates the cycles of nature...hmm...could that be why history and architecture are inspiring too?

The third thing is color and texture and pattern...

I'm a very tactial person. I notice color everywhere. The little burst of a red umbrella on a cool, wet, dreary winter day that seems to brighten everything. The way the sunshine hitting the leaves of the trees makes them all appear a different shade of green.

The patterns in concrete when it hasn't been pressed quite flat or someone's left their footsteps or leaves pressed deep in. The grains in wood. Or the texture of the fabric on the couch. The variation in the threads of a woven scarf.

The subtle texture and colors of rocks in the garden. Each is different and beautiful. Abby and I have stopped and looked at these rocks dozens of times.

I notice I'm attracted to green tonight. Would it surprise me if my next project is green? No not really, but tomorrow another color will attract my attention and steal the show. I might catch a small glimpse of an orange butterfly and my thoughts will be orange for the day. Our garden is newly planted which may be why I am so green tonight.

I'm just showing favorite colorful images. Once I've used for inspiration before. Whether simply for a blog post or for crafts, or for photography. Its always colors that catch my eye. Its what I aim for in my images. Especially the odd color that really really stands out or makes a statement.

There are so so many more things (my family!) but too numerous to list. I think this covers the big things.

What inspires you? If you enter the contest I'd love to know too so I can read what inspires each of you.