Sarah Z Short

Notes from the Driftway

Hello Reader,

The parents were told to stay behind the yellow line while our kids dug for gems in the gravel bed of the mine. The lights were off, and the thin beams of light from headlamps on plastic mining helmets illuminated the dig site.

I lasted only a few minutes before bending down to have a quick dig in the gravel. My feet were behind the yellow line, even if my hands weren't. Using my cell phone flashlight, I found a rough piece of quartz and tucked it into my pocket.

Like those gems we discovered, my studio is filled with objects that hold special meaning. Our treasures are special to us, regardless of how we find them. Just as that rough quartz caught my eye in the dim light, the objects on my inspiration shelf continue to spark new ideas in my creative work.

Take the image above, which shows some of my studio treasures. Can you spot the tiny mouse? The silver thimble? The pieces from my mother's stacking teapot?

Arranged in the studio, rather than in drawers, I enjoy looking at them, but they can serve other purposes.

Here's how these displayed treasures can fuel your creativity:

Write the story behind the item in your Daybook
Use elements of that story to inspire a new piece
Add the story to a newsletter, blog, or social media post when you release the piece
Inspire a title
Suggest a color palette

Today, treat your studio like a mine and see what treasures you can dig up! Gather objects that speak to you, arrange them where you can see them, and let their stories fuel your next creative project. Creating an inspiration shelf like this is one of the key suggestions in my studio organization guide.

Transform your Studio

Announcements:

I'm one of the featured artists in the next volume of the Encyclopedia of Inspiration from the amazing Uppercase Magazine.

It is available for preorder, and using the code 'specialglue' will give you 10 % off anything in the store!