The Art of Gathering Inspiration

Inspiration is everywhere — sometimes in the most unexpected places. Over the years, I’ve realised that my best ideas rarely come when I’m sitting at my desk, overthinking and trying to force them. They tend to appear quietly, when I’m doing something ordinary: walking the dog, pottering in the garden, or wandering through the woods.

I’ve always been someone who notices the little things — the tiny movements and textures that others might pass by. The pattern on a snail’s shell, the twist of ivy around an old gatepost, the soft colours of the sky before a storm, even the colouring of a slug on my allotment. I take photos of these moments, not because I have a plan for them, but because they make me feel something. They remind me that creativity often begins with simple observation — with learning to see the world differently. You’ll be surprised how much inspiration nature can give you when you really look.

I like to think of these moments as treasures that I gather along the way. Each photo, sketch, or note is a spark waiting to be used later. Sometimes it’s months before I look at them again, but when I do, they connect in surprising ways — a pattern from one photo, a colour from another, and suddenly a new design or doodle idea begins to form.

I also keep what I call my doodle list. It’s nothing fancy — just a notebook page where I jot down random things to draw each day. It might be a teapot, a bird, a leaf, or something as simple as a button. Some days the doodles become the seed for a new Brambly Nook design; other days they’re just quiet little sketches that help me unwind. But every one of them adds to my creative flow.

“Inspiration hides in the smallest things, waiting for us to stop and notice.”

I’ve also always been a bit of a collector. My shelves and drawers are full of small things I’ve picked up over the years — pine cones, feathers, interesting stones, and the occasional dried flower. Each one has a memory or story attached to it, or one ready to be told through art . Sometimes I’ll take one out and draw it, or just hold it and remember where I found it. It’s a simple way of keeping inspiration close — like a personal treasure chest of moments that have caught my attention.

Over time, these tiny practices build something much bigger — a personal library of inspiration that I can return to whenever I feel stuck. It’s proof that creativity doesn’t always come from grand ideas or at the exact moment you want it to. Sometimes it grows slowly, in small, mindful moments or items that we collect or encounter without even realising their worth.

So next time you feel uninspired, take a walk. Notice the shapes, the sounds, the colours around you. Take a few photos. Make a quick doodle when you get home. It doesn’t need to have a purpose right now, doodling is fun, relaxing and keeps your creative mind active, plus, they are fun to look back on. Art with no purpose at that point, is still art.

Collect & Create: Start your own little inspiration box — a jar, basket, or tin where you keep small natural finds. A pine cone, a feather, a stone. Each one holds a story, and over time, you’ll have your own treasure chest of ideas waiting to bloom.

“Each walk leaves me with a handful of keepsakes and a few new photos — gentle sparks for the next idea.”