Please welcome MaryAnne from Wabisabibrooklyn sharing what inspires her to be creative.

I generally need to physically move to start the engine of inspiration. My number one choice of locomotion is to take long city walks where I pass by so many people it’s slightly dizzying. The unexpected juxtapositions, seeing a bit of the old hanging on amid the new; shopwindows, and eavesdropping all give me just the right motivation to get to work creating.

When I travel farther than just a walk away from my house, I end up paying attention to the little details that remind me I’m far from home, like ancient tiles, prehistoric looking insects, or toys made out of trash.

And no matter where I am, I am always inspired by frugality. I was at the jewelry supply store one day about to pay nine cents each for some small copper circles, when I realized I knew where to get cuter ones for one cent each. Whenever anyone asks how I came up with the idea for the decoupaged penny earring, I always reply, “thrift.” 

The sense of time-travel that comes from sifting through a second-hand shop (or a garage if your family is comprised of pack rats, as mine is),  seeing an old movie (right now I’m particularly enamored of the finery of certain choice 1970s flicks), or hearing a song that transports me to another era that is what I need to keep myself filled with creative energy. – MarryAnne Wabisabi Brooklyn