This list is for any creative types out there who are experiencing a block, be it writer’s block, designer’s block, songwriter’s block whatever. Get inspired. I am going to be putting it up in sections right here and once it’s complete I may give it a more permanent home.
It's time for the final chapter. I hope you enjoyed (and were not too offended by) this list. I will be adding plenty more helpful hints, links, and more in the future so keep coming back.
82. Tattoos. Bad ones and good ones, just be careful when looking at the ones on a person you don’t actually know. Do not stare directly at the cleavage of a guy who looks like he is named Thor.
83. Mom and Pop coffee shops. The kind that still have vinyl booths and look like they are trapped in 1966 are the best.
84. Restored Movie houses. The kind that have and organ a show a newsreel before the movie.
85. Old newsreels and educational films. Or filmstrips. Ding!
86. Defunct tourist attractions. Crazy former tributes to gators, or tikis or whatever. Relive their former glory on the internet.
87. Vintage style lettering. The kind you see on old movie posters, toys, ads, board games and more. Usually hand lettered.
88. Kitsch. That is if you don’t consider this whole list kitsch.
89. Iconic dead stars. Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Elvis etc. If you are wondering why they are so iconic long after they are gone it’s because their heirs hired a law team that handles their image and make sure it is still in the public eye in the form of purses, clocks, underwear, and popcorn you can buy at places like Kmart and Big Lots. Now you know.
90. Less Iconic Dead stars. Their relatives maybe didn’t hire as good of lawyers but they were still really cool in their day.
91. Names you don’t hear so much anymore. Like Myrtle, Ethel, Strom, Huey, Milton, Royce, Edith, Midge, Harvey or Tex.
92. Music from before your time. Lounge, exotica, garden variety oldies, whatever.
93. The County Fair Head on over to your county fair this summer and get a slice of Americana. Do the midway, see a horse race, get some kettle corn, then hold your nose and head on over to the animal pavilions. Bring on those happy memories of reading Charlotte’s Web and realize that the patch of suburbia that holds the county fair hasn’t been an actual farming community since 1962, and most of the 4h kids in the community only joined to get in the fair for free so they could buy the wristband and ride the rides all day. (Or was that just me?) Then to end your night go see fair’s free Foghat concert.
94. The stuff they sell at the County fair. Spinning metal wind art for the patio, Infomercial crap galore, purses made from loud fabrics featuring wolves, ten gallon hats, olde tyme photos, airbrushed t-shirts, deep fried everything, Amish country funnel cakes, Mackinac Island Fudge, those Mexican poncho sweaters that were totally popular in 1992, purses made from beer cans or license plates, bad copyright infringement art airbrushed on your wolf purse, whatever!
95. Video Games. Or maybe this is just an excuse to go play World of Warcraft or Farmville.
96. Internet culture. Pwnd, memes, LOLcats, ninja cat, Nora the piano playing cat, keyboard cat, that squirrel who stares, Homestar Runner, numa numa guy, Susan Boyle, all your base belong to us, Men that look like old Lesbians, Men who look like Kenny Rogers, mullets, etc…Or you can go old school and log into Archie and Veronica or prodigy or compuserve. Whatever.
97. Nerds. Modern day nerds, revenge of the nerds, fifties nerds with horn rimmed glasses, kick me signs and propeller beanies, go ahead and embrace nerd culture.
98. Vintage Malls. Before every mall became exactly the same with the same stores they had their own personalities. Sometimes they would have amusement park rides on the roof other times they would have murals or fountains or giant mobiles.
99. Out of Date Technology. Get inspired by computers that take up entire rooms, adding machines the size of your desk, teletype machines, the Commodore Pet, The TI
99 4A, whatever floats your boat.
100. Up to Date Technology. Ipad, Iphone, etc. Yes you are richer and more connected than me. I get it.
101. Blogs and Websites with lists of things that will inspire you, but you won’t rip off. Especially this one. Come back at lot! Buy something awesome!
Showing posts with label helpful hints. Show all posts
Showing posts with label helpful hints. Show all posts
Friday, May 7, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
101 likely and not so likely sources of inspiration Part 4
This list is for any creative types out there who are experiencing a block, be it writer’s block, designer’s block, songwriter’s block whatever. Get inspired. I am going to be putting it up in sections right here and once it’s complete I may give it a more permanent home.
62. Books. Not enough people read books anymore. I am not talking about computer manuals. Pick up something fiction get immersed and get inspired. If you can’t get into the first book you picked then find one you can.
63. Old Cartoons. Warner Bros, Disney, Mr. Magoo, The Jetsons, Scooby Doo, The yellow cat who sometimes hangs out with Sylvester, whatever.
64. Cult Classic Movies. I believe you have my stapler.
65. Old Glassware. Especially the frosted kind with boomerangs, swirls, maps, or cacti, or maybe a seventies set with owls, or some bicentennial ones with the Declaration of Independence on each.
66. Vintage T-shirts. Especially the iron on kind.
67. Old travel posters
68. Old decorating trends. Shag carpet, avocado kitchens, sunburst clocks, waterbeds, vintage wallpaper etc…
69. Antique radios
70. Old movie posters
71. Old international movie posters. Sometimes these are way cooler than the American versions. Try to find some online.
72. Poetry (Especially when it involves Nantucket, or umm not)
73. Song Lyrics
74. Bumper Stickers
75. Ancient Egypt. Modern society has been pretty much always obsessed with the Egyptians, and just when you think no one cares anymore King Tut comes to town again.
76. Ancient Cultures. Old pottery, cave drawings, mythology and more.
77. Late 70s Early 80s beer culture. When trucker hats were in the first time and every guy had a Burt Reynolds moustache. Put on some Allman brothers, grab a sixer and go tubing down the river. Afterwards put on some rockin ribbed cords, a denim jacket and a baseball Jersey style Journey or Styx concert shirt.
78. Irony. Is irony out or are people just being ironic when they say irony is out?
79. The 1970s CB radio fad. It was bigger than you think. The convoy song, BJ and the Bear, Kids pumping their arms to get the trucks to honk, CB talk like 10-4 good buddy etc… Go look in your parents garage there still might be a CB radio in there somewhere.
80. Local television ads of past and present. Every region has their own classic like Crazy Eddie. I grew up with Oysterbed, The Diamond Center guy and Matthew’s top of the hill daily city: free bicycle with every stereo purchase.
81. People with really unusual names. Like Europa Von Klendlepooper.
62. Books. Not enough people read books anymore. I am not talking about computer manuals. Pick up something fiction get immersed and get inspired. If you can’t get into the first book you picked then find one you can.
63. Old Cartoons. Warner Bros, Disney, Mr. Magoo, The Jetsons, Scooby Doo, The yellow cat who sometimes hangs out with Sylvester, whatever.
64. Cult Classic Movies. I believe you have my stapler.
65. Old Glassware. Especially the frosted kind with boomerangs, swirls, maps, or cacti, or maybe a seventies set with owls, or some bicentennial ones with the Declaration of Independence on each.
66. Vintage T-shirts. Especially the iron on kind.
67. Old travel posters
68. Old decorating trends. Shag carpet, avocado kitchens, sunburst clocks, waterbeds, vintage wallpaper etc…
69. Antique radios
70. Old movie posters
71. Old international movie posters. Sometimes these are way cooler than the American versions. Try to find some online.
72. Poetry (Especially when it involves Nantucket, or umm not)
73. Song Lyrics
74. Bumper Stickers
75. Ancient Egypt. Modern society has been pretty much always obsessed with the Egyptians, and just when you think no one cares anymore King Tut comes to town again.
76. Ancient Cultures. Old pottery, cave drawings, mythology and more.
77. Late 70s Early 80s beer culture. When trucker hats were in the first time and every guy had a Burt Reynolds moustache. Put on some Allman brothers, grab a sixer and go tubing down the river. Afterwards put on some rockin ribbed cords, a denim jacket and a baseball Jersey style Journey or Styx concert shirt.
78. Irony. Is irony out or are people just being ironic when they say irony is out?
79. The 1970s CB radio fad. It was bigger than you think. The convoy song, BJ and the Bear, Kids pumping their arms to get the trucks to honk, CB talk like 10-4 good buddy etc… Go look in your parents garage there still might be a CB radio in there somewhere.
80. Local television ads of past and present. Every region has their own classic like Crazy Eddie. I grew up with Oysterbed, The Diamond Center guy and Matthew’s top of the hill daily city: free bicycle with every stereo purchase.
81. People with really unusual names. Like Europa Von Klendlepooper.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
101 likely and not so likely sources of inspiration Part 3
This list is for any creative types out there who are experiencing a block, be it writer’s block, designer’s block, songwriter’s block whatever. Get inspired. I am going to be putting it up in sections right here and once it’s complete I may give it a more permanent home.
41. Annoying Tween culture. Those really bad tone deaf auto tuned tween stars who all look exactly the same and come packaged with tons of products done in hot pink and glittery vomit purple turn off 99% of regular people but if you can stand it maybe there is something to be gleaned from this unending trend being shoved down everyone’s throat. (Do not want!) You have to be careful though because in a month all of the stuff will be sitting on the shelves of the local Big Lots right next to stale boxes of High School Musical cereal.
42. Big Lots. Big Lots has totally replaced Kmart as the hipsters secret hangout. Especially since Kmarts are getting hard to find.
43. Products that fall under the category: Why do these products exist? Here is an example. The local Big Lots has Elvis coffee. I guess if you are that into the King you would buy one bag to put unopened in your Elvis shrine room (next to the Elvis guitar popcorn Big Lots also sells), but are that really that many 60somethings named Barbara, Linda, or Judy out there who are going to consistently buy Elvis coffee for their fix every morning?
44. Scrapbooking. There is a ridiculously huge scrapbooking subculture out there and people (more Barbaras, Lindas, Judys and a few Donnas I suspect) are willing to pay 10 dollars for 3 sheets of scrapbooking paper or 400 dollars for some fancy electronic deal that can cut your paper into fancy shapes. By the way I am not making fun of you if you scrapbook (or have a name from the 50s). I’ve done it myself but you have to admit a 400 dollar scrapbook paper cutting machine is a wee bit over the top!
45. Food. The bacon and cupcakes trends may be winding down but be on the lookout for the next hot food trend. Sausage, pepperoni, ice cream sandwiches, Otter Pops, Tandoori Chicken?
46. Past trends you either don’t know about or forgot about. Owls, Gay nineties, Australia, Here is alink. if you can’t remember any.
47. Old viewmaster reels. They are in 3-D! Just like Avatar, only they don’t move and they feature pictures of New Orleans Square.
48. Crazy vintage sodas. Like Nehi or Moxie. I read somewhere that Moxie had a nasty bitter taste like rhubarb or something.
49. Your Hometown. If it is as lame as you claim then maybe you should be inspired by the lameness.
50. Nature. The trees, the waves, the clouds, the ocean, you knew this was going to be on the list somewhere.
51. Roadside culture. Giant dinosaurs, Teepee motels, route 66, etc.
52. Towns with really cool names. Like Twenty Nine Palms, Truth or Consequence New Mexico, and Rough and Ready California.
53. Black Lite Posters.
54. Murals painted on Vans! Unicorns, Vikings whatever get inspired.
55. Hot Rod airbrushing art.
56. Old Toys. Make sure they are cool old toys like vintage spirographs, sit’n’spins and big wheels. No Barney, No Dora the Explorer. Some vastly cooler kid brands include the Snorks, The Smurfs, The Groovy Ghoulies, and the 80s version of Strawberry Shortcake.
57. Art Museums. Make like Cameron in Ferris Buellers Day Off and get absorbed in the art!
58. The Muppet Show. Best Kid show ever but you probably knew that. Also Sesame street when it had cooler Muppets like Count von Count. Pre Elmo. I caught a glimpse of Elmo on the Today show and he is the most obnoxious thing ever. Why was he featured on an adult show?
59. Tiki culture. See if you can find some relics of 60’s era tiki culture that haven’t been torn down yet if not theres always the internet.
620. Googie culture. This was a mid century style of architecture primarily seen in coffee shops.
61. Multicultural Inspirations. Get inspired by vibrant street art, music, open air markets and parades, Mexican food, soul food, hip hop culture, low riders and the like.
41. Annoying Tween culture. Those really bad tone deaf auto tuned tween stars who all look exactly the same and come packaged with tons of products done in hot pink and glittery vomit purple turn off 99% of regular people but if you can stand it maybe there is something to be gleaned from this unending trend being shoved down everyone’s throat. (Do not want!) You have to be careful though because in a month all of the stuff will be sitting on the shelves of the local Big Lots right next to stale boxes of High School Musical cereal.
42. Big Lots. Big Lots has totally replaced Kmart as the hipsters secret hangout. Especially since Kmarts are getting hard to find.
43. Products that fall under the category: Why do these products exist? Here is an example. The local Big Lots has Elvis coffee. I guess if you are that into the King you would buy one bag to put unopened in your Elvis shrine room (next to the Elvis guitar popcorn Big Lots also sells), but are that really that many 60somethings named Barbara, Linda, or Judy out there who are going to consistently buy Elvis coffee for their fix every morning?
44. Scrapbooking. There is a ridiculously huge scrapbooking subculture out there and people (more Barbaras, Lindas, Judys and a few Donnas I suspect) are willing to pay 10 dollars for 3 sheets of scrapbooking paper or 400 dollars for some fancy electronic deal that can cut your paper into fancy shapes. By the way I am not making fun of you if you scrapbook (or have a name from the 50s). I’ve done it myself but you have to admit a 400 dollar scrapbook paper cutting machine is a wee bit over the top!
45. Food. The bacon and cupcakes trends may be winding down but be on the lookout for the next hot food trend. Sausage, pepperoni, ice cream sandwiches, Otter Pops, Tandoori Chicken?
46. Past trends you either don’t know about or forgot about. Owls, Gay nineties, Australia, Here is alink. if you can’t remember any.
47. Old viewmaster reels. They are in 3-D! Just like Avatar, only they don’t move and they feature pictures of New Orleans Square.
48. Crazy vintage sodas. Like Nehi or Moxie. I read somewhere that Moxie had a nasty bitter taste like rhubarb or something.
49. Your Hometown. If it is as lame as you claim then maybe you should be inspired by the lameness.
50. Nature. The trees, the waves, the clouds, the ocean, you knew this was going to be on the list somewhere.
51. Roadside culture. Giant dinosaurs, Teepee motels, route 66, etc.
52. Towns with really cool names. Like Twenty Nine Palms, Truth or Consequence New Mexico, and Rough and Ready California.
53. Black Lite Posters.
54. Murals painted on Vans! Unicorns, Vikings whatever get inspired.
55. Hot Rod airbrushing art.
56. Old Toys. Make sure they are cool old toys like vintage spirographs, sit’n’spins and big wheels. No Barney, No Dora the Explorer. Some vastly cooler kid brands include the Snorks, The Smurfs, The Groovy Ghoulies, and the 80s version of Strawberry Shortcake.
57. Art Museums. Make like Cameron in Ferris Buellers Day Off and get absorbed in the art!
58. The Muppet Show. Best Kid show ever but you probably knew that. Also Sesame street when it had cooler Muppets like Count von Count. Pre Elmo. I caught a glimpse of Elmo on the Today show and he is the most obnoxious thing ever. Why was he featured on an adult show?
59. Tiki culture. See if you can find some relics of 60’s era tiki culture that haven’t been torn down yet if not theres always the internet.
620. Googie culture. This was a mid century style of architecture primarily seen in coffee shops.
61. Multicultural Inspirations. Get inspired by vibrant street art, music, open air markets and parades, Mexican food, soul food, hip hop culture, low riders and the like.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
101 likely and not so likely sources of inspiration Part 2
This list is for any creative types out there who are experiencing a block, be it writer’s block, designer’s block, songwriter’s block whatever. Get inspired. I am going to be putting it up in sections right here and once it’s complete I may give it a more permanent home.
21. Sunday Coupons. Have you ever really looked at the coupons? There are a lot of goofy products in there like 5 dollar polyester grandpa pants, gardening knee-savers, toe separators, and bathtubs you can walk into. Get weirdly inspired and go take some geritol.
22. Infomercials. If your idea sounds weak try adding a suffix like a-matic or o-tronic. Then it will sound cooler.
23. Bad design. Think to yourself I can do better then go do better. Or don’t do better but feel satisfaction in the fact that you tried.
24. Defunct Disney attractions. As in Mission to Mars, The Mary Blair Tommorowland Murals, and the Carousel of Progress. There is this old Walt Disney World attraction called Journey into imagination that people are just obsessed with. I am more of a Disneyland fan myself and I miss Adventure thru Innerspace.
25. Classic Disney Attractions. As in the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Tiki Tiki Tiki Room. Got a fave, then get inspired. Just don’t directly rip them off Disney has a history of not liking that.
26. Your favorite Band. Do they have a logo? Are they doing any branding or are they anti branding (which is why you like them.) What is their overall style?
27. Your least favorite band.
28. Indie Rock posters.
29. Junk toys from the Dollar store. Good times will be had by many a happy fun child when purchasing these delightful gourmet childrens afflictions. Please to buy one for all siblings in household plus many a cousin. Thank you.
30. Other dollar store stuff. Treasure hunting is fun and you never know what you will find.
31. Stuff from party stores. What’s in this season? Tiki stuff? Have they come up with anything more original than conGRADulations plates and a For Dads and Grads sale?
32. Your favorite song. Put it on get creative.
33. Those weird ass products you see at drugstores. I am talking about stuff like phones with giant numbers and those humongous remotes that really work. Are they supposed to be for novelty or for really confused older people who have bad eyes and are to lazy to get a new pair of Dr. Dean Edell reading glasses at the Walgreens they are currently at? Also what is the deal with those weird rip off wiis that are like 39 dollars and only come with a wii sports rip off. They have a name like GameTyme or Gamewave and the packages are always white and green and wii-like. Are these fun? Is the play anything like a real wii? I’m thinking not but who knows, they make me weirdly curious.
34. Vintage commercials on youtube.
35. The stuff people love enough to plaster all over their cars. These are usually brands. People are really loyal to stuff like Tapout, Independent Skateboard Trucks, Not of This World Christian stuff and Cowgirl Up. Also Norcal, though I don’t know what that is to tell you the truth. (Another brand?)I am not into any of the above personally but They must be doing something right branding wise. Also people with minivans are really really into those creepy stick figure families with names under them. (ummm why?)
36. Skateboarding subculture.
37. Surfing subculture. People have been inspired by both the skating and surfing subcultures since they came about.
38. Straight Edge. This subculture is probably bigger than you think. Maybe you should see what it’s all about. If you get a little smashed while doing your online research I won’t tell.
39. Old cereal boxes. Yum C-3pos.
40. I love the whatever decade on vh1. Whenever these are on you are probably going to get sucked in and watch at least 3 episodes so get out a notebook and be inspired.
21. Sunday Coupons. Have you ever really looked at the coupons? There are a lot of goofy products in there like 5 dollar polyester grandpa pants, gardening knee-savers, toe separators, and bathtubs you can walk into. Get weirdly inspired and go take some geritol.
22. Infomercials. If your idea sounds weak try adding a suffix like a-matic or o-tronic. Then it will sound cooler.
23. Bad design. Think to yourself I can do better then go do better. Or don’t do better but feel satisfaction in the fact that you tried.
24. Defunct Disney attractions. As in Mission to Mars, The Mary Blair Tommorowland Murals, and the Carousel of Progress. There is this old Walt Disney World attraction called Journey into imagination that people are just obsessed with. I am more of a Disneyland fan myself and I miss Adventure thru Innerspace.
25. Classic Disney Attractions. As in the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Tiki Tiki Tiki Room. Got a fave, then get inspired. Just don’t directly rip them off Disney has a history of not liking that.
26. Your favorite Band. Do they have a logo? Are they doing any branding or are they anti branding (which is why you like them.) What is their overall style?
27. Your least favorite band.
28. Indie Rock posters.
29. Junk toys from the Dollar store. Good times will be had by many a happy fun child when purchasing these delightful gourmet childrens afflictions. Please to buy one for all siblings in household plus many a cousin. Thank you.
30. Other dollar store stuff. Treasure hunting is fun and you never know what you will find.
31. Stuff from party stores. What’s in this season? Tiki stuff? Have they come up with anything more original than conGRADulations plates and a For Dads and Grads sale?
32. Your favorite song. Put it on get creative.
33. Those weird ass products you see at drugstores. I am talking about stuff like phones with giant numbers and those humongous remotes that really work. Are they supposed to be for novelty or for really confused older people who have bad eyes and are to lazy to get a new pair of Dr. Dean Edell reading glasses at the Walgreens they are currently at? Also what is the deal with those weird rip off wiis that are like 39 dollars and only come with a wii sports rip off. They have a name like GameTyme or Gamewave and the packages are always white and green and wii-like. Are these fun? Is the play anything like a real wii? I’m thinking not but who knows, they make me weirdly curious.
34. Vintage commercials on youtube.
35. The stuff people love enough to plaster all over their cars. These are usually brands. People are really loyal to stuff like Tapout, Independent Skateboard Trucks, Not of This World Christian stuff and Cowgirl Up. Also Norcal, though I don’t know what that is to tell you the truth. (Another brand?)I am not into any of the above personally but They must be doing something right branding wise. Also people with minivans are really really into those creepy stick figure families with names under them. (ummm why?)
36. Skateboarding subculture.
37. Surfing subculture. People have been inspired by both the skating and surfing subcultures since they came about.
38. Straight Edge. This subculture is probably bigger than you think. Maybe you should see what it’s all about. If you get a little smashed while doing your online research I won’t tell.
39. Old cereal boxes. Yum C-3pos.
40. I love the whatever decade on vh1. Whenever these are on you are probably going to get sucked in and watch at least 3 episodes so get out a notebook and be inspired.
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