When Doug asked me about sharing my Top 5 Toys for inspiration, my mind started making the list. "Awesome idea," I said. At first I figured this was going to be really easy for me to do. But as I composed my list, I noticed it growing past 5. So, this is my top 5 list of current toys that help bring out my creative “gotta get it done” side.

5. Quzpit, the iPod Video
I love music just like everyone else here at D*I*Y. No matter where I go, I always have some sort of music playing in the background. It helps to focus my mind and protects against the noise and distractions around me. That’s why I have Quzpit, my 60gig Black iPod. He goes everywhere with me. In my car, to work, and in the studio. So what’s in my iPod? I like anything with a hard beat so I have a lot of industrial and techno music. I also have some classical, goth and swing that help for those quiet times.

However, Quzpit carries a few more things for me besides music. I’ve downloaded and written a few PodSites. One of the books I’ve written is on tarot; it contains meanings, my personal thoughts, and a few spreads. Having a portable book of symbols is great for when I do readings for myself or others and don’t want to carry a 10 pound tome in my bag. I also have a guitar podSite and bartender podSite on Quzpit as well. After reading about the iPod version of Wikipedia, I am anxiously awaiting iPod Linux to make a supported version for Quzpit so I can install it and Wikipedia onto my beloved iPod.

4. Ephemera
“Ephemera: Mainly refers to printed matter of passing interest (like ticket-stubs, canceled stamps, playbills, vintage postcards, etc.) that is used on layouts, pages, paper crafts, and altered items.”

The whole world is my creative toybox. Leaves, branches, stones, paper, old license-plates, everything. Nothing gets my creative inspiration going like discovering a branch or a picture from a book. I love uncovering new uses for things that I have in my house to use in my art. Today I read in a book how to use old popsicle sticks in the spine of a handmade books and later, while looking at the memory stick (yes, from a computer) that I use for a keychain, I thought about how instead of using popsicle sticks, I could use one of those. I’ve gone into home improvement stores and taken a pound of the paint chips, all in the name of art. Nothing is safe from me and my imagination, everything becomes a sacred piece that can be used (abused?) in my art projects.

3. Inspirational Books
I couldn’t write an Top 5 article without mentioning books. My studio has 2 bookcases full of books and magazines. (And don’t ask about how the rest of the house is overflooded with books. I told ya, I love books). These are my inspiration reserves. Whenever I get stuck, I turn to them to help me get a new perspective on things or learn a new art technique. If I had to pick the top 5 books that help kick me into the writing/artstic mood, I’d have to say these are:

• How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Dayby Michael Gelb. This book WILL change your perspective on the world and teach you to view it in all sorts of new and different ways. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to be different and be creative.
• The Creative License by Danny Gregory. This is a relatively new book but I’m already listing it as a favorite. I love workbook style creativity books that help me learn how to write or draw or learn more. And Danny’s book proves that you don’t have to be born with the drawing gene to call yourself an artist.
• True Colors, Signatures and other inspirational altered art and journalling books. These are my eye candy books and they provide me with many hours of drooling artsy goodness. I learn so much from flipping through these books and viewing the techniques therein.
• The Vertigo Tarot. This is my primary tarot deck and it goes everywhere with me. I read from it and love looking at the images for inspiration. Yes I know this really isn't "technically" a book but I had to fit it in somewhere.
• Journals and paper. I love blank books, whether they’re made by me or others. Great place for me to write and store my thoughts. Just having a new blank book gets my mind churning ideas to fill it up.

2. HipsterPDA
This is my baby. It goes everywhere with me. Sometimes I get laughed at for bringing it with me, but the whole adage of “you never know when you’ll feel inspired to write something down” is so true. A few weeks ago, we took a friend out to dinner who had just gotten fired and I was able to write down a funny and memorable quote from that evening into my hipster because I had it on me. Here’s my current configuration; each section’s separated out by a color tab card for ease of finding:

Cover Card: I received a gift of “dream cards” from a friend of mine. Instead of using them as prompts, I decided that with a little trimming they’d make perfect cover cards for hipsters. The front side has a nice collage image and the D*I*Y* Planner Ownership form, when printed out and glued, covers the words on the card’s back.

Projects/Checklists: I keep a small stash of Project and Checklist cards when I come up with a new project. Things I consider projects can include art or PodCasts or home improvement jobs that’d take more than a few hours to complete.

Story Ideas: I keep about 5 sets of the Story Cards here. Any time I come up with a new idea for a story I try and complete one set of these cards... including a few plot points. This way, when I start writing the story I have a rough sketch of the story in storyboarded format.

Storyboards: I keep about 10 storyboards in this section to quickly sketch out ideas or layouts that I can quickly turn into layouts for my altering arts.

To Do Lists: I keep a few daily/weekly things to do in my hipster. I also refer to this list as my nigglies as they’re the little things that tend to get swept under the rug. Like shopping or going to the bank. You see... I’d rather write, make art, read or play World of Warcraft than do some of these items.

Contacts: I’m still rather traditional when it comes to having contact lists. Yes, Quzpit carries my contacts but sometimes, it’s easier to grab the hipster and write down their names than it is for me to make sure I have them.

And of course, I keep a few spare blank cards in the back for great quotes or other notes that don’t fit in the above categories. Like adding book names...

1. Pens/Pencils/Crayons
I’ve written a lot about this category here and here... but colorful pens, pencils and watercolor crayons help dash colors across my books and spark ideas inside my head. Combining these tools with my art book inspiration is dangerous (in a good way) because a lot of funky things get thrown out onto the paper and my husband looks at me funny when I tell him that I *have* to own another set of crayons... just because the book inspired me to do so.

There’s a few other things I wanted to add to this list. Like craft/scrapbooking stores or art workshops. However, these didn't make the cut. But I did want to mention one more thing in addition to this list. It's just one, small simple thought. Sounds silly I know...but just the thought of being published is another huge motivator for me. I love to share my thoughts and stories with others; there’s nothing more motivating than working on a piece of written prose that could potentially be turned around to inspire or entertain a reader. And of course, seeing your name in print is always fun. So, thanks to all of you for reading and enjoying my articles and allowing me to inspire you all!