The book that’s on the top of my nightstand right now- and often follows me to work in my handbag – is Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon.

It’s amazing, inspiring, to the point, and life-changing.  Besides it being a great book for anybody who habitually does anything creative, I figured, what better topic than for Chic Steals??

I know the name of my blog can sometimes be misleading.  As many of you know, it ended up being called “Chic Steals” simply because it started out as a place to house the articles I wrote for FashionTribes.com…which were all called “Carly’s Chic Steals and Fashion Deals of the Week.”  That whole title was too long to use as a URL, so I shortened it to Chic Steals.  I love to do DIYs inspired by what’s trending now…and yes, I often create dupes rather than my own version.  I like to provide the how and the tools to people out there – to get inspired and make their own pieces.  It doesn’t have to be an exact dupe either…the great thing about DIY is that the degree of customization is up to you.

Now if you were going to sell anything that is an exact copy of someone else’s work, or sell the tutorial somehow, then that gets into a gray area.

The driving thoughts behind this blog are that we are all still learning.  Here is the how – now go off and make it yours.  Remix, remaster, remake.  And try, try again until it’s something you like.

Make it for yourself.  Make it to give someone else.  Share the knowledge and the skillset.

I’d highly recommend this book to anyone.  It’s a great pick-me-up for when you’re feeling tapped out of creativity, and a great reminder to keep going.  And to get better.  I always read a little bit, then have to rush off into a project because I’m so.goshdarn.INSPIRED by what’s written here.  It’s a great little Chanukah present or stocking stuffer for the artist in your life as well!

Buy Steal Like an Artiston Amazon ($8.76)

Be inspired – get creative – and steal, steal, steal!

xoxo

Carly