If you are searching for inspiration or you simply love to look at pretty pictures for mindful moments, enjoy Alberta Country Registers’ Inspiration Boards created by Editor, Marcy Horswill.
Scroll down to see past Boards and visit often to get new inspiration!
Time to Reflect
Reflections—whether mirrored on still water or found in quiet moments of thought—invite us to slow down and look again. The word itself holds a beautiful double meaning: to see a literal image bounce back to us and to turn inward in contemplation. Both offer perspective. In art, reflection can inspire clarity, symmetry and depth. In life, it helps us understand where we’ve been and where we’re going. Sometimes, all it takes is a moment of stillness to see things more clearly.
Second Chance
There’s something special about a pair of jeans that are patched, stitched and brought back to life. Whether it’s bold embroidery, delicate handwork or just a favorite old pair made wearable again, mending becomes its own kind of creativity. These denim pieces show how sewing isn’t just practical—it’s expressive, personal and full of heart. Fixing something with your hands feels good and makes it even better than before. That’s pure inspiration.
Hear Spring Roar
As the trees leaf out and the garden soil warms, dandelions arrive—bold and bright, like tiny suns scattered across the grass. They’re spring’s first cheerleaders, roaring with colour and resilience. Uninvited, perhaps, but undeniably joyful, these golden blooms are nature’s way of announcing that winter is truly over and growth is just getting started.
Awaken
Coral is spring’s joyful exhale—warm, hopeful and energizing. Somewhere between blush and sun-kissed orange, it brings to mind new petals, soft fruit and the glow of longer days. This coral palette—feathers, blossoms, doorways and textures—feels like little sparks of momentum. This colour doesn’t shout; it encourages us to wake up, stretch out and begin something beautiful. Coral reminds us that inspiration often arrives not with thunder, but with a soft, blooming nudge.
Hand Stitched
Handstitched cottages nestled in the countryside feel like something out of a storybook—walls softened by time, windows dressed in lace and gardens spilling over with wild blooms. There is a quiet beauty in their worn textures and simple lines, a kind of whispered invitation to slow down and make something with your own hands. Whether it is a stitched sampler, a pieced quilt or a painted scene, these gentle homes remind us that beauty can be built slowly—one careful detail at a time.
Verdant Vibes
As the days grow longer and the earth begins to wake, spring brings with it a quiet kind of magic. Soft greens emerge, buds stretch toward the light, and inspiration stirs in every leafy corner. It’s a season of fresh starts, gentle energy and ideas ready to take root. Let these Verdant Vibes guide your creativity—there’s beauty blooming all around.
Gentle
Gentle evokes softness, calm and tender care—like a whisper or a warm embrace. These pastel pinks embody this essence with their delicate hues, soothing the senses and symbolizing compassion, kindness and emotional warmth in a quiet, comforting way.
Living Light
Certain combinations of colour seem to breathe life. Add some sunshine or a simple light source and one becomes captivated by the brilliance. Will this medley inspire you to try something different in your next project?
Sunshine
The long dark hours of winter are coming to an end. Sunshine is heading our way! Not everyone dreams in yellow even though it is prominent in our lives. Have a look around and let the bright sunshine inspire you!
Exquisite
I wear jeans, a shirt and a hoodie every day of my life (almost). I grew up in small towns where my friends didn’t dress up, so I followed suit. Plus, I was a girl who lived and breathed horses, I like to be comfortable and jeans and hoodies are what I wear.
My imagination, however, dresses me up every morning in all kinds of exquisite and stylish clothes which I never tire of seeking out online. Here is a sample of some of my favourite laces and hopefully some inspiration to start you on a new project.
Around & Around
Are you spinning in circles waiting for inspiration to arrive? Sometimes ideas are formed with the simplest, geometric shapes… you simply have to look around!
Vintage
At the tender age of 47, I shockingly discovered the coffee table I put up for sale was considered vintage. It was a coffee table my husband and I bought when we were new parents, a mere 25 years earlier. The man who bought the coffee table exclaimed, “Wow! My wife is going to love this vintage table!” I was happy for his wife, but I never really recovered. I have considered all of my furniture vintage since that moment.
Here is an inspiration board not meant to shock; nonetheless, do not be surprised if you (or a sibling) had one or two of these items in the past. I hope they inspire some good memories, and perhaps some new ideas!
whisper
Some shout out their love, others whisper and quietly share in every day life. Cooking a meal, holding a hand, folding the laundry, a note tucked in a lunch bag, telling a story, joining in laughter. Whether shouting or whispering, make sure your special someone knows how you feel!
SHOUT IT OUT!
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it’s time to think about all those you love. Whether it is a partner, a friend or a grandchild… maybe even someone secret… be sure to shout out how you feel. Perhaps this bold statement-of-love inspiration board will give you some ideas!
Winter Blues
Canadians know winter and that eventually it will come to an end. The days are getting longer, but at the end of January, the promise of spring seems forever away. These muted blues reflect the softer side of cold weather. There is no better time to dive into a new project or read an inviting book.
Published by Alberta Country Register
The Alberta Country Register is an Alberta-wide, bi-monthly publication, which provides readers with unique, local shopping opportunities. Advertisers include creative-based businesses like quilt, fabric, yarn and craft stores, as well as home decor, vintage and antique shops, tea and coffee houses, bed and breakfasts and related community events.