Ideas around 'themes' of imagery

Found in Cow's Lane, near Temple Bar, Dublin...
Ellen Horan Ceramics
'Hand crafted unique pieces of stoneware pottery inspired by the atlantic ocean.'

Preloved Style
'We take old or dull furniture and give it new life. Comic book, family photos old newspapers we've got it covered'
I love their concept - it's simple, it's appealing, it's recycling - and it looks good!

Whilst trying to look for information on Irish textile designer Sarah O'Sullivan, whose work was on display in the Old Temple Bar Art & Craft market, of which I haven't found any further information on!! ... I stumbled across this lady - also called Sarah O'Sullivan, but based on the other side of the world...
Fable
'Melbourne designer Sarah O’Sullivan created Fable in 2007, to explore her unconventional perspective on fabric print design.
Fable’s philosophy is to create high uality, limited edition products that blur the line between art and design. By overlaying screen-printed images on digitally printed silk, each Fable product becomes a unique work. The prints have been developed from sketches, collages and paintings inspired by the subtle familial beauty of objects found in the urban landscape.'

 I absolutely adore this ....

These projects really demonstrate a theme of images that have come about through the progression of work; it feels like a natural process has come to find a final realisation of what the artist/designers work is about - rather than a set theme to work to - which is what I initially thought I should do.

I've realised I can take a running theme such as traveling and journeys, knowing that this interests me. But I'm also making sure I don't limit myself just to this, to be free with the way I work and to be sure I understand and I'm able to explain the reasons behind my decisions of imagery, if anyone were to ask me. 

 I feel it's important to understand and appreciate this, so that my work feels like an enjoyable and natural process and progression, as opposed to a forced subject or criteria that must tick the boxes to be accepted to the identity of the way I work and the pieces I produce.