Have you ever considered making an embroidery journal, but are only familiar with the art of cross stitch? Well then meet Rebecca Lush, who since 2021 has been cross stitching an icon a day, every day. These miniscule and detailed icons focus on events from her life whether it be trips around Australia or a kidney pathology sample spotted while at work in her job as the curator of a pathology museum.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am currently the Curator of a pathology museum in Queensland, Australia. It is an absolutely fascinating job and the best part is being able to facilitate high school programs. Working in museum education is amazing because you get to share the collection with so many different groups. When I’m not at work, or stitching, I love listening to audio books, learning German, and visiting museums/galleries. With the latter, I run a blog reviewing museums and heritage places. It’s great being able to share my thoughts and document my visits. Museums are my happy places and I hope that’s reflected in my journal. My favourite audio books are in the horror genre and I also enjoy watching horror films which is definitely a divisive hobby! Next year I am really hoping to learn how to knit because I found the most amazing pattern recently and I need to learn so I can make it.
What made you decide to cross stitch your icons?
It all began towards the end of 2020 when I was thinking about starting some kind of major cross stitch project. One night, while scrolling through Instagram, I saw a post of an embroidery journal. That really inspired me to think of how a cross stitch journal might look and would it even be a feasible idea. Like so many others, 2020 really made me reflect on how much can change day-to-day and week-to-week so I was ultimately looking for a craft project that might be able to capture some changes both in the world and in my life. I farewelled 2020 by buying all the supplies I needed to start my journal in 2021.
How did you learn how to embroider?
I loved long stitch when I was a kid and I remember buying patterns during the school holidays. I didn’t start cross stitch until 2016, after I visited Nashville, Tennessee. In one of the museum gift shops I found a cross stitch kit that came with really good instructions. That sort of reignited my love of long stitch while equipping me with some new skills.
What is your favourite icon on your embroidery journal?
My favourite icon on my embroidery journal would have to be the potted kidney pathology specimen. The pathology specimens are my favourite designs to create and stitch. They are always a little bit challenging but look amazing when finished. It was very difficult to choose a favourite as quite a few remind me of exciting things that have happened this year. Equally, there are many that reflect not so exciting times but were interesting designs to create.
What tips do you have for someone wanting to start an embroidery journal?
It’s easy to feel a bit overwhelmed when starting so I think the best advice I can give is to choose a schedule that works for you. Personally, I wanted something I could do every day that could be both a mindfulness exercise and a chance to reflect on the day. However, an embroidery journal is something that could easily turn into a weekly, fortnightly, or even monthly project. Think about how much time you want to carve out and then treat it as something fun – not a chore! My other piece of advice is to carry around a notebook or diary during the day to write down your ideas. So often I think of a great idea but by the time I’m home, I have completely forgotten what I wanted to stitch. Including some space in my diary has been a great way to keep track. One final tip, check your supplies before you begin. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I’ve run out of black thread.
How do you go about spacing out your icons?
This is such a good question because I have zero approach when starting each month. I stitch what I want to, no matter how big or how small (within reason). When it gets to about half way through the month, I then need to start becoming creative. There are times when I really want to stitch something big, but there is no space. I could approach this in a different way but it works for me and stops the stitching from becoming too stressful.
Do you repeat icons?
I try to not repeat icons but I have found that repeating some can be good for establishing patterns. For example, I’ve been fortunate enough to travel more within Australia this year. Each time I fly, I stitch a boarding pass with the destination displayed. It’s so cool to see the pattern that has emerged and to be able to easily identify when I travelled throughout the year.
What made you decide to go with your current embroidery journal layout?
Apart from dividing the Aida into twelve slices and stitching something each day, I don’t really plan my layout. I try to keep everything for each month within the designated slice. There is a lot of crossover between the months which annoyed me at first, but is now my preference. Harsh lines can look a bit jarring.
What has been your most memorable event represented on your embroidery journal this year?
Oh this would have to be Fat Bear Week. Each year in Katmai, Alaska, brown bears go head-to-head in a competition to take the fat bear crown. It is such a wholesome event and I love thinking of how to represent it on my journal. This year I’ve gone for bear paws with the winning number for each round stitched in the middle. If you’ve never heard of Fat Bear Week, look it up now and you won’t be disappointed.
What types of icon do you like to embroider on a monotonous or boring day?
If I have had a particularly boring or monotonous day I usually follow this process. I think of absolutely anything that sparked joy for me during the day. Even if that’s a chocolate bar I had after lunch. If nothing jumps out, I might see if there are any international or national days I can represent. I don’t know what the next step would be as I’ve luckily never had to think about it too much. I actually quite like stitching on a boring day because I reflect a lot more.
What has been the most challenging aspect of creating an embroidery journal for you?
Strangely enough, thinking of something to stitch every day hasn’t been the most challenging aspect of creating my journal. When I started, I really thought that was going to be the biggest challenge. Instead, I would argue that finding the time to stitch is by far the most challenging. When I think I might struggle after work or a long day, I like to stitch in the morning. It can be such a peaceful thing to do as soon as you wake up.
What have you learned from starting an embroidery journal?
The number one thing I have learnt from starting an embroidery journal is the importance of taking time each day to relax and be creative. A few years ago I would have never described myself as a creative person. It has been really nice to actually see how creative I can be and how I can turn a piece of Aida into a year at a glance.
How do you track your days?
At first, it was difficult to track my days. I tried writing down what I had stitched each day but that didn’t seem to work. A lovely friend of mine suggested starting an Instagram page where I can document my cross stitch every day. So far, that has helped me track my days!
What do you plan on doing with your embroidery journal once you finish it?
This is my third year of keeping an embroidery journal. My other two are now hanging on my wall so I will add this one to the display.
What supplies do you use for your embroidery journal?
I use DMC thread on 14 count Aida and a 14 inch (35cm) hoop. Each year I select a different coloured Aida fabric. How I choose is completely random. This year I felt a darker colour might be a nice change so I went with a dark green. As well as DMC, I also have a selection of thread I purchased from the Abbey Medieval Festival – a huge medieval weekend in Brisbane. I love my floss drop from GingerStitchAu who are based in Melbourne, Australia. It keeps all my threads organised by colour – a really easy way for me to see what colours might need re-purchasing. For my designs, I either use dot grid paper or the website Stitch Fiddle. This is a great website with a free version to help you create different patterns. Finally, I always have my trusty skeleton scissors!
Do you plan on creating another embroidery journal in 2024?
The supplies have been purchased and I am ready to go for 2024! I plan on creating a journal each year for as long as I can. Seeing them on display is such a nice way to remember past years in a way that is meaningful to me.
How have you managed to stay motivated throughout the year?
Sharing my work on Instagram has been the best way to keep me motivated. Apart from that, I share on other social media platforms and I’ve found that the responses I get are just so overwhelmingly positive. It really motivates me to keep going. Embroidery journals are so striking and aesthetically beautiful so I also think just seeing the creation come to life is another huge motivating factor.
Where can we find you online?
My main account is @TheDailyStitchuation on Instagram. The blog I mentioned earlier is Curate Your Own Adventure.
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