Not all embroidery journals are the same and I think you’ll find this especially true when it comes to Sara Trisler’s journals. They’re absolutely bursting at the seams with energy and life. You’ll see sun rays, waves, and so much more among her daily embroidered icons. She also incorporates phrases that she hears her children say which lead to some very curious areas on her journal that you’ll be dying to learn more about.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I live in a small-ish town in Arkansas. My husband and I have a 20 year old daughter and a 6 year old son. We also share our house with a 16 year old rescue dog ( Winston)and a 2 year old labradoodle (Loretta) who looks absolutely nothing like a labradoodle and more like a civil war general. I am an esthetician and own a day spa, my husband owns a brick and mortar pipe, tobacco and cigar store, and if that wasn’t enough we also are owners of a cocktail lounge and liquor store. Did I mention we also have horses? Lol. I am a ferocious reader, I’m obsessed with Midsomer Murders and I love love love to cook.
What supplies do you use for your embroidery journal?
I discovered long ago that I wanted my journals big, so I actually use a large quilting hoop. When I first started I sketched in pencil which was hard, but then I was an early adapter of the Pilot Frixion erasable pens and that’s my go to now. ( I prefer the .5 tip and in blue ink bc it leaves less trace once removed). DMC thread is tried and true, I have a small heat gun to erase lines or sketches I’m not happy with. I actually have a floor mag light too that kind of just floats around my house. I have a stand from Daylight and gorgeous Dubko redwood stand. Depending on where I am in my project or which project I’m working on typically determines which stand I use. I also keep magnet needle minders everywhere, and you can typically find seam reapers strewn about as well.
How did you decide on the free flowing nature of your embroidery journal?
My first journal I toyed with the idea of a standard pie shape, then I had this crazy idea of turning the months into shapes that represented them; I.e., heart for February, ghost for Halloween- etc. The following year I did so the standard straight pie shape and was not a fan. It felt too constricted, I wanted my months and days to spill over into each other or some to be bigger than others, but to still have some visible definition. Even if small. To enable that I started using a curved line to separate the months allowing my months to be bigger or smaller or to spill over into each other.
What tips do you have for someone wanting to start an embroidery journal?
Just start it. Your stitches are yours no one else’s. No two stitchers stitch alike. Let them be messy, let them be crowded, let them be wonky. It’s a life journal- not every day is perfect. And how boring would it be if it were?
How did you learn how to embroider?
After completely failing at crochet I picked up a sample kit from Etsy and never looked back. And also Covid-like so many of us. When the world shut down I got so so sad and I needed a way to express myself creatively.
What is your favourite icon on your embroidery journal?
This year I have two, my self care icon and my pea shooter from a video game called plants vs zombies! My son and I play it all the time.
What has been the most challenging aspect of creating an embroidery journal for you?
I don’t always get to stitch every single day so Time is my number one enemy. So I have embraced it. I’ve found I like to stitch days and weeks together- at one sitting- I use it as a reflection. So finding the time to sit and do that can be challenging. It typically falls on Sundays and Mondays!
Is this your first embroidery journal?
This is actually my third!
Do you repeat icons?
Yes I do! They all look a bit different but I never remind repeating.
How do you go about spacing out your icons?
I don’t! Some icons are huge, some are tiny and sometimes I run out of room!
What made you decide to go with your current embroidery journal layout?
It’s similar to last years journal layout- the only exception this year is one purposefully crossed over a couple of months. For example, It was so hot this year that I stitched the suns rays into the each of the summer month spaces.
What has been your most memorable event represented on your embroidery journal this year?
A friend of mines grandson lost his battle with cancer this year. He was so young and so vibrant, and it made me think so much about the importance of loving and living, and strength and bravery. I stitched a gold ribbon in remembrance of him and the fight for childhood cancer research.
What types of icon do you like to embroider on a monotonous or boring day?
French knots, running stitches- they make for great fillers. I use them as mood descriptors and space fillers.
How have you managed to stay motivated throughout the year?
It’s hard! I don’t get to stitch every single day- but I write a note for every day so I dont forget! However, I’m a very task oriented person and an avid list maker- so for me knowing I have a task to complete and I get to make a list?. Win win!
How do you track your days? I have a journal that’s only used to track my icons.
I will jot down a note, phrase, mood, weather, anything that will help me create an icon or something I want to remember to stitch
What have you learned from starting an embroidery journal?
That my children say really amazing things! Lol.l stitch a lot of phrases and words! I’ve also learned by chronicling my life this way, that it’s beautiful. It’s messy, crowded, chaotic and the lines aren’t straight, things overlap, they get squished together, they get forgotten but in the end it’s a circle of life. It’s played out by hand literally and figuratively.
What do you plan on doing with your embroidery journal once you finish it?
My journals hang in my yoga/meditation room. They are amazing representations of the life I’m living, it’s a wonderful tool for reflection.
Do you have anything else that you would like to share about your embroidery journal?
My journal is definitely not perfect, my icons, my lettering, my stitches- sometimes they look amazing and sometimes they just look well, wonky. That used to really bother me- but once I sat back and realized that yes one day I will conquer stump work and perfect the satin stitch- AND that my hand creating tired stitches is still my hand CREATING- I let it go. I create to create, not to impress; with its ups and downs, fires and rainbows, this is my life in stitches. ❤️
Where can we find you online?
I have an Instagram account dedicated to just my journal embroidery, every blue moon I pepper in some of my other projects. It can be found at @myyearinstitches.
Thank you to Sara for sharing so many wonderful bits of information about her embroidery journals. If you’re looking to be interviewed, I’m not currently accepting new interviews. Join my mailing list to be notified once that changes.
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