Every once in a while, I come across an embroidery journal that is so eye catching that I just can’t look away. I feel the need to take in the individual icons for what they are. Watching as Sue Owen’s embroidery journal fill up over the course of 2024 has been an absolute pleasure. I absolutely adore how detailed her small icons are; you can just tell how passionate she is about her life and embroidery journal.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I retired in 2019 and now that I have more spare time I enjoy all trying sorts of art and craft activities. Lockdown got me started with some of these – my attention was brought to what workshops were available online and this led me to explore further.

As well as painting with soft pastels I enjoy several crafts on a regular basis, including wet and needle felting. I love making pictures with this media and enjoy adding further detail with embroidery, beads, etc. I’ve tried my hand at other textile crafts, including cross-stitch and creative embroidery. The embroidery stitches that I’ve learned are mostly self-taught from online workshops and video tutorials. 

I also keep a written journal, which includes sketches and collages of bits and pieces that I collect when I’m visiting somewhere. My husband and I enjoy travelling, whether in our own country or overseas, and love to visit old houses and gardens, and just to places that are scenic. We have a yellow Morgan car that adds another dimension to our adventures, although the lack of a boot does limit what I can take away in terms of crafting on holiday!

How did you learn how to embroider?

I learned a few basic stitches many years ago at school. Other stitches I’ve learned from kits and workshops, mostly online but a few face-to-face. I have taught myself some stitches and continue to do so – YouTube is really helpful for this!

What has been the most challenging aspect of creating this project for you?

I’ve never made an embroidery journal before and wasn’t sure how to approach it – what size hoop, what type of fabric background, etc. Some online friends had already bought some pre-printed fabric for this purpose and when I saw it, it really inspired me to buy some and get started.

What have been some of your favourite icons that you’ve embroidered this year?

One of the first images that I stitched was the basket toboggan in which we had a ride down a steep road in Madeira. I had the idea of weaving the threads to create the basketwork effect.

I’ve also enjoyed adding images with a bit of texture or third dimension to them, such as the tiny journal made from a scrap of fabric, and the Dorset button that I made using a tiny metal ring as its base. 

I love to incorporate metallic threads into some images and see how this can enhance them – for example my magpie.

Each month I stitch a couple of flowers that bloom at that time, and a bird that I’ve spotted either in the garden or out and about.

What advice do you have for someone wanting to create an embroidery journal?

Decide from the outset whether you wish to (and can commit to) stitching one image a day. I know myself and how I operate so I knew that I probably wouldn’t enjoy the pressure of this. So I set out to record a month rather than around 30 days, if that makes sense. I end up with an average of around one image per two days.

When selecting the size hoop (if that’s what you’re planning to use) first hold a couple of likely sizes in your hand. For me, a 10” hoop felt more comfortable to hold than a 12” hoop. That said, the images that I stitch use up all of the available space!

As regards the fabric, you’ll find that a tightly-woven cotton will be easier to use. I ironed a thin interfacing onto the reverse of mine. Not only does that help it stay in the hoop better, it also adds some strength to the fabric. I use so many stitches for each image that I need something forgiving!

Think of a practical way to store your working threads. I use so many different colours that I always have lots of threads left over from where I’ve split off one or two strands. So I store those lengths over a wooden book stand, which sits on my desk. It acts like an artist’s palette!

The rest of the regular embroidery threads I wind onto flat bobbins and store in a plastic box. As you’ll see from the photo, I keep the metallic/neon/variegated threads in separate containers. I have a selection of needles to choose from, according to what thread I’m using. 

Is this your first embroidery journal?

Yes it’s the first time I’ve heard of such a project or tried it!

How do you go about spacing out your icons?

Ha ha! I’m possibly not the best person to ask about spacing as there isn’t much space between my images! In fact many of them butt up next to another or even overlap. But what I can say is that this is planned. I will often use my iPad and iPad pencil to sketch out images onto a photo I’ve taken of my embroidery journal. In that way I can try out ideas and even move them around until I’m happy with the placement. In a way it’s a bit like doing a jigsaw or making a quilt – you can see which shapes fit best into the spaces next to others.

I then sketch the image outlines freehand on the fabric using a heat-erasable Pilot Frixon pen. To do this I remove the fabric from the hoop and lay it flat on my desk so I have enough ‘traction’ to draw on it, before I return it to the hoop to stitch. This process works so well for me – after I’ve added the embroidery I can remove the pen marks in seconds by wafting a hairdryer over them.

How have you managed to stay motivated throughout the year?

I take loads of photos with my iPhone anyway. So for me stitching some of my favourites is an outlet as well as a creative way to record my life. As each month progresses and my stitching has improved, I’ve gained more confidence and come up with new ideas – this keeps me motivated. Of course being able to share them in the Embroidery Journaling Facebook group and get feedback is also very encouraging. Similarly I love to see what others have shared in that group – it’s brilliant that people can start with the same materials and end up with something so different!

Do you have a way of tracking your icons?

I list my ideas as they occur to me in the Notes section of my iPad each month – not all of them ‘make the cut’ so I delete those that haven’t and those that remain give me a reference for the stitched images. I also keep a photo album dedicated to my embroidery journal, in which I store progress photos and also the photos that inspire each image. At the end of each month I make a photo collage of all of the original photos, so that it could 7be viewed next to the journal.

What have you learned from starting an embroidery journal?

I’ve learned that you can never have too many colours of thread! Also that an image that you’re not entirely happy with will often look better once it’s surrounded by others. It has also helped me to reflect on my life and what I find important to me – it isn’t always the ‘big’ things. 

Although my desk set-up looks messy it does mean that if I want to sit down for a short time and stitch I have some threads already cut from which to select and sew! I keep my hoop inside a cotton draw-string bag, which keeps it pretty clean.

What do you plan to do with your embroidery journal once you’ve finished it?

I have already bought a hand-made circular wooden frame, into which the complete hoop and fabric will fit and be fixed into place. I will display it proudly in our house!

Where can we find you online?

Sue can be found sharing photos of her embroidery journal on Facebook in the Embroidery Journaling and Craft Your Way to Happiness groups.

If you enjoyed Sue’s interview, look out for additional A Stitch a Day interviews coming your way!

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Over the course of 2023, Heather Dubreuil embroidered icons that varied in size representing her home and work life all in one colour of thread – black. She selected one colour as it would make updating her embroidery journal quite a bit easier; it eliminated one of the many decisions that we make in updating an embroidery journal.

I’ve been running the Embroidery Journaling Facebook Group for about a year and a half at this point. Along the way, Heather joined and began sharing photos of her beautiful monochromatic artwork. I was absolutely thrilled when she agreed to be interviewed for my A Stitch a Day series. She’s been kind enough to answer a variety of my questions all about her 2023 embroidery journal. Read on to learn about all of the great tips & tricks that she’s picked up along the course of 2023.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I have been a chemical analyst at a zinc smelter for 21 years (you’ll see a lot of laboratory elements pop up in my journal.) I met my husband here and we have 2 boys, 22 and 15 years old and a weird little 9-year old terrier mutt named Mila. When I’m not stitching I love learning home renovations and working on our rental properties, and kayaking when the weather is nice. I incorporated a lot of those elements into my thread journal last year with the exception of my dog. I didn’t realize that until just now so I plan on being more mindful of that for 2024. 

How did you decide on your colour palette?

I decided I absolutely needed to do monochrome. I am notoriously gung ho about starting things but not sticking to them so I needed to make a year long project as easy as possible to stick to. I had never attempted to keep up with a journal of any kind let alone such a shareable project so I really wanted to make it easy. 

What supplies do you use for your embroidery journal?

I love using all kinds of hoops for different projects but for my thread journal I like a 12″ wooden hoop (last one I used was a vintage one from taiwan that I got from my mother) and I stitched on Kona cotton layered over a piece of sturdy felt. I use Frixion pens to draw my icons and remove them as soon as I can with a blowdryer. I also started using a portable magnifying light that clamps to whatever table is nearby.

What tips do you have for someone wanting to start an embroidery journal?

Do it!! Don’t stress about doing it any certain kind of way. Do what works for you and if that is a single visual motif for each month, a large weekly icon, or just 30ish things that happened throughout the month instead of one for each day, just do what speaks to you. This project IS you. If you are chaotic… let it also be magnificently chaotic!

How did you learn how to embroider?

My mother cross stitched when I was growing up and she taught me as well. She also crocheted/knit but my brain refused to pick up anything more than a single chain. I cross stitched for about 25 years before diving into embroidery. My most cherished piece is a 32 page – 125 DMC color palette – 3 year labor of love family portrait I designed and cross stitched. Never again lol but after that I felt there weren’t anymore challenges in cross stitching for me so I started embroidering. Stumpwork embroidery is my current passion. One of my favorite pieces is a stumpwork throne of mayonnaise (there’s a story there) which took a lot of work from idea to pattern making to stitching but it turned out exactly like I wanted it to. I love my drippy mayo throne!

What has been the most challenging aspect of creating this project for you?

The biggest challenge was how to transfer icons onto the fabric. My use of felt as a stabilizer made a lightbox impossible. I tried a plexiglass device that mirrors the image onto the fabric so you can trace and that also didn’t work for me. I was trying so hard to make it easy but the easiest thing turned out to be freehand using icons from iconfinder.com

How do you go about spacing out your icons?

I eyeball it and it depends on the icon. I try to do at least a few bigger complex icons and the rest are simpler so I can enlarge or decrease the size as I need. 

Do you have a way of tracking your icons?

I wish I could keep up with a written journal and write down notes about what the icons mean but I’m doing good to save or screenshot icons to my phone every few days to stitch on weekends. 

What do you plan on doing with your embroidery journal now that you’ve finished it?

I have embroidery all throughout my home with a specific theme in most areas (I have a little bird sanctuary in my kitchen) but in the living room I have a wall that I fill with all of my random projects. I use 3M strips to stick them to the wall because I like the idea of being able to take them down and move them around without leaving a bunch of nail holes everywhere. My thread journal is the biggest piece on the wall by far, but it still blends in so nicely.

Is this your first embroidery journal?

2023 was my first journal and I have started 2024. I was really surprised at how many of my non embroidering friends loved watching my progress throughout the year. That definitely helped keep me going.

Are you working on an embroidery journal for 2024?

YES! I deviated a little from the monochrome theme but I’ll have 6 colors this year. January will be black, then a DMC antique gold, gutermann gold, gutermann copper, DMC metallic rainbow, DMC antique silver, and then repeat that sequence in July. 

Do you have anything else that you would like to share about your embroidery journal?

This was the first project I ever attempted to work on in public. I took it with me and sat in the back during my son’s bowling practices. Never in my life have I been bold enough to work on something in a public setting but the fear of falling behind was a good motivator to do it.

Thank you to Heather for taking the time to answer my numerous questions, it’s been such an enjoyable interview. Be sure to give Heather a follow so you can watch her progress with her 2024 embroidery journal.

This is one of my last A Stitch a Day interviews in the completed 2023 series. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to receive an email once I begin to accept new applicants for interviews. I expect this to be around June time. 

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I love watching films, I really do. I love being able to watch a plot unfurl before me with twists that I didn’t see coming. But do you know who loves films even more? Rebecca King. For every film that she watched in 2023, she embroidered an icon representing something that happened. Whether it be a character or a plot device, she stitched one tiny, yet detailed icon for each movie on her Film Journal.

When I started seeing photos of Rebecca’s Film Journal appear on my Instagram feed, I was instantly enamoured; the details, the spacing, the number of films is truly astounding. She has even been kind enough to spill the details about what went into the making of her Film Journal. She was even gracious enough to share some amazing photos with us – she is a professional photographer after all! We’ll get to that a bit later though.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I am 48, I live in a beautiful town called Lewes, near Brighton. I have been married for over 25 years to my lovely husband Andrew, and we have a wonderful daughter called Harriet who is in her 20s. We also have an extremely cute British Shorthair cat called Peggy.

I have run my own wedding photography business for over seven years. Apart from embroidery, I love films (hence the film journal), and I enjoy listening to music and going to live gigs. I also like to get out in nature and take photographs. I recently went to see the puffins on Skomer, which was magical.

What have been some of your favourite movies that you’ve embroidered icons for this year?

That’s a tricky question. I love them all, and I am proud of what I have achieved, but there are a few I keep going back to, like Ray Harryhausen’s Medusa from Clash of the Titans (1981).

I also love The Snowman. It was really important to get him right, as he’s such an iconic character, and was a special part of my childhood Christmas. I was glad that I decided not to fill him in, as I think the simplicity works better. I was originally going to make him 3D as I had with the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters, but I decided it wasn’t right for him.

Puss in Boots was fun too. It was harder to embroider popular characters like him as everyone knows what he looks like, and you can’t mess it up. When I embroidered Henry Cavill from Mission Impossible – Fallout, it was very difficult as it had to look like him – but have you ever tried to sew an iconic moustache that’s only 1mm?! I was making icons that were on average between 1 and 3 cm tall, and some really needed that fine detail to make them work, so it was tricky!

I do also enjoy the little Shih Tzu from Seven Psychopaths. She was so adorable in the film and I was glad I managed to capture her well.

What supplies do you use for your movie journal?

I used a colourful plastic hoop to display the piece, which is just over 9.5 inches. I found that size was too big to sew with as it made my hands and wrists ache, so I would use a 7.5-inch wooden hoop when sewing. The owner of my local haberdashery recommended that I wrap the inner wooden hoop with fabric so the hoop stays taught and doesn’t get baggy. It really works for me.

I traced a lot of my icons from my phone screen, but some were so small that you couldn’t make out the detail so I would then draw the rest by eye. I would be constantly looking from my phone to the piece to make sure what I was sewing was correct. I wasn’t inventing my own icons – I had to be precise with these famous images or it wouldn’t work.

I used a ‘Pilot – Frixion heat erasable pen’ to draw on my fabric. I found the purple worked best. It doesn’t leave a mark, as long as it’s not left on the fabric for too long. I used a nice soft cotton, not too stiff. I also don’t like it if it has any stretch to it, that can be a nightmare to sew. Also jersey – no thanks.

I have a mass of different cottons from Anchor and DMC. I love trying to use all the gorgeous colours. For the really fine work, I used Gütermann threads, as they are finer and less fluffy than the embroidery cottons. I also used their metallic threads, again, the finer ones worked better, as the thicker ones would split and be more difficult to thread on my tiny 4cm needle.

How did you learn how to embroider?

My mother taught me the basics of how to embroider when I was a very young girl. She would often complain my stitches were too small, but I guess that’s worked to my advantage now.

I haven’t spoken with my parents for nearly 20 years. One of the repercussions of that was that I stopped sewing for many years. I got back into sewing and crafts by making felt hanging decorations for family and friends. The embroidery came back to me through that: I was trying to make small details but felt doesn’t like to be cut too small, so as a consequence I had to sew on the details. It then evolved from there, and I realised how much I enjoyed it and had missed it.

My parents have taken a lot from me as a person, but I am grateful for the gift of embroidery I was given. It gives me an outlet to be creative. I find that it is a form of mindfulness for me. I am only focused on the sewing. I will usually have some music playing, but otherwise, it’s just me and the hoop.

How do you go about spacing out your icons?

I traced the display hoop and tried to work out a basic idea of how much space I would need for each month. It wasn’t very technical. I knew I would need more space for October, as I do ‘Shocktober’ every year, which basically means I spend the month of October watching quite a lot of horrors or thrillers.

I also needed a lot of space in December for all of the many Christmas films my family and I love to watch.

What made you decide to go with your current layout?

I just went with the flow. If a month went over I didn’t worry, as I knew I wouldn’t have as much time to watch as many films over the summer. I knew if I had a month where I hadn’t watched many films I could make an icon bigger. As it wasn’t a daily project, and I wasn’t having to sew 365 icons, I had more flexibility.

What has been the most challenging aspect of creating this project for you?

One of the biggest challenges was finding the time. As part of my wedding packages, I embroider a bespoke piece for my couples. I usually do a copy of one of their photographs. I also make felt gingerbread people avatars of them too. There was a lot of embroidery on my plate!

Also, in 2022 I had watched 86 films, so when I went into the project, that’s what I estimated I’d have to sew again, and I thought I could manage it. However, in 2023 (with my daughter back from university) I ended up watching over 120 films, so it became more time-consuming than I had previously thought.

Overall, I loved the whole process of making this journal, (and watching the films), so I didn’t find that a challenge. It was so much fun choosing what I would sew, and then thinking of ways to do it. It was also fun learning new stitches to make it more interesting and textured.

What advice do you have for someone wanting to create a movie journal?

Firstly, get the Letterboxd app. It’s a brilliant way to keep track of what you’ve watched. You log your films, and you can even rate them out of 5. It’s a really interesting film app. You can also connect with friends and family, see what they have been watching, and see if they loved that film as much as you did!

Don’t overthink it. Don’t worry about doing a basic icon. The most tricky thing was choosing what to sew from a terrible film, as they often have no outstanding visual that pops out to embroider (luckily my daughter and I have great taste in films, so it wouldn’t happen very often). Not every icon can be exciting, just like not every film is.

Keep colour and the aesthetic of the piece in mind. You have to create a balance. For example, I didn’t want to bunch lots of black and white films together, as it wouldn’t be as pleasing to look at.

What have you learned from starting a movie journal?

I’ve learned I love films and embroidery, and it was a great idea to combine the two. I also learned how to do a stitched padding stitch,which is what I used on my Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters. I also learned that I watch a lot of films.

How have you managed to stay motivated throughout the year?

It was easy for me as I loved every minute of it. It also added an extra amount of excitement when I watched films because I would wonder what I would be sewing from it. Plus, I always have to be creating something, I get twitchy if I don’t.

The first journal I made was in 2020. I decided I was too boring to do an icon a day about my life, so I would focus on current affairs, music, film etc. The woman in the haberdashery shop said: “What are you doing that for, nothing ever happens.” Well, it all started out as fun: with Gwyneth Paltrow’s vagina candle, Parasite winning four Oscars… but as we all know 2020 turned into the biggest pile of s**t.

It was so hard sewing it, it could be so upsetting at points, I’m sure it didn’t help that I was documenting the world death toll, George Floyd and one celebrity death or disaster after another. But there were good points too, like Donald Trump losing the election.

I stayed motivated as It felt like a really important piece to be making, a tiny version of the Bayeux Tapestry (which we know isn’t a tapestry) – it mattered.

That’s what got me through it. It would be my legacy piece. Diaries/journals always have more value after the fact. Their significance is only apparent years later. They are there as a memory, a reminder of what has been. Which you may not realise at the time how special it is. I think that’s a way to stay motivated. You’re making your own little Bayeux Tapestry, about your own fights and wars, about your good days and great days. I don’t think anything that can give joy to you or others is a bad thing.

Embroidery is a marvellous legacy to leave the world. To think that we still have some small pieces of embroidery by Mary Queen of Scots, which she made whilst imprisoned is incredible. So keep that in mind when you’re losing interest or you’re thinking of giving up: one day it could be behind a glass panel in a museum, or wrapped in tissue paper in a box, and be someone’s prized possession. It may not be anything as grand as that. It may only be that you refer back to it in the future, take pride in your accomplishment and find pleasure in thinking of all the things that you did, or the films you saw, in that year.

I think that’s one of the reasons I love photography too as it’s memories being documented, to be shared and loved for future generations.

Do you have anything else that you would like to share about your movie journal?

I hope this inspires someone to do their own movie journal or a journal of something they love, and are passionate about. Whether it’s birds or wildlife you’ve seen, or albums you’ve listened to, have fun and do it. It doesn’t matter if it’s not perfect: all that matters is it’s yours and you love it and learn from it. Do what makes you happy.

That blank piece of fabric has a world of opportunities open to you, you just need to sew that first stitch.

Are you working on a movie journal for 2024?

I have a packed wedding schedule this year and knowing how difficult last year was to fit in, I know I won’t get time to do it. Instead, I am planning on doing a once-a-month one, in a 4-inch hoop. I will sew one of my favourite films that month. It will be nicer to make the icons bigger, so I can add more detail, and practise more new stitches. I have already thought about doing Godzilla, from the fantastic new Japanese film Godzilla Minus One for January. The amazing spines are asking for detached woven picot stitches. I have already ordered a gorgeous metallic blue thread, which will be perfect.

Where can we find you online?

My only sewing page is on Instagram, and the name is @we_should_all_be_kings.

It’s not a great statement on the monarchy or anything, I wanted to have a page with my surname (King) in it. It started more as a personal page, (I have two photography pages and another one for my cat), but over time it has morphed into an embroidery film page.

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Thank you to Rebecca for taking the time to answer my numerous questions, it’s been such an enjoyable interview. Go ahead an give Rebecca a follow, you won’t regret it.

This is one of my last A Stitch a Day interviews in the completed 2023 series. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to receive an email once I begin to accept new applicants for interviews. I expect this to be around June time. 

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When it comes to embroidery journals, some opt to embroider a small icon a day. However, Suzy Myers does things a bit differently. Using embroidery thread and water colour pencils, She documents her travels with her husband throughout the United States in their RV. She’s been to some amazing places this year including The Grand Canyon, South Carolina Beaches, and even a handful of the Georgia State Parks.

I am absolutely in awe of Suzy’s travel journal, by using one strand of thread at a time, she’s able to make these amazingly detailed portraits for each month. She was even kind enough to take the time out of her busy days of traveling to answer some questions about what goes into creating her travel journal.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I am a quilt pattern designer originally from Atlanta, GA.  My husband and I travel full time in our RV around the United States.  We have been on the road since 2015.  We both left corporate jobs, sold our home and retired early, with plans to explore the country and enjoy a simpler lifestyle. Many of my quilt designs are inspired by the things that we have seen and done as we travel.  We are currently at the Grand Canyon in Arizona for the winter working at the National Park.  We will be here until April and then will be moving onto our next adventure.  

What supplies do you use for your embroidery journal

For my journal I am using a 12″ hoop and cotton woven fabric.  I use watercolor pencils to help color in some of the background, and heat erasable pen to trace my design. 

What tips do you have for someone wanting to start this type of embroidery journal?

Do what is comfortable for you.  Have a plan for when you would like to work on it.  I work on mine in the evenings after everything else is done for the day.  I look forward to a little time at the hoop as a way to relax. 

How did you decide to journal your travels in this format?

I had a website where I originally documented our travels, but it grew too difficult to maintain along with my quilt pattern websites.  I wanted a way to document in a different format that I would enjoy creating and looking at for years to come.  I chose the monthly 3″ squares and include about 5 different adventures from that month in each square.  It is more doable for me than trying to create something for each day.  

Can you tell us about some of your travels that you’ve captured on your embroidery journal?

This past year we have spent time in Georgia State Parks, the Alabama beaches, the coast of South Carolina, Atlanta with family, cross country into Texas, New Mexico and finally the Grand Canyon and northern Arizona. I love to feature some of the animals that we have seen, some of the beautiful plants and trees and the experiences that we have enjoyed. 

How have you managed to stay motivated throughout the year?

I look forward to putting each month together and write down things that I think might be a great addition to my journal as they happen.  Things like seeing animals or even just hearing them, great restaurants, fun events and historic places. Since each month is a mystery until it actually happens, it is a joy to put together a new one each month. 

What is the process from start to finish on creating one square on your journal?

At the end of each month, I look back on the month to determine what experiences I would feel best represent what we did.  I draw out a 3″ square on paper and begin sketching ideas into it.  Once I am happy with my sketch, I outline it with a marker. I then use a light box and heat erasable pen to transfer the sketch onto my fabric square.  If I choose to, I add water color pencil to any backgrounds and allow it to dry before beginning to stitch.  As I stitch, I remove the temporary stitched border that outlines my square.  I generally stitch with 1 or 2 strands of DMC floss.  

What have you learned from starting an embroidery journal?

My style has changed as the journal has progressed.  I am gradually using less water color pencil and more stitches.  Each square is taking me longer than the original first few months.  And I’m okay with that.  You can see the process of getting comfortable with my own style as the months progress.  I love the fact that I am stitching memories, making them last.

Is this your first embroidery journal?

My first attempt at embroidery journaling was in 2020.  I got as far as March.  The daily task of coming up with an icon for each day was overwhelming to me at the time.  Particularly, I lost my brother in Feb of that year and it was very difficult for me to get back into the project after that. 

Do you plan on creating a 2024 travel journal?

I’m already planning a new journal for 2024.  I will stay with the same format as it has worked for me.  This coming year is not entirely planned out.  We know that we will be spending part of the summer in Minnesota, but the rest of the year is an adventure waiting to happen.  

Where can we find you online?

Main Website | Shop | Facebook Page | Facebook Group | Instagram | Original Travel Website

I’m not currently looking for interviews for A Stitch a Day, but I have some great interviews coming out in the near future. If you’re interested in being interviewed, be sure to sign up for my newsletter.

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Samantha Zalupski is quite the reader, in fact in 2023 she read well over 100 books. For each book that she read last year, she went onto embroider a small icon onto her book journal in order to represent the book. I think you’ll be absolutely blown away by her book journal filled with different animals, objects, plants, and more!

Tell us a little about yourself.

I am a 34 year-old married mother of a feisty 3 year-old girl.  I work for my county’s community mental health system at a Clubhouse. I work with mentally ill adults who often need support and socialization. We assist with teaching life skills, provide job placement opportunities,  and provide a safe environment to be during the day.  I can honestly say I love my work and I sometimes get sad when I have days off! 

I have lots of other hobbies, including distance running, kayaking, biking,  and basically anything outdoors. The longest distance race I’ve run is a 50k (31 miles) but I’m hoping to complete a 50-mile race this year!  I love anything crafty, like embroidery (obviously), painting, coloring, drawing, and I once had a years-long obsession with creating things out of duct tape.  

What tips do you have for someone wanting to start a book journal?

Be flexible! I had to adjust as I went, adding a second hoop when I ran out of room on my first one.  

Get creative! It was really difficult sometimes to figure out what to stitch, so some of them are only very loosely related, but I got ’em on there! It was also really helpful to think while reading “what can I stitch for this?” 

It’s definitely helpful to keep a log of what you read alongside your journal. I liked putting my finish dates next to the icons, but I can see why some people wouldn’t want that.  I definitely look at the icons now and think “I have no idea what book that symbolizes”, but I also read 137 books this year so it’s hard to remember details of each one 😅 

As with all embroidery, be patient, give yourself grace, and enjoy! Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, if you fall behind, jot some notes so you don’t forget. 

What have been some of your favourite books that you’ve read this year?

My top 5 were:

• House on the Cerulean Sea: I went in totally blind and this book just stole my heart. It was strange, sweet, and heart wrenching at the same time. I absolutely loved it. 
• A Man Called Ove: I saw there was a movie coming out based on this book, so of course I needed to read the book before I went to see it. I quickly fell in love with the characters and the movie did it justice pretty well!  
• The Mindf*ck Series: Okay, this was actually 5 books in one, but I’m counting it as one. Quick, exciting reads.  Think Criminal Minds with a little spice.  Required a little suspension of disbelief to truly enjoy, but what thrillers don’t these days?  
• Outrun the Rain: The first in a series of 3 books about an introverted storm researcher pairing up with a wild-hearted storm chaser. A very sweet story of trust and growth.   I wasn’t expecting to like these as much as I did. 
• A Flicker in the Dark: This one came pretty highly recommended in some of my book groups. Funny enough,  I had stuck it on my Amazon “to buy” list just in case I saw it on sale or whatever. I ended up getting it in the mail one day and realized I must have ordered it by accident or in my sleep one night because it was in my order history but I didn’t remember buying it.  Solid thriller, page-turning suspense. A very enjoyable read.

How did you learn how to embroider?

I woke up one day in March of 2022 and decided I wanted to try a new project (as my ADHD brain often does).  I ordered a kit online, and gave it a shot. It went a bit smoother than I anticipated, but I still can look back and tell I was very new to the craft. I just kept doing kits from there until I started branching into making my own designs! 

What has been the most challenging aspect of creating this project for you?

Definitely spacing! I started to get anxious when the hoop was filling up way too fast. I decided to make a second hoop, but then I got nervous that I wouldn’t be able to fill the second hoop and I didn’t want to leave awkward blank spaces. Toward the middle of december I got so anxious about the empty bits, and I’m not afraid to admit I read a few novellas (under 100 pages) to help get some more icons on there quickly before the end of the year. 

As I mentioned earlier, it was definitely difficult to come up with icons for some of the books! Really had to put some thought into it. 

Is this your first embroidery journal?

Yes, I just learned in 2022, so in 2023 I actually did my book journal AND a daily icon embroidery journal.  

What is your favourite icon on your embroidery journal?

That’s so hard to pick! I really like the phoenix, the russian doll, and the double helix! 

How do you go about spacing out your icons?

Pure. Chaos.  I tried to leave space in the middle and scatter them, so some future icons had to be scaled up or down to fit my size I needed. 

What made you decide to go with your current book journal layout?

I had no idea what I was getting into. I never expected to need a second hoop! I don’t *love* that it ended up with 2 hoops, but it is what it is.

How have you managed to stay motivated throughout the year?

It’s hard. I didn’t want to waste the time I *had* already put in, and being able to draw my icons a few at a time and catch up every week or two helped as well.  

How do you track your books?

With the goodreads app! That way if I don’t stitch them right away I can go back and catch up. 

What have you learned from starting a book journal?

My embroidery skills improved a bit! And patience for sure. 

What do you plan on doing with your book journal now that you’ve finished?

I actually just hung it up! I got nice display hoops and embroidered a small middle piece with the year. 

Are you working on an embroidery journal this year?

I decided to do a daily mood tracking journal this year. I was a little burned out after last year. 

Where can we find you online?

I don’t have any specific social media at this time, just my personal facebook account. I share a lot of images on embroidery facebook groups though! (And some in book groups for this particular project)

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I’m not currently looking for new artists to interview for A Stitch a Day, but you can look forward to interviews about colour blocking, movies, travelling, and even more amazing embroidery journals!

What happens when you combine an embroidery journal and a book tracker? You end up with Anna Short’s Embroidery Journal! Anna’s embroidery journal not only includes icons from her day-to-day life, but around the centre of her hoop, you’ll see a series of books in a variety of colours which track her books read throughout the year.

Anna has such a unique embroidery journal and I’ve adored seeing her posts pop up in the Embroidery Journaling Facebook Group over the course of 2023. Follow along as Anna shows us photos of her embroidery journal, divulges her favourite tips and tricks, and even discusses some of her favourite icons.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I live in North Carolina and am a high school English teacher, Yearbook advisor, a wife, and a mother of three small children. My two oldest kids are five (twins – son & daughter) and my youngest son is three.  I love sewing and quilting, but it was too cumbersome to do with two small babies, so I was thrilled to discover embroidery which is so small and portable and beautiful!! I also love planning and journaling, so this project was perfect for me! My family, faith, and work are all very important to me and make up the bulk of my icons. 

What supplies do you use for your embroidery journal

I use a really heavy duty 12” hoop and a Duo pen & eraser set. Sometimes I use stencils for the icons. I often use Flat Icon or Noun Project for icon inspirations.

What tips do you have for someone wanting to start an embroidery journal?

• Do it!! It is so rewarding and helps you value the little things in life. 
• Don’t be too hard on yourself and create a journal that works for your life and schedule. I knew that I had no intention of doing an icon a day because some days, there’s nothing to report and other days, there’s lots! 
• Don’t beat yourself up if you get behind. I’ve found that it ebbs and flows and sometimes you just need one icon that you are excited about to get you back in the game. 

Can you tell us about the book tracker aspect of your embroidery journal?

I LOVE my book tracker! I was really looking for a way to combine an actual book tracker and my embroidery journal, and I LOVE the look of lots of books lined up together. I already had a big circle around the year in the middle, so I just used a tumbler that was just a bit bigger than that as a guide, and it was ready for the year. I stitched a book icon for each book I read every month. It averaged about 6-7 books. The individual colors do not represent anything significant. I tried to keep a general color scheme while also keeping the colors of the month. All of the colors of the books were oneI had used throughout the month. In my opinion, what really makes it come together is the “binding” on the books for which I did a mixture of black and gold. It also kind of makes it look like skeins of floss which many people mistook it for. Oh well! 

How did you learn how to embroider?

In November 2022, I was wishing I had a small, portable hobby that I could do while traveling, relaxing in the evening, or playing with kiddos,, and for some reason I was not feeling knitting or crocheting. Then one day I was walking through the dollar store and found an embroidery starter kits for $5 of the cutest llama and flamingo I had ever seen. I knew it was something I wanted to try, and I figured the price was right. It also opened up my eyes to how fun and modern embroidery could be when I didn’t know much about it before. 

I took it home and started to learn, looking up each stitch online as I went. It all happened at a great time because it was right before Christmas, so embroidery supplies became my wish list, and I got well-stocked. Not long after that, I saw the embroidery journal project and knew it was the thing for me. The rest is history.

Do you repeat icons?

I try not to, but am not overly critical of myself if I do. I usually do some kind of variation if possible. For example, my five-year-old daughter is obsessed with Frozen, so there is a snowflake icon for her Frozen-themed birthday party, Elsa Halloween costume, and our first ever family movie night: Frozen. Sometimes the repetition is the story. 

What made you decide to go with your current embroidery journal layout? 

Umm…it was the first one I saw? I was brand new to the project and saw this online and I decided to roll with it. It wasn’t until later when I realized how many variations are out there. Absolutely beautiful!

What is your favourite icon on your embroidery journal?

Hard to pick, so I’m going to pick two months: April & December. 

April: My dad passed away last July, so this was his first birthday without him. He would have been 70, so I did a black heart with a Roman numeral 70. I also did lilacs because I have very fond memories of riding around on our lawn mower on his lap when I was little and driving past our lilac tree. I’m really proud of the way it turned out. I’m also obsessed with the Winston Salem skyline as I had a great night out on the town with my husband for our date night. 

December: I’m loving the pink Christmas this year so I went a little overboard with pink icons, and after Christmas we visited my mom in Florida, so I stitched a palm tree with Christmas lights and a flamingo wearing a Santa hat. I LOVE them!

What has been your most memorable event represented on your embroidery journal this year?

The adoption symbol with a 4 in it found in September. We adopted our twins through foster care and this year marks four years officially together as a forever family. We were fortunate to have them in our home as babies, and we officially adopted them when they were just over a year old, and I was pregnant with my youngest son. 🤍

How have you managed to stay motivated throughout the year?

They always say, “The days are long and the years are short.”  I know that I have very few precious moments with my babies at this age and stage, and I want to remember every single one! Also, there is no way I can leave a project like this half-finished. 

How do you track your days?

Officially, I have a Google Doc that I use to track everything, and it includes room to actually tell the story of the icon and the titles of the books I read; however, most of my planning actually gets done in a journal where I practice sketching the icons since I’m already recording the day’s events.

What do you plan on doing with your embroidery journal once you finish it?

It’s going to a pride-of-place somewhere in my house. I definitely want to keep it in a hoop, but I will probably transfer it to a more decorative hoop since I need my heavy-duty one for 2024’s journal.

Are you working on an embroidery journal this year?

Yes! I know it’s a big commitment, but I love it so much I can’t imagine not doing it. This year I am excited to try a dark fabric and a more specific color scheme. I will definitely be keeping the book tracker. I’m also considering doing fewer icons and having fun with really embellishing fewer/bigger icons. We’ll see how it goes. 

Do you have anything else that you would like to share about your embroidery journal?

I may have already said this, but my favorite thing about this is the very tangible way it records very precious moments that would otherwise have been forgotten. I try to write it down in a journal, but that usually captures the big things and how often do I really go back and read them? This project lets you see it all at once and remember all of the little moments. For example: My daughter helped me wind my bobbins out on my patio, and she leaned back under the lights and said, “This is so lovely.” It was such a sweet moment to share with my daughter, so I stitched a pink bobbin (she only wanted to do the “pretty” colors) and the word “lovely.” 

I appreciate the marking of the passage of time. All of these things happened in 2023: 4 Years of Forever Family, 14 Years Married, 18 Years Teaching, what class the kids were in in preschool, and what the kids were into this year, Halloween costumes, and family vacations. It’s an amazing history-in-the-making project that I will always cherish!

Where can we find you online?

I really only have the Facebook account that I use in the Embroidery Journal, I have no other social media presence. I used to have an Etsy account, but not so much anymore.  Hit me up anytime in the group!

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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.

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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.

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.